Microsoft is on a big "fix Windows 11" kick at the moment, with the company earlier promising that it would finally stop ignoring all the problems the latest Windows operating system suffers from and actually start doing something to fix it. The first step of that was admitting Windows 11 has problems. Now, the latest target of those fixes is the right-click menu.
A better right-click menu is coming
Simpler but with more customization
The right-click menu in Windows 11 has been a nightmare since the operating system launched several years ago. And while people have complained about it — myself included — for years, Microsoft has taken its time to do anything about it. With the company's renewed focus on ensuring Windows 11 is as good as it says it should be, though, it seems Microsoft is also taking another look at the problems we all have with the right-click menu. However, instead of giving us a proper fix, the company's response is basically, we'll let you customize it.
According to tweets shared by leading Windows 11 designer and researcher Marcus Ash on X, the company is looking at allowing users the option to completely customize the right-click menu to their own preferences. Now, I'll be honest. To me, this is a pretty good change. I'm the kind of power user that loves tweaking my Windows install and getting everything just right.
However, I also understand that I am not the everyday Windows user that Microsoft needs to appeal to. Those users, the people who only use Windows because it helps them run their business, or because their grandkids set it up on their laptop for them, are the ones that Microsoft needs to be worried about.
To me, that means, instead of making the solution to the problem even more complicated, as granular customization would likely do, going with something much simpler at the forefront is probably a better play. At least as far as many everyday consumers are concerned. There's a reason the use of flashing new ROMS on Android phones has dwindled in recent years, and it isn't because Android has completely removed the need for them. It's because, for most people, simple is just better. Thankfully, Marcus Ash says that the default going forward will be simplified, though by how much is unclear. And, it will also be configurable for the user. So the biggest question I have left is, how in-your-face is that customization going to be, and is it going to overwhelm people?
Ease of use over granular control
Leave the customization to the power users
That is the biggest problem that I have with customization being the primary solution to Windows 11's right-click problem. Because while customization is great for some of us, it's not going to fix the problem for the everyday user who has no interest in the minute details of customizing the entire operating system. If Microsoft leaves the right-click menu mostly as is, with some simplification thrown in, and then makes users customize it more, it's just going to lead to more pain points.
Instead, I think Microsoft should put the simpler right-click menu and then add in the ability to customize it as a more advanced option hidden in the settings for those that want it. Or, the company could even add it as a feature you can enable through Microsoft PowerToys.
PowerToys is already a great suite of optional features and functionality for you to customize your Windows experience. It's so good, in fact, that PowerToys has left many Windows apps completely obsolete. As such, it would make sense to lump deeper right-click menu customization in with it, too.