The missing New or New folder option in the right-click context menu is a common problem for many Windows 11 users. So, users cannot create new folders, files, etc., on their desktop. It can be due to a missing or corrupt Windows registry key. Third-party software, for example, older version of Photoshop, can also cause this issue. With this guide, users can fix this issue by creating the correct key in their Windows 11 registry.
The right-click context menu on the Windows 11 desktop is an important feature. However, without the “New” menu option in the right-click context menu, you cannot create a new folder, program shortcut, text file, bitmap image, or compressed folder on the desktop. The New context menu has many other uses. For example, if Microsoft Office is installed on your PC, you can create a new Word document by right-clicking on the desktop.
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Warning: Editing Registry can cause serious issues to your computer if edited wrongly. Please follow the below guide at your own risk. Take a backup of the registry before performing the below tip.
How to Re-enable New Option in the Right-Click Context Menu on Windows 11?
1. Open the Registry Editor on your Windows 11 computer.
2. Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
3. If the New folder option is missing in the ContextMenuHandlers sub menu, right-click it, select New, and select the Key option. Name it New.
4. Next, on the right side pane of the New key, double-click on the (Default) string.
5. Next, copy this {D969A300-E7FF-11d0-A93B-00A0C90F2719} string and paste it in the Value Data field.
6. [Note that if the New folder is present in ContextMenuHandlers sub menu, change the value string with the above]
7. Click OK to save the changes and close the registry editor.
You have now re-enabled the New option in the desktop right-click context menu on your Windows 11 computer. You do not need to restart your computer to enable the changes. Go to your desktop and check the New option is enabled in the right-click menu.
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