Clean up your Windows right-click menu with CCleaner
Tired of the laundry list in your right-click menu? Easily fix it with a new feature in CCleaner.
Lots of tools claim to be useful for your PC. Whether an application cleans out junk files, duplicates, or other nasties, a lot of the time it wants to take a spot in your right-click menu. Supposedly, this is "for your convenience," but most of us know what's convenient and what's just more bloat for Windows.
CCleaner released a recent update that added a feature that allows you to clean out random application shortcuts from the right-click menu. This is useful for those apps that either didn't give you a choice in the matter, or those that used some sneakiness to make the option go unnoticed. Additionally, it's much better (and likely safer) than manually digging through the registry.
So if you're tired of having a right-click menu that's just too bloated, here's how to remedy the issue:
Already have CCleaner? Great! Just make sure it's the latest version before you skip to the steps or you won't have the necessary utility options. If you don't have it installed, it's time to grab a copy of CCleaner that will serve you well during the foreseeable future.
Step 1: Open CCleaner and click on the blue toolbox on the left-hand side labeled Tools, then click on the button labeled Startup.
Step 2: Next, click the tab for the Context Menu and select an entry you want to edit.
Tip: If you want to select multiple lines, just hold down the Ctrl key while you click each entry.
Step 3: Decide whether you want to delete or disable the entry. Disabling will leave the shortcut available for later use if you change your mind.
Which programs will you be removing from your right-click menu? And also, how many of your entries are for applications that didn't give provide an option to stop them from being added to the list?
(Via Ghacks)
Editors' note, February 19, 2015: This How To post was originally published on July 26, 2012, and has been updated to include new information.