When Microsoft introduced the dual context menu in Windows 11, it revealed that the new modern version would also solve a problem that many Windows users faced after years of use: context menu bloat.
Although Microsoft may have had this in mind when it added the new context menu as a layer on top of the old one, which still exists, it probably didn’t anticipate the rise of AI in the organization and the desire to add “AI to everything.”
When you right-click files in Windows 11, version 24H2 or later, you can see another entry in the Modern context menu. AI Actions lists all AI-related actions that Windows users can perform when selecting files. From running visual searches on Bing to removing backgrounds in Paint to erasing objects in photos.
Although these may be really useful for some users, others may have no need or desire to use them. Until now, Windows 11 did not include any built-in option to remove AI actions from the context menu. However, this has changed in the latest builds for the operating system.
Microsoft notes in the release notes of build 26220.7344: “If there are no available or enabled AI actions, this section will no longer appear in the context menu.”
What this means: Microsoft won’t show entries for file types that don’t have any associated AI actions. Windows users can also disable actions in Settings to hide the entire menu.
This is done in the following way:
- Open the Settings application, for example via Start or using the keyboard shortcut Windows-i.
- go to app.
- Click the Actions menu on the page.
- Toggle off all the apps listed there.
Doing so disables all actions and results in the AI Actions menu no longer displaying. When you place something, actions continue to be displayed for supported file types.
Note that the change is upcoming for stable Windows 11 builds. Microsoft hasn’t made any announcements yet, which means it may take some time for the option to become available. If things remain slow, it won’t appear until late 2026 when Microsoft plans to release the next major feature update for Windows 11.
Now You: Have you used AI Actions before? If so, did you find the experience satisfactory? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading..
