In this article, we’ll be addressing two common issues that users may encounter when right-clicking on an empty area on their Windows desktop.
- The first issue occurs when the “New” option is not visible in the menu that appears after right-clicking. This problem is often caused by modifications to the Windows Registry files as a result of either a new Windows update or the installation of new software on the computer.
- The second issue is when the “New” option is visible but the “New Folder” option is missing from the sub-menu. Again, this can also be caused by modifications to the Windows Registry files.
Now, let’s delve into the solutions for resolving the “New” option missing from the right-click menu issue.
Fixing the ‘New’ Option Missing from Windows Right-Click Menu
- The initial step is to access the Registry Editor. You can achieve this by pressing the Windows Key + R on your keyboard OR you can click on the Windows icon located at the bottom-left corner of your screen to open the Windows menu and then search for “Run”.
   
 
- In the Run dialog box, input the text string “regedit” and press the “OK” button. This will display a permission pop-up window. Proceed by selecting the “Yes” option.
- From the left-hand side navigation pane, expand the “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT” registry key. Scroll through the list of options and locate the “Directory” option. (Tip: To quickly navigate to the “Directory” option, you can begin typing “Directory” on your keyboard while the “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT” key is selected, and the list will be filtered accordingly). Once you locate the “Directory” option, click the small arrow to expand it.
  
- To expand Directory > Background > shellex > ContextMenuHandlers, click the left arrow beside each nested object.
  
- Right click on “ContextMenuhandlers” and then select New > Key
  
- Rename it to “New”
  
- From the right-side panel, Right-Click on “Default” and then select “Modify”. This will open a
 small pop-up window.
  
- Enter the value {D969A300-E7FF-11d0-A93B-00A0C90F2719} right below “Value Data” input field and click on “OK”
  
 
 
 
- Come back to desktop and Right-Click. This time you should see the “New” option in the menu.
  
Now we will fix the “Folder” option missing from “New” sub-menu

- 
- We will be using again Registry panel to fix this. Navigate to Registry “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT” using the above process till step #3.
- Navigate “Folder” directory under “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT”
 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder  
- From the right-side panel, Right-Click on “Default” and then choose “Modify”
  
 
- Change “Default” value to “Folder” and then click OK
  
- Now go back to the desktop and right-click on empty area. You should see now the Folder option under the
 New sub-menu
  
