microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys
[Feature Request] Please allow for New+ compatibility with the classic context menu in Windows 11
- Dominant language
- C
- Stars
- 139k
- Forks
- 8.6k
- PR merge metrics
- PR metrics pending
Description
### Description of the new feature / enhancement
The only way to use the PowerToys New+ shell extension is to use the default "new" Windows 11 context menu.
To reproduce:
1. Enable the classic context menu with this registry addition:
```
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32]
@=""
```
2. Enable New+ in PowerToys
3. Right click on the background of a directory and observe the New+ menu doesn't appear.
## More detailed information
- The NewPlus logger is initialized and fires repeatedly in the log file at `C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\NewPlus\NewPlus.ShellExtension\Logs\v0.100.0\log_2026-06-10.log`
- That's the handler DLL (`PowerToys.NewPlus.ShellExtension.win10.dll`) being loaded by Explorer every time Windows builds a context menu. Explorer is invoking New+; it's getting loaded but producing no visible entry.
- `HKCR\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\` contains `NewPlusShellExtensionWin10`, with a correct default of `{FF90D477-E32A-4BE8-8CC5-A502A97F5401}`. That should be the New+ classic-menu handler (.win10.dll variant, purpose-built for the classic context menu).
- Its COM server resolves to `…\WinUI3Apps\PowerToys.NewPlus.ShellExtension.win10.dll`, So registration is fine, the handler loads (logs prove it), and it's hooked into the folder-background menu — yet draws nothing.
- This means the .win10.dll handler's `QueryContextMenu` is erroring at runtime.
Finally, if I re-enable the modern "new" Windows 11 context menu and then restart explorer, New+ appears. However I don't *want* the new context menu, and there should be no reason why the shell extension can't work with the classic menu.
### Scenario when this would be used?
The scenario is daily usage of New+ with the classic menu enabled.
### Supporting information
From what I understand, classic menu items are in-process `IContextMenu` (loaded into explorer.exe, stable PID). The New+ menu's `IExplorerCommand` runs out-of-process (fresh DllHost PID each time).
## Incorrectly Reported Solution: Removing `Microsoft.PowerToys.NewPlusContextMenu_...` Appx Package
There was an issue in this repository where a user reported that they fixed this by:
1. Turning off New+ in PowerToys
2. Removing the `NewPlusContextMenu` Appx Package (`Microsoft.PowerToys.NewPlusContextMenu_0.100.0.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe` on my system)
3. Toggling New+ back on to re-register the package.
4. Finally, restarting `explorer.exe`
This can be done via powershell:
```powershell
# 1. In PowerToys Settings → New+ : toggle it OFF (keep Settings open)
# 2. Remove the stale package (PowerShell):
Remove-AppxPackage Microsoft.PowerToys.NewPlusContextMenu_0.100.0.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe
# 3. Confirm it's gone (should print nothing):
Get-AppxPackage -Name *powertoys*newplus*
# 4. In PowerToys Settings → New+ : toggle it back ON (this re-registers the package)
# 5. Restart Explorer:
Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force # Explorer auto-restarts
# 6. Right-click empty space inside a folder. Spoiler: It still doesn't work.
```
So, this does not fix the issue.
New+ simply refuses to appear in the classic menu.
I know it IS possible for PowerToys to add a context menu shell extension to the classic menu, because if I turn on PowerRename, it appears fine.
**PLEASE, update PowerToys to allow for New+ usage with the classic context menu in Windows 11.**
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start at the PowerToys.NewPlus.ShellExtension.win10.dll handler and its QueryContextMenu path, then reproduce the classic-menu registry configuration while reviewing the NewPlus logger output. Compare the handler registration with the working PowerRename classic-menu behavior. Done means New+ appears in Explorer's classic background context menu while remaining available in the modern menu.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- powershell
- Domain
- desktop, operating-systems
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100