Windows 7 - Open With Context Menu Item - Add or Remove

Brink

How to Add or Remove the "Open with" Context Menu Item in Windows

Information

This will show you how to add or remove the Open with right click context menu item of all files in Windows 7 and Vista.

Removing Open with from the context menu can make it easier to prevent all users on the computer from accidentally have a file extension type assigned a wrong default program to be opened with by default.

Note

A default program is the program that Windows uses when you open a particular type of file extension. Open with allows you to change a file type to open with a different default program for just this one time or always using the context menu in Windows.

Warning

You will need to be logged into an administrator account to be able to use the reg files below.

EXAMPLE: Open with Context Menu Item for Files

Here's How:

1. To Remove "Open with" from the Context Menu
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Remove_Open_With.reg

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Add "Open with" Back to the Context Menu
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Open_With.reg

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

lvsunz37 · 08-21-2010

My system: Win 7 Pro 64 bit. I'm the Administrator & the only user. I can't get Open With item into Context Menus (not with by The Shift process). I ran Restore_Open_With.reg (Merge), rebooted.
Still no Open With. Would appreciate help. Thank you.

Brink · 08-21-2010

Hello Ivsunz37,

What file extension does the file have that you are trying to use Open With on?

Did you mean that you only have Open With if you press and hold Shift when you right click?

lvsunz37 · 08-22-2010

Brink,
I got it to work- rebooted, uninstalled (via System Restore), then re-installed.
Was trying on .bin file extension.
Could not get Open With even when using Shift with rite click.

All seems OK now. Thanks much.

Brink · 08-22-2010

That's great news Ivsunz. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

sylvialdgsd · 11-01-2010

Fantastic tip, Shawn, thank you!!!

Sylvia

Brink · 11-01-2010

You're most welcome Sylvia.

happytony · 10-08-2011

hello. my site dont have the OPEN WITH. can you help me.
i m using Windows 7.32bit
the key is original in system. and i do try to run the file. but dont right lick dont have.
i want the .url to have right click.
and i do edit the file to .url/shellex ...
after add. the right click not show also. Thanks

Brink · 10-08-2011

Hello Tony, and welcome to Seven Forums.

The tutorial below will allow you to add Open with to the context menu of URL files.

URL Files - Add "Open with" to Context Menu

Hope this helps,
Shawn

jthib · 10-18-2011

That .reg file is non-human-readable, how can I decode it to be sure it is not going to harm my computer?

Windows 7 - Open With Context Menu Item - Add or Remove

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