ShellEx.info
Updated for Windows 11 24H2

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Shell Extensions

Debug, develop, and optimize shellex.dll and other context menu handlers. The comprehensive resource for power users and developers.

Most Popular

Remove shellex.dll Safely

The ultimate guide to troubleshooting and removing problematic shell extensions preventing your system from fast boot.

Review

Best Shell Managers 2026

We compared ShellExView, Autoruns, and Process Hacker. See which tool is best for your needs.

Technical

Developer Documentation

Learn how to write high-performance Shell Extensions in C++ and debug them with x64dbg.

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Latest Articles

Expert guides, security advisories, and developer tutorials for Windows Shell Extensions.

Guide

Explorer.exe High Memory Usage? How Shell Extensions Cause Memory Leaks and How to Fix Them (2026)

Diagnose and fix high memory usage in explorer.exe caused by leaking shell extensions. Step-by-step guide using Process Explorer, Performance Monitor, and ShellExView on Windows 11.

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Security

5 Suspicious Shell Extensions That Often Bundle Malware

A detailed cybersecurity breakdown of the top 5 most dangerous types of Windows shell extensions that secretly install adware, crypto miners, and malware.

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Developer

The Ultimate Guide to Debugging Windows Shell Extensions

A deep dive for developers and power users on how to debug Windows Explorer crashes. Learn to use Event Viewer, Process Explorer, WinDbg, and Procdump to catch bad shell extensions.

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Guide

Fix Explorer.exe Freeze on Right-Click – Complete 2026 Guide

Explorer.exe freezes when you right-click? Learn exactly why it happens and how to fix it with step-by-step solutions for Windows 11 and 10.

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Tool

Best Free Shell Extension Managers for Windows (2026 Review)

A comprehensive deep-dive comparison of the best tools to manage, clean, and secure your Windows right-click context menu, featuring ShellExView, Autoruns, and more.

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Tool

ShellExView Review (2026): Is It Still the Best Free Shell Manager?

An in-depth, modern review of NirSoft's legendary ShellExView. We analyze its interface, effectiveness on Windows 11, and whether it's still worth downloading today.

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Security

How Hackers Use Windows Shell Extensions for Spyware & Persistence

A deep dive into the cybersecurity risks of Windows Shell Extensions. Learn how bad actors use COM DLLs and context menus to inject keyloggers and malware into explorer.exe.

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Developer

How to Build a Windows Shell Extension in C# and .NET 8

A complete developer's guide to writing, debugging, and deploying COM-compatible Windows context menu shell extensions using C#, .NET 8, and SharpShell.

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Developer

Migrating Shell Extensions from Windows 10 to Windows 11: Complete Developer Guide (2026)

The definitive guide to porting legacy IContextMenu shell extensions to Windows 11's IExplorerCommand API. Covers the new context menu architecture, MSIX packaging, backward compatibility, and Win32 App Isolation.

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Security

Scanning Shell Extensions: Malwarebytes vs Windows Defender in 2026

An advanced cybersecurity guide comparing how Malwarebytes and Windows Defender detect, block, and remove deeply embedded malicious shell extensions from explorer.exe.

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