This Microsoft app update reminded me how much I hate the Windows 11 context menu

What you need to know

Microsoft PowerToys has received an update that brings the app to version 0.85.
The update adds a New+ utility that allows you to use templates to create files and folders through File Explorer.
PowerToys 0.85 also ships several fixes to the app.

As a seasoned analyst with over two decades of experience in tech, I must say that the latest update to Microsoft PowerToys (version 0.85) is a welcome addition to my digital toolkit. The New+ utility, which allows me to create files and folders through File Explorer using templates, is particularly appealing.

Microsoft’s PowerToys software has been updated with a fresh addition called “New+”. This new version, 0.85, equips users with the capacity to utilize templates for swiftly generating files and folders via File Explorer. Moreover, this update enables customization of the UI language utilized by PowerToys utilities.

As an analyst, I’m excited to share that the latest PowerToys update, version 0.85, brings a slew of enhancements and bug fixes that significantly improve the user experience. If you haven’t yet given it a try, I strongly encourage you to explore this powerful tool in your tech arsenal. This could be the perfect opportunity for those who are new to PowerToys to jump on board!

Even though the newest PowerToys version and its New+ feature operate smoothly, using them has unearthed a long-standing annoyance I’ve had with Windows 11. For those who are more interested in what’s new in PowerToys 0.85, feel free to skip ahead to the change log below, which was posted on the PowerToys GitHub page.

Windows 11’s horrible context menu

The standalone New feature within PowerToys operates smoothly as described and simplifies the process of creating folders using templates. However, experimenting with it brought back memories of the disorganized default context menu in Windows 11. This context menu is overloaded, has several layers, and haphazardly displays options, making it less user-friendly.

As an observer, I can’t help but echo the sentiments shared by many about the Windows 11 context menu. Ever since its debut, this feature has been a source of frustration for users like myself. Indeed, the context menu on Windows 11 serves as an illustration of the challenges that come with merging modern design with legacy support – a task that seems to elude even tech giants such as Microsoft.

It seems that Microsoft aimed to design a context menu offering frequently used commands instantly upon first click, while keeping less frequently used or specialized options hidden under the “More Options” segment. However, the final product presents two distinct layouts that adjust unevenly in size.

When you select an item in File Explorer or on your desktop, a mix of text and symbol-based options known as a context menu appears. Although I grasped the meaning behind each icon swiftly, the arrangement of this menu doesn’t seem to align well with Microsoft’s emphasis on accessibility.

In creating Windows 11, Microsoft focused on enhancing the context menu, and while there have been significant improvements, it’s still not quite up to par in my opinion. Given that the feature has developed over an unstructured period for approximately 20 years, starting with Windows XP when IContextMenu was introduced, it’s understandable that it might take time to perfect such a longstanding element. Microsoft acknowledged this issue several years ago.

PowerToys 0.85

Highlights

New utility: New+ – allows setting a personalized set of templates to quickly create files and folders from a File Explorer context menu. Thanks @cgaarden!
Language selection – it’s now possible to select which UI language should be used by PowerToys utilities.
Lots of quality fixes for Workspaces, improving the number of supported applications.
Reduced Peek memory usage by fixing image leaks. Thanks @daverayment!

General

Added a general setting to select which UI language should be used in PowerToys utilities.
Fixed internal code of some policies for Group Policy Objects, that were reading registry entries using the wrong internal functions, and structured code better to avoid future mistakes of the same kind. Thanks @htcfreek!

Advanced Paste

Fixed some telemetry calls to signal Advanced Paste activation on the cases where a direct shortcut is being used without showing the UI.
User-defined custom actions can only be used with AI turned on, so custom actions were disabled on Settings when AI is disabled and were hidden from the Advanced Paste UI.

FancyZones

Allow snapping applications that were launched by Workspaces.

File Locksmith

Fixed an issue causing File Locksmith to be triggered by unrelated verbs in the context menu.

Settings

Fixed the link to the Workspaces documentation. (This was a hotfix for 0.84)
Fixed flyout issues after the Windows App SDK upgrade. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
Fixed initialization for the New+ settings page. Thanks @htcfreek!
Fixed enabled state of a control on the New+ settings page if the module is enabled by policy. Thanks @htcfreek!
Fixed a crash when cancelling the template folder selection in the New+ settings page.

Workspaces

Fixed detecting and snapping applications like Discord. (This was a hotfix for 0.84)
Fixed detecting and snapping applications like Steam. (This was a hotfix for 0.84)
Fixed button visibility in the UI. (This was a hotfix for 0.84)
Fixed an issue launching the wrong project when the editor was closed without saving or cancelling a new project.
Properly handle repositioning windows running as administrator.
Properly handle cases where the monitor where a workspace was saved is no longer present.
Fixed the workspace launcher restarting itself in a loop without success.
Properly handle standalone applications.
Fixed issues causing icons to not show.

2024-10-02 16:39