Fix: Windows 11 Right Click New Menu Missing Items
Your right click New menu is missing options like Text Document or Folder? Here's why and how to fix it fast.
Quick Answer (for advanced users)
Run this in Command Prompt (Admin): reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Discardable\PostSetup\Component" /v New /f, then restart explorer.exe.
Why This Happens
You right click on the desktop or in File Explorer, go to New, and it's almost empty — maybe just Folder or Shortcut, no Text Document, no Bitmap Image, no Compressed Folder. I know this is frustrating, especially when you rely on it daily. This tripped me up the first time too.
This usually happens after a Windows update or when a third-party program (like Dropbox, Google Drive, or a shell extension manager) messes with the registry. The New menu's options are stored in a hidden registry key that Windows caches. When that cache gets corrupted or reset, the menu goes bare.
There's also a chance you've accidentally toggled a group policy or registry setting that hides items. But the most common trigger? A recent Windows 11 23H2 or 22H2 update that resets context menu settings.
Step-by-Step Fix
- Backup your registry first. This is optional but safe. Open Regedit, go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Discardable\PostSetup\Component, right-click it and export. Save the .reg file somewhere. - Delete the corrupted cache. In Regedit, navigate to the same key. On the right side, you'll see a value named New. Right-click it and choose Delete. Confirm yes.
- Restart Explorer. Press
Ctrl+Shift+Escto open Task Manager. Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and choose Restart. Your screen will flicker black — that's normal. - Test the fix. Right click on your desktop or in a folder. The New menu should now show all default options (Text Document, Folder, Shortcut, etc.). If you see them, you're done.
Alternative Fixes if Step 2 Doesn't Work
If deleting the New value didn't help, try these:
- Run a System File Checker scan. Open Command Prompt as admin (right-click Start, choose Windows Terminal (Admin)), type
sfc /scannow, and press Enter. This takes 10-15 minutes. It repairs corrupted system files that might affect the context menu. - Check Group Policy. Press
Win+R, typegpedit.msc(only on Pro/Enterprise). Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar. Find Remove the 'New' menu from the context menu. Set it to Not Configured or Disabled. - Reset File Explorer. Open Regedit and go to
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced. Delete the EnableXamlMenus value. Restart Explorer. This brings back the old Windows 10 right-click menu, which always shows the full New menu.
Prevention Tip
To avoid this in the future, don't install programs that add tons of context menu items (like some cloud storage apps or PDF tools). Stick to one or two. And if you update Windows, wait a week before installing — skip the first patch rollouts. They often break things like this.
One more thing: if you use a tool like Context Menu Manager or ShellExView, make sure you haven't accidentally disabled the New menu's shell extension (it's called New Menu or {D969A300-E7FF-11d0-A93B-00A0C90F2719}). Re-enable it if needed.
That should cover it. If your New menu still looks empty after these steps, try a full registry cleanup with CCleaner (but be careful with that tool) or restore from a system restore point before the issue started. Most of the time though, that simple registry delete does the job.
Was this solution helpful?