Windows 11 Finally Lets Users Remove AI Actions from File Explorer's Right-Click Menu

Microsoft Responds to User Feedback on AI Actions

Microsoft has introduced a significant change in Windows 11 that addresses widespread user criticism about AI Actions cluttering File Explorer. In the latest Windows Insider preview build 26220.7344, the company now allows users to completely remove AI Actions from the File Explorer right-click menu when all AI tools are disabled1

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. Previously, even when users disabled every AI feature, the AI Actions entry remained visible in the Windows 11 context menu, displaying an empty folder that served no purpose other than adding visual noise4

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How to Disable AI Features and Remove Menu Clutter

To remove AI Actions from your File Explorer right-click menu, navigate to Settings in Windows 11 and select the "Apps" menu in the left panel, then choose the "Actions" submenu2

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. There you can uncheck AI Actions associated with Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Office, Teams, Paint, and Photos. If you prefer a faster approach, you can jump straight into Settings > Apps > Actions and untick everything in one go[4](https://www.digit.in/news/general/microsoft-now-lets-users-remove-ai-actions-menu-here is-how.html). Once all AI tools are disabled, the AI Actions section vanishes entirely from the context menu, as confirmed in Microsoft's Windows Insider blog post.

Understanding the AI Integration Push

Microsoft has aggressively integrated AI across its ecosystem, from Windows 11 to Microsoft 365 and even the Game Bar, all featuring Copilot functionality1

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. The AI Actions feature was designed to provide quick shortcuts for tasks like asking Copilot to summarize documents or using AI-powered image editing tricks in Photos3

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. However, many users found these features redundant, as AI Actions never unlocked anything you couldn't already access through the traditional "Open With" menu4

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. Early screenshots showed the context menu stretching to 18 items in some cases, creating significant UI elements bloat.

Broader Decluttering Efforts and User Interface Customization

This Windows 11 update is part of Microsoft's wider initiative to declutter File Explorer's right-click menu3

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. Build 26220.7344 introduces other user interface customization improvements, including a new "manage file" sub-menu that consolidates options like "Compress to" and "Copy as path" into a single location4

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. OneDrive menu items are also being consolidated into a single section, reducing scattered entries across the context menu.

What This Means for User Experience Going Forward

While this change represents a win for user feedback and improved user experience, some observers remain cautious about Microsoft's long-term AI strategy. Windows is actively pursuing an agentic operating system vision with Copilot at its core1

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. The company may be accommodating user preferences now, but there's speculation that Microsoft could gradually increase AI prominence once users become comfortable with the Settings menu changes. The latest preview build also includes other improvements like Quick Machine Recovery enabled by default on some PCs, the release of Windows MIDI Services, and native support for the Model Context Protocol that grants AI agents a standardized way to connect with apps and services2

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. For now, users who prefer a cleaner interface can enjoy reduced clutter, but should watch how Microsoft balances AI integration with user choice in future updates.