Download free Shell Extension Manager
Compare exports to detect when new extensions are installed or existing ones are modified — useful for security monitoring. The tool reads all information directly from the local Windows registry and file system. Start with ShellExView for context menu and Explorer issues, then use Autoruns for broader startup analysis. Run a batch script that iterates through a list of hostnames and exports each machine’s data to a separate file. The remote computer must have the “Remote Registry” service running and Windows file sharing enabled. ShellExView can scan and manage shell extensions on other Windows computers across your local network.
Download ShellExView 2.01
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.
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.
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.
Classic Shell
- ShellExView is the most effective tool for finding and disabling the responsible extension.
- If you uninstalled a program but its shell extension is still registered, that is a cleanup failure — disable or leave it disabled.
- On Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11 — yes, administrator privileges are required for full functionality.
- From download to your first disabled extension in under five minutes.
Windows has no built-in interface for viewing or managing shell extensions. The problem with shell extensions is that they accumulate over time. It scans your Windows installation and displays a complete list of every shell extension registered on the system. Fix slow right-click menus, stop Explorer crashes, and take control of every context menu handler on your best online pokies australia system. You can plug the drive into any Windows PC — even one without internet — and immediately diagnose shell extension problems.
Restart Explorer In-Place
However, you will not be able to disable or enable any extensions, and some information (like certain file paths and registry data) may be incomplete. The 32-bit version (shexview.zip, ~120 KB) runs on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows but can only see 32-bit extensions. The 64-bit version of ShellExView (shexview-x64.zip, ~140 KB) runs natively on 64-bit Windows and can display both 64-bit and 32-bit shell extensions. It does not write to the registry (beyond the disable/enable flags for shell extensions you modify), does not install services, and does not create Start Menu shortcuts. For the new simplified Windows 11 menu, the entries are controlled differently through the registry, but ShellExView still covers the underlying shell extension handlers.
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