In Windows, the Desktop right click context menu helps you to instantly create items at Desktop, along with some other options. But if you are working in an environment where you want to disable Desktop right click context menu, this article is for you. In some cases, IT Pros may need to prevent their clients from using the Desktop context menu.

Desktop right click context menu in Windows 10

In this article, I have got two methods which you can apply to accomplish this. You can disable the Desktop right click context menu using registry or via Group Policy. Both the methods are mentioned below. You can try them as per your convenience.

How to disable Desktop right click context menu

Method 1 – Using Registry

It is recommended to create a System Restore point first, before modifying the registry key.

1. Press W8K + R and put regedit in Run dialog box to open Registry Editor (if you’re not familiar with Registry Editor, then click here). Click OK.

2. In left pane of Registry Editor window, navigate to following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

How to disable Desktop right click context menu using registry

3. In the right pane of explorer registry key, create a new registry DWORD (REG_DWORD) and name it as NoViewContextMenu and set its Value data to 1.

4. Similarly, create the same registry DWORD at following registry location, if you want to disable Desktop right click context menu for all users:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

5. Close Registry Editor and reboot the system to make changes effective.

Method 2 – Using Group Policy

FYI: This method is not applicable to Windows 10 Home edition.

1. Open GPO Editor by running gpedit.msc command.

2. In the GPO Editor window, navigate here:

User Configuration Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer

How to disable Desktop right click context menu using Group Policy

3. In the right pane of File Explorer, locate Remove File Explorer’s default context menu named policy setting. Double click on it and set the policy status to Enabled. Click Apply followed by OK.

4. Close GPO editor and update GP engine by running gpupdate /force command to make changes effective.

That’s it!

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