Windows 11 Problem Displays “Edit in Notepad” Option for All File Types, Including .exe and Image Files

In an unexpected turn, Windows 11 has introduced an “Edit in Notepad” option in the context menu of File Explorer for a wide range of file types, including images and videos. This feature was initially intended to be available solely for plain text files and specific scripts.

The inclusion of “Edit in Notepad” raises questions about its necessity in the context menu. Users can already open text files directly in Notepad through a simple double-click, and the “Open with” option allows users to select their preferred application for editing.

This incident exemplifies a larger issue with Windows 11’s context menu; it now presents users with an overwhelming array of options. Since the debut of Windows 11, users have voiced their frustrations regarding the cluttered right-click menu experience.

Comparative Analysis: Windows 10 vs Windows 11 Context Menus

In contrast, the right-click context menu in Windows 10 displayed a comprehensive suite of options ranging from “Open with” to “Send to, ” including third-party applications like “Extract with WinRAR” and “Scan with Microsoft Defender.”

Windows 10 Context Menu in the File Explorer

While I didn’t perceive Windows 10’s context menu as particularly congested, I acknowledge it could benefit from a modernized aesthetic.

The arrival of Windows 11 in October 2021 marked a shift towards a sleek and compact context menu, presenting essential features such as Cut, Copy, and Paste with streamlined icons. However, users were initially displeased with the changes, necessitating an additional click on “Show more options” to access the familiar legacy context menu they had grown accustomed to in Windows 10.

Microsoft attempted to refine the context menu, enhancing the separation of frequently used actions for improved visual clarity. Yet, this attempt did not resolve the key concern: the need for a second click to access the classic menu interface.

Understanding the “Edit in Notepad” Option

Notepad has undergone significant enhancements over the past two years, including the introduction of dark mode, tabbed functionality, text formatting, autosave, and session restoration. However, these updates have led to an unexpected side effect: the “Edit in Notepad” option now appears in the context menu for various file types—even executable files and images.

When selecting “Edit in Notepad” for non-text files, the application displays the raw binary data as plain text, which is not practical for the average user.

Editing an image file shows raw binary data

This problem seems rooted in how Microsoft has modified Notepad’s integration with Windows 11. A straightforward remedy would be to eliminate the “Edit in Notepad” option altogether, as users can still rely on the “Open with” option for supported file types.

Steps to Remove “Edit in Notepad” from Context Menu

Open Windows Search, type regedit, and launch the Registry Editor as Administrator.
Navigate through HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Shell Extensions. Your path should look like this: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions.
Right-click on the Shell Extensions key, select New, and create a Key named Blocked.
Within Blocked, right-click, select New, and then String Value.
Insert the following value: {CA6CC9F1-867A-481E-951E-A28C5E4F01EA} in place of the New Value.
Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Edit in Notepad doesn't show up after Registry Edit

This raises the query of whether users can also eliminate other Shell Extensions. This method applies to features like Ask Copilot, Edit with Clipchamp, and Edit with Paint. To do this, add the corresponding GUID for each option under the same path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked.

To remove Ask Copilot, add: {CB3B0003-8088-4EDE-8769-8B354AB2FF8C}
To delete Edit with ClipChamp, use: {8BCF599D-B158-450F-B4C2-430932F2AF2F}. If that fails, try {8AB635F8-9A67-4698-AB99-784AD929F3B4}.
For the removal of Edit with Paint, input: {2430F218-B743-4FD6-97BF-5C76541B4AE9}

Registry Edits to remove Shell Extensions in Context Menu

It’s unlikely that users will revert to the previous context menu style. The streamlined interface not only improves aesthetic value but also enhances responsiveness, making navigation smoother.

Context Menu in File Explorer without some Shell Extensions

In summary, despite some unnecessary additions to the context menu, it presents a balance of functionality and design—a rarity among Windows features. Fortunately, Microsoft is actively exploring improvements, particularly for WinUI apps, suggesting that future updates may address the context menu’s shortcomings, including the persistent “Edit in Notepad” bug.

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