Download free Shell Extension Manager

Some antivirus programs flag NirSoft tools as “potentially unwanted” because of their top 10 online casino australia real money system-level capabilities (reading passwords, registry keys, etc.). The program does not modify system files, install drivers, or phone home to any server. On first launch, ShellExView automatically scans your system and populates the list. Administrator privileges are required on Windows Vista and later because ShellExView needs to read and write registry keys in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE hive. If you are not sure which architecture you have, press Win + Pause and check the “System type” line — it will say either “64-bit operating system” or “32-bit operating system.”

Download ShellExView – Free for Windows PC (

ShellExView manages dynamic shell extensions — DLL files registered as COM objects that inject code into Explorer at runtime. Both tools are made by NirSoft and both deal with the right-click context menu, but they target different types of menu entries. This re-enables every extension in the list, including ones that were already enabled (pressing F8 on an enabled extension does nothing, so it is safe). If you change your mind, open ShellExView again, find the disabled entry (it will show “Yes” in the Disabled column), select it, and press F8 to re-enable it. The 64-bit version of ShellExView shows both types in a single list, so it gives you the most complete picture. However, some older applications install 32-bit extensions that run under the WoW64 compatibility layer.

If the menu appears instantly but just has too many items, use ShellMenuView to trim the static entries. These are lightweight entries like “Open with Notepad++” or “Edit with VS Code.” They rarely cause problems but can clutter the menu. These are the more complex (and more problematic) type of context menu handler. Removing that registry value (which is what F8 does) fully restores the extension to its original state. Disabled extensions are not deleted or modified in any way. Search for that DLL filename in ShellExView to find the exact extension responsible.

Windows 32-bit

On older 32-bit machines running Windows XP, Vista, or 7, pick the 32-bit ZIP (~120 KB). If you are running a modern 64-bit copy of Windows 10 or Windows 11, choose the 64-bit ZIP (~140 KB). It writes nothing to the registry and leaves no traces on the host system.

The entire program is a single 120 KB executable plus one help file. Download a small INI file for your language and drop it next to the executable. Checks each extension for a valid digital signature from a trusted publisher. Extensions with missing files, unsigned code, or unusual attributes are automatically highlighted in pink. Disabling an extension takes a single click or keyboard shortcut, and re-enabling it is just as simple.

Useful for IT teams tracking which extensions are installed across workstations or building baseline configurations. Save the full extension list in multiple formats for documentation, comparison, or analysis. Unsigned or tampered extensions are flagged, which helps identify software that might have been modified or installed from an unverified source. Everything you need to inspect, manage, and fix Windows shell extensions in one portable tool. Version 2.01 supports Windows from XP through Windows 11, works on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems, and the entire program fits in a ZIP file under 140 KB.

• Administrator privileges are required on Windows Vista and later because ShellExView needs to read and write registry keys in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE hive.
• However, some older applications install 32-bit extensions that run under the WoW64 compatibility layer.
• After disabling or enabling extensions, restart Windows Explorer directly from the Options menu.
• This is faster when you have many third-party extensions to test.
• On first launch, ShellExView automatically scans your system and populates the list.

If you are trying to clean up entries from the classic context menu (the one that appears after clicking “Show more options”), ShellExView handles that directly. Use the 64-bit version for full coverage of both 64-bit and 32-bit shell extensions on your system. When you disable an extension, ShellExView writes a single registry value that tells Windows to skip loading that extension — the original DLL file remains untouched. Without admin rights, you can still view extensions but cannot disable or enable them. From download to your first disabled extension in under five minutes.