W11ContextMenuDemo

Overview

This repo contains a simplified version of the official "PhotoStoreDemo" Sparse Package sample code.

This version focuses on how to add a very simple Windows 11 context menu extension.

You can learn more about the Windows 11 context menu on my post on the Windows Developer blog.

Instructions

• YouTube tutorial
• Reddit post

Reference Commands

The YouTube tutorial shows using these commands, which you can copy and use in your environment. Paths may be different on your own machine. Remember to replace <YOUR PASSWORD> with a new password - this isn't your Windows account password.

Make a Cert

In a PowerShell window:

New-SelfSignedCertificate -Type Custom -Subject "CN=Contoso" -KeyUsage DigitalSignature -FriendlyName "SelfSignCert" -CertStoreLocation "Cert:\CurrentUser\My" -TextExtension @("2.5.29.37={text}1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.3", "2.5.29.19={text}")

Export the Cert to a PFX file

$password = ConvertTo-SecureString -String <YOUR PASSWORD> -Force -AsPlainText 
Export-PfxCertificate -cert "Cert:\CurrentUser\My\<Certificate Thumbprint>" -FilePath <FilePath>.pfx -Password $password

Make an MSIX Package

In a CMD window:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\10.0.22000.0\x64\makeappx.exe" pack /d C:\src\AppModelSamples-master\Samples\SparsePackages\ContextMenuRegistrationPkg /p "C:\src\mypackage.msix" /nv

Sign the MSIX Package

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\10.0.22000.0\x64\signtool.exe" sign /fd SHA256 /a /f "C:\src\MyPFX.pfx" /p <YOUR PASSWORD> "C:\src\mypackage.msix"

Unregistering Context Menus (App Packages)

1. Open PowerShell as administrator.

2. Run the following command to change the execution policy for the current session to "Unrestricted"

   Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope Process
   

3. Get the list of installed context menus by running the script in the root of the repository

   .\FindAppsWithFileExplorerContextMenus.ps1
   

4. Take note of the PackageFullName for the app package you wish to unregister.

5. Next, unregister the app package using the following command, replacing <PackageFullName> with the actual package's full name:

   Get-AppxPackage -Name <PackageFullName> | Remove-AppxPackage