Remove “Compress to…” Entry Folder from Windows 11 Modern Context Menu

The “Compress to…” entry in the Windows 11 context menu allows quick access to compress files and folders into a zip archive. While convenient for some, this option can clutter the right-click menu, especially for users who rarely use built-in compression or prefer third-party tools. Removing this entry can simplify the menu and make frequently used actions easier to find.

Remove “Compress to…” Entry Using Registry Editor

Open the Windows Registry Editor. Press Win + R to launch the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter. If prompted by User Account Control, select “Yes” to continue.

Navigate to the following registry key by expanding the folders in the left sidebar:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\

This location contains the handlers responsible for various context menu entries for all file types.

Find the subkey named {b8cdcb65-b1bf-4b42-9428-1dfdb7ee92af} or one labeled “Compressed (zipped) Folder”. This entry controls the built-in zip functionality.

Right-click the {b8cdcb65-b1bf-4b42-9428-1dfdb7ee92af} key (or “Compressed (zipped) Folder”) and select Delete. Confirm the deletion when prompted. This removes the handler responsible for the “Compress to…” option in the context menu.

Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer, or sign out and sign back in to Windows. The “Compress to…” entry should no longer appear in the modern context menu.

Caution: Editing the registry can affect system stability if done incorrectly. Always back up your registry or create a system restore point before making changes.

Disable Built-in Zip Functionality with Group Policy Editor (Windows 11 Pro and Above)

Open the Local Group Policy Editor. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

In the left pane, navigate to:

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer

Locate the policy named Do not allow compression on all NTFS volumes. Double-click to open its settings.

Select Enabled, then click Apply and OK. This disables NTFS compression, which also removes the “Compress to…” entry from the context menu.

Restart your system or sign out and back in for the policy to take effect.

Note: This method is only available in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. Windows Home users must use the Registry Editor method.

Restore the “Compress to…” Entry (Optional)

If you wish to restore the “Compress to…” context menu option, you can reverse the changes:

For the registry method, recreate the {b8cdcb65-b1bf-4b42-9428-1dfdb7ee92af} key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ and set its default value to {b8cdcb65-b1bf-4b42-9428-1dfdb7ee92af}.
For the Group Policy method, set the policy back to Not Configured or Disabled and restart your system.

Cleaning up your Windows 11 context menu by removing the “Compress to…” entry makes file management faster and less cluttered. If you ever need the feature again, you can easily restore it using the steps above.