Without a doubt, 7-Zip is the best free file archiving software out there for Windows operating system. Even though it doesn’t get updates on a regular basis (last stable version was released back in 2010), it’s compatible with all recent versions of Windows and is capable of unpacking all popular formats, including RAR, ISO, ZIP, WIM, CAB, MSI, and TAR.
The best thing about 7-Zip is that it gets integrated very well with Windows shell and doesn’t clutter Explorer’s context menu. Cascaded menu is enabled by default, meaning that only 7-Zip entry appears in the context menu and you’ll need to click or select 7-Zip entry in order to access all other options such as Extract files, Extract here and Add to archive.
If for some reason, all 7-Zip options are appearing in the context menu you need to enable cascaded menu feature under its settings to see only 7-Zip entry in the context menu.
But if you want to make the context menu clutter-free by removing 7-Zip entry and you can easily configure 7-Zip not to appear in the context menu without the help of any third-party software.
Remove 7-Zip entry from right-click menu in Windows
Follow the given below instructions to remove 7-Zip entries from the context menu:
Step 1: Open 7-Zip File Manager window by typing 7-Zip in the Start menu or Start screen search box and then pressing enter key.
Step 2: Once 7-Zip File Manager window appears on your screen, navigate to Tools menu and then click Options.
Step 3: Next, switch to the 7-Zip tab (see picture). Here, uncheck options labelled Integrate 7-Zip to shell context menu and Cascaded context menu.
NOTE: Please note that unchecking only Integrate 7-Zip to shell context menu will not remove 7-Zip from context menu. You need to uncheck Cascaded context menu option as well in order to remove 7-Zip from context menu.
Step 4: Finally, click Apply button. That’s it!
If you want to add 7-Zip to the context menu again, enable Integrate 7-Zip to shell context menu and Cascaded context menu options. How to create zip file with password in Windows guide might also interest you.
hushang says
Thanks a lot!
I have shortened my 7zip context menu on win 10 64 bit.
who says
If you get “access denied” then run 7-zip as administrator
Lawrence B says
For those interested from a more enhanced restriction – you can modify the reg key “ContextMenu” located under Software\7-Zip\Options
DWORD value, actual value seems to be a culmination of either a hash or a sum of values from the %installdir% (of 7-zip) under the LANG folder, within the en.ttt file (or respective language if using a foreign installation).
For example, the value (hex: 00001203 or dec: 4611) removes the following context menu items;
Open Archive
Open Archive > (sub context menu)
Extract to folder…
Test Archive
Add to Archive…
Compress and Email
Compress to .7z and Email
Compress to .zip and Email
Leaving the following to remain:
Extract Files…
Extract Here
Add to .7z
Add to .zip
The latter 4 options mean the user can no longer access the 7zip GUI (if you are publishing a file explorer instance over a seamless interface such as Citrix XenApp).
admin says
@ Actionjksn
The guide for those users who have installed multiple file compression tools and don’t use them very often. Agree that most users won’t like to remove it from context menu.
actionjksn says
I can’t understand why anybody would want to remove 7Zip from their context menu.