Windows Context Menu Builder

Runs in your browserDeveloper Tools#Windows#OS

Create .reg files that add your own items to the Windows right-click menu, with a matching uninstaller.

Menu item 1

Where it appears

Menu text

Registry key name

Letters and digits only

Command to run

"%1" is replaced by the file you right-clicked.

Icon (optional)

An .exe or .ico file; add ,1 to pick another icon inside it

The sample path is where VS Code's default installer puts it (%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs). If you installed it for all users, use C:\Program Files\Microsoft VS Code\Code.exe.

What this changes

Right-clicking a file shows "Open with VS Code", which runs: "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\Code.exe" "<the file>"

Only your Windows account is affected (HKEY_CURRENT_USER); no admin rights are needed. Windows asks before it adds anything.

On Windows 11 these items are under Show more options (or hold Shift while you right-click, or press Shift+F10).

add-context-menu.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Adds "Open with VS Code" to the menu for a file
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\*\shell\OpenWithVSCode]
@="Open with VS Code"
; Icon: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\Code.exe
"Icon"=hex(2):25,00,4c,00,4f,00,43,00,41,00,4c,00,41,00,50,00,50,00,44,00,41,\
  00,54,00,41,00,25,00,5c,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,73,00,\
  5c,00,4d,00,69,00,63,00,72,00,6f,00,73,00,6f,00,66,00,74,00,20,00,56,00,53,\
  00,20,00,43,00,6f,00,64,00,65,00,5c,00,43,00,6f,00,64,00,65,00,2e,00,65,00,\
  78,00,65,00,00,00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\*\shell\OpenWithVSCode\command]
; Command: "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\Code.exe" "%1"
@=hex(2):22,00,25,00,4c,00,4f,00,43,00,41,00,4c,00,41,00,50,00,50,00,44,00,41,\
  00,54,00,41,00,25,00,5c,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,73,00,\
  5c,00,4d,00,69,00,63,00,72,00,6f,00,73,00,6f,00,66,00,74,00,20,00,56,00,53,\
  00,20,00,43,00,6f,00,64,00,65,00,5c,00,43,00,6f,00,64,00,65,00,2e,00,65,00,\
  78,00,65,00,22,00,20,00,22,00,25,00,31,00,22,00,00,00

Double-click the downloaded file and choose Yes to merge it. Keep the uninstaller to remove the items later.

How to use, limits & privacy

About Windows Context Menu Builder

Add your own items to the Windows right-click menu, such as "Open with VS Code" or "Open terminal here", without editing the registry by hand. Choose where an item appears (files, folders, inside a folder or the desktop), the text and the command, and download a .reg installer and a matching uninstaller. The files are written the way regedit exports them and change only your own Windows account, so no admin rights are needed.

How to Use

Describe the menu item

Pick where it appears, type the menu text and the command to run. Use "%1" for the clicked file or folder; the tool switches to "%V" for folder and desktop backgrounds.

Check the summary

Read What this changes to see exactly which menu item is added and what it runs. Add more items if you like.

Download and merge

Click Download .reg, double-click the file on your PC and choose Yes. Switch to Uninstaller and download that file too, to remove the items later.

Find it on Windows 11

Right-click and choose Show more options, or hold Shift while you right-click, to see the new item.

Privacy & Processing

Mode: local
Files Leave Browser: Local tool processing; review details below
Max Input Size: Device memory limits
Account Required: No
Data Stored Locally: Nothing is saved; reloading the page starts again with the VS Code example.
Network Processing: Assets or models may require an initial download

The registry file is built in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or saved.

Rules & Limitations

Windows 10 and 11 only. Items go under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes, so they affect only your user account and need no admin rights.
On Windows 11 the items appear in the classic menu (Show more options or Shift+F10), not in the short modern menu.
Paths with %LOCALAPPDATA% or other environment variables are saved as expandable strings (REG_EXPAND_SZ), so they work for any user name.
Two items with the same key name in the same place replace each other; the tool warns you.
Browsers and SmartScreen may warn about .reg downloads, and Windows asks before merging. Only merge files you have read.

Top Suggestions

Adding "Open with VS Code" to files and folders
Opening Command Prompt or PowerShell in the current folder from the right-click menu
Sending files to a favourite image editor or script in one click
Removing a custom item you added earlier with the uninstaller

Windows Context Menu Builder FAQ

How do I add an item to the right-click menu in Windows 11?

Build the item here, download the installer .reg file and double-click it. Then right-click a file and choose Show more options, or hold Shift while you right-click, to see it.

Is it safe to merge a .reg file?

It is safe when you know what it does. These files only add or delete the menu keys listed in What this changes, under your own user account. Open the file in Notepad to read it before merging, and keep the uninstaller.

How do I remove the menu item again?

Choose Uninstaller, download it and double-click it. It deletes the same registry keys the installer created.

What is the difference between %1 and %V?

%1 is the full path of the file or folder you right-clicked. %V is the folder you are in, which is the only path available when you right-click empty space in a folder or on the desktop.

Why doesn't "Open with VS Code" work?

The command must point to where Code.exe is installed. The default user installer puts it in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Microsoft VS Code; a system-wide install uses C:\Program Files\Microsoft VS Code. Check the path in File Explorer and update the command.

Is anything uploaded?

No. The registry file is built in your browser and downloaded straight to your computer.