A right-click on desktop gives you quick access to personalization settings, desktop icon configuration, and display settings.
We have seen many Windows 10 users complaining that they are unable to perform a right-click on the desktop or nothing happens when right-clicked on the desktop.
When you are unable to right-click on the desktop, you can open the Control Panel or Settings app to access display settings and personalization settings, but access to desktop icons configuration is possible only with a right-click on the desktop.
Following are the two working solutions that you could use to enable right-click on Windows 10 desktop again. Note that if the context menu opening very slowly, please refer to our fix to slow desktop context menu in Windows 10 article.
Solution 1 of 2
Turn off the tablet mode
Windows 10 is designed to run on both computers and tablets. To help tablet users, there is a feature called tablet mode. Tablet mode, when turned on, shows the full Start menu and doesn’t show the desktop that we are all familiar with.
By default settings, Windows 10 automatically turns on the tablet mode only if it finds that you are running Windows 10 on a tablet device. But sometimes it might turn on the tablet mode even when you are on a regular laptop or desktop.
Here is how to turn off the tablet mode:
Step 1: Navigate to Settings app > System > Tablet mode.
Step 2: In When I sign in drop-down box, select Use desktop mode.
Sign out and sign in again to turn off the tablet mode. You can also restart to turn off the tablet mode. You should now be able to right-click on the desktop.
Solution 2 of 2
Check if right-click is disabled in Registry
One can disable right-click or context menu by making necessary changes to the Registry. But when the context menu is disabled, you won’t be able to right-click not just on the desktop but also in File Explorer or Windows Explorer.
Enabling the right-click menu or context menu is easy. Here is how to do just that.
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor by typing Regedit.exe in the Start/taskbar search and then pressing Enter key.
Step 2: In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Step 3: On the right-side, look for a value called NoViewContextMenu.
Step 4: Double-click on NoViewContextMenu value and change its value data to 0 (zero) to enable the right-click.
If NoViewContextMenu doesn’t exist, no need to do anything. The absence of NoViewContextMenu indicates that the right-click has not been disabled in Registry.
Close the Registry Editor. Either restart Windows Explorer or sign out and then sign in again to be able to right-click on the desktop. Rebooting your PC will do the same job.
Beverly says
I’ve tried all this and it still doesn’t work, anything else I can try?
Mimi says
If everything is not working, try shutting your PC down. It worked for me when my caps lock functionality was reversed, desktop apps were hidden and right click button won’t work on desktop.
Philip Gatto says
Same problem–No right click on the desktop but it works everywhere else. I tried the going into tablet mode and back again. Nothing and then I tried the second part and like others I do not have an Explorer folder under Policies. Can’t change anything there.
Craig says
I’ve done a full reset of my PC..for other reasons having to do with rebooting issues. But the right click on desktop doesn’t work. I don’t have an ‘explorer’ folder listed under the ‘policy’ folder, so I can’t make any changes there. right click does work in other places, just not on the desktop.
Miguel Kristoffer Labao says
None solved the issue for me.
Emmanuella says
This was very helpful… Plenty thanks
Nick Belmon says
Thanks alot. Solution 1 solved my problem
TechSavannah says
@MsTemplar Opening Touchpad setting and checking that box solved this issue for me, thank you for sharing!
wonderful says
I have a brand new machine with win10 installed. No such key in the registry.
e duignan says
Thanks ms Templar work after hours of trying everything else thanks
Dr. D says
I could not access the policy folder, reinstalling the windows didn’t fix the problem for me, and the only real solution that worked for me is by going to the setting menu, then update and security, then click on (Open windows defender security center), then click on Device performance & health and finally under fresh start follow the additional info prompt. The only problem with this step is that it purges the computer and deletes not only personal files, but applications as well.
MsTemplar says
Had the same problem. Couldn’t right-click on desktop, so could neither create nor delete desktop icons. Finally realised that when I was changing the Touchpad settings I had un-checked ‘press bottom right-hand corner to right-click’. Checked this box and suddenly I could right-click on everything again. Phew!
david craker says
format and reinstall windows 10 also worked for me..