If you want to add or remove the Add to Favorites context menu item in Windows 11, then this post will help you. This right-click menu option has come with Windows 11 2022 Update Version 22H2. With this option, you can pin or mark files as favorites and access them from the File Explorer Home location (previously known as Quick Access). If you find this option useful, you can continue using it. For those who want to hide or remove this option from the context menu of Windows 11, this post includes a simple Registry trick and step-by-step instructions to use that trick.
Do note that removing this Add to Favorites option from the context menu doesn’t remove the Favorites section from the Home location. It remains there and the already marked favorites or pinned files can also be accessed from there. The trick here removes this Add to Favorites context menu option only for as long as you want. You can also bring back the same Add to Favorites option to Windows 11 context menu anytime.
Remove Add to Favorites option from Windows 11 Context Menu
Below are the steps to add or remove the Add to Favorites option from the context menu on a Windows 11 computer. Before you follow these steps, we advise you to back up the Registry Editor so that any unwelcome changes can be undone. Once done, use the following steps:
- Open the Registry Editor
- Select the pintohomefile key
- Create a String Value
- Rename that value to ProgrammaticAccessOnly
- Close the Registry Editor.
Now let’s check all these steps in detail
In the very first step, open the Registry Editor. Use Windows 11 Search box or Run Command box (Win+R) and type regedit in the text field. Press the Enter key and it opens the Registry Editor window.
When the Registry Editor window is opened, select the pintohomefile Registry key. The path to that key is:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\pintohomefile
In the right section of the pintohomefile Registry key, open the right-click menu, expand the New section, and select the String Value option. When the String Value is generated, rename that value as ProgrammaticAccessOnly.
Finally, you can close the Registry Editor. Open the context menu for any file on your Windows 11 PC. You will see that Add to Favorites option is not visible anymore.
To add or show Add to Favorites option in Windows 11 context menu, you can use the above steps. The only thing you need to do is right-click on the ProgrammaticAccessOnly String value and use the Delete option. Press the Yes button in the confirmation box.
Once that value is deleted, you can close Registry Editor and the Add to Favorites option will be back. You might need to Restart File Explorer if the changes are not visible to you.
I hope this helps.
Related: How to show or hide Pin to Quick access in the context menu in Windows 11
Does Windows 11 have a Favorites folder?
Windows 11 comes with a Favorites section under the new Home folder of File Explorer where you can access the pinned or favorite files. This new feature has come with Windows 11 Update 2022. You can right-click on the selected files and use Add to Favorites option to add those files to the Favorites section. After that, when you will open File Explorer Home, you will see a Favorites section containing all the pinned items.
How do I add to Favorites in Windows 11?
If you have some important files that you need to access regularly, then you can mark those files as favorites to access them from the File Explorer Home of Windows 11. For this, select files available in your system (desktop or a folder), open the right-click menu for the selected files, and click on Add to Favorites option.
To access the favorites, click on the Home icon present in the File Explorer navigation pane (in replacement to Quick Access). Under the Home location, you will see a Quick access section for pinned folders, a Recent items section, and a Favorites section for pinned files or files that you marked as favorites.
How do I delete favorites in Windows 11?
If you want to remove pinned or favorite files from the Favorites section of File Explorer Home in Windows 11, then follow these steps:
- Use Win+E hotkey to open the File Explorer
- Click on the Home icon present in the navigation pane of File Explorer. It is present on the top part of the navigation pane
- Expand the Favorites section
- Select items or files
- Right-click on those files
- Click on the Remove from Favorites option.
Read next: How to Backup and Restore Quick Access Folders in Windows.
