How to add or remove the Open With option from the right-click menu in Windows 8 and 8.1.

Follow these steps to add the Open With option to the right-click menu:

WARNING: There is a risk of software corruption and data loss. When editing the Registry, there is the risk of corrupting installed software or the operating system, which may result in data loss.

IMPORTANT: Before continuing with the steps below, first back up the Registry and create a Restore point .

1. Point to (but do not click) the lower-right or top-right corner of the screen, and then click to select the Search charm.
   

   NOTE: The Windows Logo + Q key combination will also take you to the Search screen.

2. In the Search screen, in the Search field, type Notepad and then click the Notepad icon.
3. In the Notepad window, type the following text exactly:
   
   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Open With]
   @="{09799AFB-AD67-11d1-ABCD-00C04FC30936}"
   
4. In the Notepad window, click File and then click Save As.
5. In the Save As window, in the left-hand column click Desktop, name the file OpenWith.reg, and then click the Save button.
   
6. On the Desktop, double-click the icon for the OpenWith file you just saved.

   NOTE: If prompted for an administrator password or a User Account Control prompt is displayed, type the appropriate password, or click Yes.

7. At the Registry Editor prompt, click Yes, and then click OK.

The Open With option will now appear in the menu whenever you right-click a file.

Follow these steps to remove the Open With option from the right-click menu.

1. Right-click the icon for the OpenWith file you created above, and then click Open With.
2. In the How do you want to open this file? prompt, click More options, and then click Notepad.
3. In the OpenWith - Notepad window, completely remove the entire @="{09799AFB-AD67-11d1-ABCD-00C04FC30936}" line.
   
4. In the OpenWith - Notepad window, click File and then click Save As.
5. In the Save As window, in the left-hand column click Desktop, name the file RemoveOpenWith.reg, and then click the Save button.
6. On the Desktop, double-click the icon for the RemoveOpenWith file you just saved.

   NOTE: If prompted for an administrator password or a User Account Control prompt is displayed, type the appropriate password, or click Yes.

7. At the Registry Editor prompt, click Yes, and then click OK.