This Microsoft app update reminded me how much I hate the Windows 11 context menu
The latest PowerToys feature works fine, but it sits next to a messy part of Windows 11.
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What you need to know
Microsoft PowerToys just received an update that adds a new utility to the app. Version 0.85 of PowerToys ships the New+ feature, which lets you use templates to quickly create files and folders through File Explorer. The update also adds the ability to select the UI language used by PowerToys utilities.
As is usually the case with an update to PowerToys, version 0.85 includes a lengthy list of changes and fixes that improve the app. I recommend installing PowerToys to just about anyone that will listen, and now is a great time to hop on board if you’ve never used the app.
While the latest version of PowerToys and its added New+ feature work well, testing them highlighted a frustration I’ve had with Windows 11 for years. If you’re only interested in what’s new in PowerToys 0.85, you can jump to the change log below, which was shared on thePowerToys GitHub page.
PowerToys |Free at GitHub|Free at Microsoft Store
This collection of utilities includes a large library of features to enhance the Windows experience. PowerToys is designed with power users in mind, but it has handy features for people who just use their PC for everyday computing too.
Windows 11’s horrible context menu
The New+ feature in PowerToys is fine on its own. It works as advertised and makes it easier to create folders from templates. But testing it out reminded me how much of a mess the default context menu in Windows 11 is. The context menu is cluttered, has multiple layers, and mixes how it displays options.
I’m hardly the first person to complain about the Windows 11 context menu. That thing has been a mess since Microsoft first introduced it. In a way, the context menu on Windows 11 is the perfect example of how difficult it is to blend a modern interface with legacy support.
I believe Microsoft’s intention was to create a context menu that shows the most commonly used options on a first click while maintaining more niche options behind the “Show more options” section. But the end result is a menu with two different designs that scale differently.
When you click an item in File Explorer or on your desktop, a context menu with a mixture of text and icons appears. While I learned what all the icons mean quickly, the layout of the menu hardly seems to line up with Microsoft’s push for accessibility.
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Microsoft worked to improve the context menu when making Windows 11, and there are some key improvements, but I think the feature is far from where it should be. I suppose it takes time to fix a feature that grew “in an unregulated environment for 20 years, since Windows XP, when IContextMenu was introduced,” whichMicrosoft highlightedseveral years ago.
PowerToys 0.85
Highlights
General
Advanced Paste
Awake
Environment Variables Editor
FancyZones
File Locksmith
Mouse Pointer Crosshairs
New+
Peek
PowerToys Run
Quick Accent
Settings
Workspaces
Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
