Few changes in Windows have stirred as much debate among users as the redesign of context menus in Windows 11. Since the operating system’s debut, Microsoft has positioned these menus as a visual leap forward—sleeker, smarter, less cluttered than their Windows 10 counterparts. But the promise hasn’t always matched reality. With every major update, the context menu undergoes subtle transformations—sometimes they’re for the better, but more often, users and power-users in particular have voiced frustration over sluggish performance, hidden or missing options, and a nagging sense that too many cooks are spoiling what was a straightforward dish.
The latest twist in this ongoing saga arrives with an update to the Copilot app embedded in Windows 11. This new addition brings with it what Microsoft pitches as a powerful, AI-driven feature directly into your right-click context menu—an “Ask Copilot” option, now popping up when you interact with files in File Explorer. Whether this is the leap into the future of productivity Microsoft envisions, or another cumbersome element in an already groaning list, remains contested ground.
Let’s break down what’s happening. With version 1.25044.93.0 of the Copilot app, a new “Ask Copilot” entry now appears when you right-click compatible files. Activate it, and the system copies the selected file to Copilot, launching the AI in a process that lets you ask questions about the content—summarize a contract, draft an email, explain terms, and so on.
On paper, this has clear potential. Imagine being able to quickly extract highlights from a lengthy PDF, or transform meeting notes into a polished email, all from a single right-click. Early marketing leans hard on these productivity promises, positioning Copilot as an always-on assistant ready to contextualize, summarize, and automate rote tasks. These moves are consistent with broader Windows 11 trends: place AI front and center, and turn every workflow touchpoint into a seamless, “smart” experience.
However, as is often the case with workflow automation features, the devil is in the details—and user reception has been chilly, to say the least. Why?
Yet, the “Show more options” submenu, introduced to simplify things, has felt like a half measure. Instead of decluttering, it sometimes just hides complexity behind a click, adding latency and extra hunting for long-time users. And with the addition of “Ask Copilot,” concerns about menu bloat are surfacing again. The new item joins a parade of others—Edit in Notepad, Edit in Photos, Edit in Clipchamp, and so on—that make menus feel as busy as ever.
This growing list raises two immediate issues:
For certain users—lawyers summarizing legal documents, admins drafting standardized reports—the right-click AI command could genuinely be useful. But for many others, Copilot remains an opt-in feature or a distraction. It also introduces potential privacy considerations. For the AI to analyze your file, it needs to access and upload it to Copilot’s processing engine, which may concern those handling sensitive or confidential materials.
Moreover, this addition is not universal. Power-users, IT admins, and businesses locked down by group policies may find the option unwanted or even problematic in regulated settings.
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Such ambition has notable upsides. By putting advanced tools right where users work, Microsoft democratizes access to technologies that once belonged to specialized SaaS apps or browser-based assistants. If you need a summary, suggestion, or explanation, you don’t have to leave File Explorer or copy and paste between apps.
Still, there’s a risk in over-promising and over-delivering. Feature creep is a known hazard in software development. Put too many “smart” options in front of a user, and the interface itself starts to feel dumb—diluted by noise and complexity. Microsoft’s challenge, then, is to deliver genuinely helpful automation without sacrificing control, clarity, and speed.
Ironically, the result hasn’t always been simplicity. Many users miss the familiarity and muscle memory they built up over years. The introduction of a “Show more options” submenu in Windows 11, intended as a compromise, is frequently labeled a step backwards—especially for power-users who now require extra clicks for formerly instant actions.
Third-party utilities and registry hacks, well-documented on forums, have proliferated as a result. Tools like ExplorerPatcher or Classic Shell allow users to reclaim traditional menu behaviors, a testament both to customization desires and Microsoft’s challenges in pleasing its most dedicated fans.
With every high-profile update—especially those introducing controversial features like Copilot or stacking new apps into the menu—people are quick to question whether Microsoft has learned the right lessons. If faster, simpler context menus were the goal, why do they seem as busy as ever, even as AI continues its relentless march?
The shift in design language—consistent iconography, more fluid animations, and an emphasis on intelligent defaults—shows Microsoft listening, at least to some degree, to user feedback. Although the results are mixed so far, and every gain seems paired with a new question, the trend is toward providing power without clutter—if the company can resist the temptation to keep adding features just because it can.
Enterprise admins especially should verify how Copilot handles file content, what logging or telemetry is generated, and whether sensitive content could inadvertently be exposed. Microsoft documentation is generally robust, but some features arrive so rapidly that documentation lags, and temporary confusion is not uncommon. For privacy-first environments or those in regulated fields (healthcare, legal, finance), disabling Copilot from the registry may be more than just a matter of taste—it’s a compliance necessity.
But the path forward is anything but certain. User pushback against clutter, performance slowdowns, and opt-out rather than opt-in features signals a need for balance. The risk is that Windows becomes both too heavy for casual users and too prescriptive for experts—the worst of both worlds.
Ultimately, whether “Ask Copilot” is a dream or a detour is down to execution and listening. If Microsoft can refine how, when, and where it inserts these features—giving users and IT admins clear, easy ways to opt out, slim down, or customize—the AI-driven future of Windows 11 could be remarkably empowering. If not, expect the volume on community complaints and the registry hacks that follow to stay dialed up for some time.
As features continue to roll out at an aggressive pace, Microsoft should make “less is more” not just a slogan but an ironclad principle. Users want tools, not toys, and clarity above all. Until that lesson is fully absorbed, expect every new entry in the right-click menu—no matter how advanced—to be met with a mixture of curiosity, resignation, and just a touch of nostalgia for the days when “right-click” meant only what you wanted, and nothing more.
Source: Neowin Microsoft updates Windows 11 context menus, but you are probably not going to like it
The latest twist in this ongoing saga arrives with an update to the Copilot app embedded in Windows 11. This new addition brings with it what Microsoft pitches as a powerful, AI-driven feature directly into your right-click context menu—an “Ask Copilot” option, now popping up when you interact with files in File Explorer. Whether this is the leap into the future of productivity Microsoft envisions, or another cumbersome element in an already groaning list, remains contested ground.
Expanding the Windows 11 Context Menu: A Double-Edged Sword
Let’s break down what’s happening. With version 1.25044.93.0 of the Copilot app, a new “Ask Copilot” entry now appears when you right-click compatible files. Activate it, and the system copies the selected file to Copilot, launching the AI in a process that lets you ask questions about the content—summarize a contract, draft an email, explain terms, and so on.On paper, this has clear potential. Imagine being able to quickly extract highlights from a lengthy PDF, or transform meeting notes into a polished email, all from a single right-click. Early marketing leans hard on these productivity promises, positioning Copilot as an always-on assistant ready to contextualize, summarize, and automate rote tasks. These moves are consistent with broader Windows 11 trends: place AI front and center, and turn every workflow touchpoint into a seamless, “smart” experience.
However, as is often the case with workflow automation features, the devil is in the details—and user reception has been chilly, to say the least. Why?
The Problem with Bloat
Many Windows veterans have a recurring frustration: with every added item in the context menu, the supposedly streamlined interface gets longer and slower to load. Windows 10 users remember all too well the context menu’s tendency to fill up with entries from every installed utility, graphics editor, or cloud backup service. Microsoft’s original Windows 11 vision, in fact, was partly a course-correction—a return to clarity, speed, and ease of navigation in daily workflows.Yet, the “Show more options” submenu, introduced to simplify things, has felt like a half measure. Instead of decluttering, it sometimes just hides complexity behind a click, adding latency and extra hunting for long-time users. And with the addition of “Ask Copilot,” concerns about menu bloat are surfacing again. The new item joins a parade of others—Edit in Notepad, Edit in Photos, Edit in Clipchamp, and so on—that make menus feel as busy as ever.
This growing list raises two immediate issues:
- Performance: Every new menu item increases context menu load time, especially on slower or older hardware. Reports and anecdotal evidence from forums like ElevenForum and Reddit suggest some users perceive the newest updates as slower than ever, directly contradicting Microsoft’s design intent.
- Cognitive Overload: The more menu entries users encounter, the harder it is to find the one they actually need. The purpose of a context menu is to provide quick access—not to become a second, sprawling Start menu.
Utility vs. Annoyance: Does Copilot "Deserve" Its Place?
Microsoft’s argument for embedding Copilot is, in theory, compelling. AI-powered assistance is increasingly interwoven throughout the Windows experience, from the Start menu to Snap layouts and search. By integrating Copilot at this level, Microsoft positions Windows 11 as not just an operating system, but an active work partner.For certain users—lawyers summarizing legal documents, admins drafting standardized reports—the right-click AI command could genuinely be useful. But for many others, Copilot remains an opt-in feature or a distraction. It also introduces potential privacy considerations. For the AI to analyze your file, it needs to access and upload it to Copilot’s processing engine, which may concern those handling sensitive or confidential materials.
Moreover, this addition is not universal. Power-users, IT admins, and businesses locked down by group policies may find the option unwanted or even problematic in regulated settings.
Removing "Ask Copilot": Workarounds and Risks
The good news for those averse to the new addition: Microsoft hasn’t locked users in. If you uninstall the Copilot app or roll it back to a previous version, the context menu entry disappears. There’s also a registry-level fix for those comfortable editing system settings:
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked]
"{CB3B0003-8088-4EDE-8769-8B354AB2FF8C}"="Ask Copilot".reg file, double-click, and restart your machine to banish the entry. For those unfamiliar with the Windows registry, it’s worth emphasizing: an incorrect modification can destabilize your system. Proceed with care, and always back up your registry first.Microsoft’s AI Push: Impressive Ambition, Messy Execution?
Peering beyond the context menu, the “Ask Copilot” rollout reflects a broader trend—the aggressive AI push underpinning recent Windows updates. During Microsoft’s annual Build event and developer keynotes, company leadership has repeatedly emphasized integrating artificial intelligence into every facet of the platform. From “Recall” in Copilot+ PCs to intelligent Search and adaptive Snap suggestions, there’s clear consensus at Redmond that the future of productivity is smart, context-aware, and AI-assisted.Such ambition has notable upsides. By putting advanced tools right where users work, Microsoft democratizes access to technologies that once belonged to specialized SaaS apps or browser-based assistants. If you need a summary, suggestion, or explanation, you don’t have to leave File Explorer or copy and paste between apps.
Still, there’s a risk in over-promising and over-delivering. Feature creep is a known hazard in software development. Put too many “smart” options in front of a user, and the interface itself starts to feel dumb—diluted by noise and complexity. Microsoft’s challenge, then, is to deliver genuinely helpful automation without sacrificing control, clarity, and speed.
Comparing User Sentiment: Windows 11 vs. Windows 10
The friction over context menus is also a study in evolving user expectation. With Windows 10’s context menu, the chief complaint was overpopulation, especially once third-party apps began stuffing in their own quick-access buttons. Microsoft responded in Windows 11 with a cleaner look, more icons, and essential actions (cut, copy, paste, etc.) given pride of place.Ironically, the result hasn’t always been simplicity. Many users miss the familiarity and muscle memory they built up over years. The introduction of a “Show more options” submenu in Windows 11, intended as a compromise, is frequently labeled a step backwards—especially for power-users who now require extra clicks for formerly instant actions.
Third-party utilities and registry hacks, well-documented on forums, have proliferated as a result. Tools like ExplorerPatcher or Classic Shell allow users to reclaim traditional menu behaviors, a testament both to customization desires and Microsoft’s challenges in pleasing its most dedicated fans.
With every high-profile update—especially those introducing controversial features like Copilot or stacking new apps into the menu—people are quick to question whether Microsoft has learned the right lessons. If faster, simpler context menus were the goal, why do they seem as busy as ever, even as AI continues its relentless march?
Start Menu and UI Revamps: A Silver Lining?
For those, however, looking for good news in Windows 11’s recent updates, Microsoft isn’t only piling on new context menu entries. Significant work is ongoing behind the scenes to refresh the Start menu, a longstanding target of user ire. New options for organizing, customizing, and searching the Start menu have rolled out or are nearing release. Early previews suggest efforts to address complaints about wasted space, poor discoverability, and lack of flexibility—issues flagged since Windows 11’s original unveiling.The shift in design language—consistent iconography, more fluid animations, and an emphasis on intelligent defaults—shows Microsoft listening, at least to some degree, to user feedback. Although the results are mixed so far, and every gain seems paired with a new question, the trend is toward providing power without clutter—if the company can resist the temptation to keep adding features just because it can.
Security and Privacy: The Unseen Consequence
Adding AI-powered actions to the context menu isn’t just a UX decision—it also wades into complex waters of privacy and compliance. For Copilot to help with your files, it needs to analyze them, and often this involves transferring data to Microsoft servers or partner clouds. While the company asserts compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and enterprise security best practices, the exact behavior may vary based on account type, organizational controls, and how Copilot is configured.Enterprise admins especially should verify how Copilot handles file content, what logging or telemetry is generated, and whether sensitive content could inadvertently be exposed. Microsoft documentation is generally robust, but some features arrive so rapidly that documentation lags, and temporary confusion is not uncommon. For privacy-first environments or those in regulated fields (healthcare, legal, finance), disabling Copilot from the registry may be more than just a matter of taste—it’s a compliance necessity.
The Road Ahead: Vision vs. Reality
It’s clear that Microsoft’s vision for Windows 11 is as much about automation and intelligence as it is about polish and cosmetic change. If the world’s most widely-used desktop OS is to stay ahead of competitors (macOS, ChromeOS, Linux distros), integrating leading-edge features like contextual AI and adaptive UI is non-negotiable.But the path forward is anything but certain. User pushback against clutter, performance slowdowns, and opt-out rather than opt-in features signals a need for balance. The risk is that Windows becomes both too heavy for casual users and too prescriptive for experts—the worst of both worlds.
Ultimately, whether “Ask Copilot” is a dream or a detour is down to execution and listening. If Microsoft can refine how, when, and where it inserts these features—giving users and IT admins clear, easy ways to opt out, slim down, or customize—the AI-driven future of Windows 11 could be remarkably empowering. If not, expect the volume on community complaints and the registry hacks that follow to stay dialed up for some time.
Conclusion: Clarity, Customization, and Control Still Matter Most
The evolution of Windows 11’s context menu tells a broader story about the eternal tension in software design: innovation versus simplicity, power versus speed. The “Ask Copilot” feature is a microcosm of the whole Windows 11 journey—a big swing toward intelligence, met by perfectly reasonable skepticism about clutter and control.As features continue to roll out at an aggressive pace, Microsoft should make “less is more” not just a slogan but an ironclad principle. Users want tools, not toys, and clarity above all. Until that lesson is fully absorbed, expect every new entry in the right-click menu—no matter how advanced—to be met with a mixture of curiosity, resignation, and just a touch of nostalgia for the days when “right-click” meant only what you wanted, and nothing more.
Source: Neowin Microsoft updates Windows 11 context menus, but you are probably not going to like it
