Missing context menu items in XYplorer 64 Bit

[jgillmanjr]

Hello!

I recently re-os'd my machine. I went from Windows 10 to Windows 11, and went from the 32-bit version of XYplorer to 64-bit (as of this writing, I'm on 28.20.0100).

It appears that some context menu items are missing when right-clicking on a directory (such as "Open in Terminal" or "Open with Code") or an individual file.

I did follow the FAQ about 64-bit context menu items just to make sure I wasn't missing anything, but (unsurprising, given I'm running the 64-bit version), the "Show the 64-bit context menu" option wasn't available.

Is there something I may be missing, or did I possibly stumble upon a bug?

Thanks for any assistance!

[admin]

It looks like some shell extensions are hardwired to File Explorer. At least that's the only explanation I got. Or do you see those items in the context menus of other alternative file managers?

[jgillmanjr]

I have not tried any other alternative file managers.

Will the 32-bit version of XYplorer have any issue with the configuration now that I'm using the 64-bit version, or would it be fine to go back to test/validate if the context menu items appear in that version?

[admin]

A copy of XYplorer.exe (32-bit and 64-bit) can be run from any temporary folder to quickly test such things.

[jgillmanjr]

Just tested with the 32-bit portable version and I have even less context menu items (even with the "Show 64-bit context menu" option selected).

Indeed it sounds like Windows 11 just might be doing me dirty.

Screenshots show right click on an empty part of the directory with no file selected

32-bit 27.20.1000.png

64-bit 28.20.0100.png

[highend]

Your 32-bit screenshot is NOT from a right-click on the same item as your 64-bit one...

[jgillmanjr]

Your 32-bit screenshot is NOT from a right-click on the same item as your 64-bit one...

Maybe it's because it's a portable version and I haven't gone through to try and match up every configuration one to one. But it is from the same location.

Quick recording to demonstrate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=901zAT_Mg2U

[highend]

And now you right-click ON THE FILENAME (and not on the empty space after it) and show the screenshot from the 32-bit version...

[jgillmanjr]

Here you go

Screenshot 2026-02-20 230244.png

[highend]

And now a screenshot for the exact same file from

01. XYplorer x64
02. Windows file explorer (the expanded version after clicking on the last entry "Show more options")

[jgillmanjr]

Here's XYplorer 64-bit on the file

64-bit on file.png

Here's windows explorer on the file with more options

Explorer on file more options.png

Here's windows explorer on the directory with more options

Explorer on directory more options.png

Here's windows explorer on the file and the directory prior to selecting more options

Explorer on file initial.png

Explorer on directory initial.png

So from what I'm seeing, with a specific file selected, XYplorer and Windows Explorer, after clicking "Show more options", contain basically the same context menu items.

However there does seem to be a difference between XYplorer and Windows Explorer after selecting "Show more options" when working against just the directory.

[highend]

Why is your Windows Explorer expanded context menu for folders missing items like "Scan with Microsoft Defender..."?
Why is it missing entries like "Add to VLC ...", "Play with VLC..."?

These entries exist on XY x64...

Windows 11 has a new way (via COM) to display entries in the non-expanded menu (Open in Terminal, etc.)
It seems that XY can't handle them...

[jgillmanjr]

Windows 11 has a new way (via COM) to display entries in the non-expanded menu (Open in Terminal, etc.)

From the very small amount of research I did, it sounds like there's some

IExplorerCommand

interface that being used (amongst other requirements). But I'm not a Windows developer, so I'll leave that for you pros.

If I knew how Windows 11 was going to go, I very may well have just put 10 back on, even knowing it's EOL (I've had to deal with other nuances after moving to 11).

I appreciate the help, though. XYplorer is still an absolutely great piece of software!