How to Add a Program to the Right-Click Menu in Windows

Updated 2026-10-20 · by MenuTrim

To add a program to the right-click menu in Windows, create a new registry key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell named after your menu entry, then add a command subkey whose (Default) value is the program path followed by "%1". If you'd rather not touch the registry by hand, MenuTrim does it for you through a simple dialog in a few clicks.

Fastest way: download MenuTrim, open Add program…, browse to the EXE, type a label, and click Add.

Method 1: Add a program with MenuTrim (recommended)

  1. Download MenuTrim and run the portable EXE.
  2. Click Add program… in the toolbar.
  3. Choose where the entry should appear — Files, Folders, Desktop background, or Drives.
  4. Type a label such as Open with MyApp and click Browse… to pick the program's .exe file.
  5. Click Add, then Restart Explorer. Right-click any file to see your new entry.
MenuTrim add-program dialog with fields for menu label, program path with a Browse button, and menu location
The MenuTrim add-program dialog — label, program, and location.

Method 2: Add a program with the Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell.
  3. Right-click shell and choose New → Key. Name it the label you want, for example OpenWithMyApp.
  4. Select the new key. In the right pane, double-click (Default) and set it to the label that should appear in the menu, such as Open with MyApp.
  5. Right-click your new key and choose New → Key. Name it command.
  6. Select command, double-click (Default), and set it to: 
    "C:\Tools\myapp.exe" "%1"
    Replace the path with your program's real location, including the quotes.
  7. Restart Explorer or sign out and back in. Your entry now appears when you right-click a file.

For folders, use HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell with "%1" (or "%V"). For the desktop background menu, use HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\background\shell and omit the "%1" argument, since no file is selected.

Optional: add an icon to your menu entry

To give your entry an icon, add a String Value named Icon to the key you created and set it to the program's path (for example C:\Tools\myapp.exe,0). The ,0 selects the first icon stored in the executable.

Related guides

Adding programs to the right-click menu — FAQ

Can I add any program to the right-click menu?

Yes. Any executable, shortcut, or command can be added to the file, folder, or desktop right-click menu. The menu entry simply runs a command, so it works with any program that launches from a command line.

What does "%1" mean in a registry command value?

It is a placeholder for the selected file. When you right-click a file and choose your menu item, Windows replaces %1 with the full path of that file and passes it to the program.

How do I add a menu item to the desktop (background) right-click?

Use the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\background\shell. Create your entry there with a command subkey, but omit the %1 argument since no file is selected when you right-click empty desktop space.