Windows 11 has been quietly evolving with every new update, and sometimes those changes feel helpful… while other times they feel like the Start menu grew another branch you didn’t ask for. One of the latest additions has sparked that exact debate: a new AI Actions section inside the right-click context menu.
For some people, it’s a welcome shortcut to visual search tools, background-removal features, and image editing options. But for others, it’s simply one more layer in a menu that already feels heavier than it should. And until now, Microsoft didn’t give users any built-in way to hide or disable it.
But all of that is finally changing — and today, we’re taking a closer look at what this feature does, why it feels redundant, and how a new Windows Insider update finally gives you control over it.
The AI Actions Menu: A Feature You Either Love… or Immediately Want to Turn Off
Let’s begin with the basics, because that’s where the confusion usually starts. When you right-click an image in Windows 11, you’ll notice a section called AI Actions. It includes options such as:
- Visual Search with Bing
- Blur Background (Photos app)
- Erase Objects (Photos app)
- Remove Background with Paint
These tools are meant to make image editing quicker by jumping straight into the exact feature you want. For example, choosing Remove Background with Paint instantly opens the image in Paint and removes the background automatically — no additional steps, no wandering through menus.
That part genuinely feels convenient. It saves time, reduces clicks, and helps casual users reach advanced editing features without knowing where they live inside the Photos and Paint apps.
But the other side of the story is equally true: redundancy.
You can already open images in Paint or Photos normally. Those apps already show these options inside their own menus. So for many users, the AI Actions menu simply duplicates features they weren’t asking to access from the right-click menu.
And when the context menu feels like it’s growing month after month, this small redundancy can start feeling like unnecessary bloat.
Why Users Are Calling It “Bloat”
Before we move to the fix, it’s worth understanding why people wanted AI Actions removed in the first place.
The main issue is clutter. The context menu already includes entries like:
- Open with
- Edit
- Open in Paint
- Open in Photos
Because AI Actions offer almost the same options, it essentially repeats features that exist elsewhere — making the menu look longer without offering anything unique.
The second issue is that the entry remains visible even when AI features are turned off. You could disable every AI toggle in Settings, yet Windows still shows an empty AI Actions section in the menu. This creates the feeling that users have no control over what appears there.
And that’s exactly the point Microsoft is now fixing.
Microsoft Finally Addresses the Issue in Insider Build 26220.7344
There’s some good news for anyone who prefers a clean, lightweight right-click menu. Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7344 to the Dev and Beta Channels, and buried inside the changelog is a small but important improvement.
Microsoft now states:
“If there are no available or enabled AI Actions, the AI Actions section will no longer show in the context menu.”
This means Windows will no longer display an empty placeholder. If you disable the AI-powered options behind the menu, the entire section disappears — just the way it should have worked from the beginning.
And this change does not rely on registry editing, command line tweaks, or unsupported workarounds. It’s built directly into the system.
Let’s look at how you will control this.
How to Hide the AI Actions Menu in Windows 11 (When the Update Rolls Out)
Before this update, turning off recommended AI tools did nothing. The AI Actions menu still appeared — empty and not particularly helpful.
The new system fixes that. Here’s how it will work:
Step 1: Open Settings
Navigate to Settings → Apps → Actions.
This page shows the apps that integrate with the AI Actions menu.
Step 2: Toggle Off All AI Action Features
You’ll see switches like:
- “Windows can recommend actions from these apps”
- Individual toggles for Paint, Photos, and Bing Visual Search
When you turn all of these off, Windows will now correctly detect that there are no AI Actions available.
Step 3: Right-Click Any Image
With the update applied, the AI Actions section should now completely disappear from the context menu — not just collapse into an empty placeholder.
This is a welcome change for anyone who prioritizes a clean interface.
What This Fix Means for Everyday Users
This update may look small on paper, but it brings meaningful improvements to Windows usability. For years, users have asked Microsoft to reduce context-menu bloat, streamline options, and avoid forcing features people don’t use.
This update aligns directly with that feedback.
By letting users hide AI Actions entirely, Microsoft:
- reduces cognitive load
- minimizes redundant entries
- keeps the context menu cleaner
- respects user preferences
And while this is available only in Dev and Beta Insider channels for now, there’s no reason to believe it won’t arrive in the stable release — especially since it improves UX without removing any core functionality.
Sometimes progress really does come in small, thoughtful steps.
A Quick Look at What AI Actions Currently Includes
Before the update becomes widely available, it’s helpful to understand exactly what is being removed when toggles are turned off. Currently, AI Actions bundles together:
- Remove background with Paint
- Blur background (Photos)
- Erase objects (Photos)
- Visual Search with Bing
These features are placed under one expandable menu. When you disable the AI integrations, this entire entry disappears — not just the overflow inside it.
That’s the cleaner, more logical design users have been asking for.
Final Thoughts: A Small but Meaningful Step Toward a Cleaner Windows 11
In many ways, Windows 11 is still in the middle of finding its identity — balancing powerful features with simplicity. AI tools are a big part of Microsoft’s vision, but not everyone wants every AI entry forced into their workflow.
With this update, Microsoft is acknowledging that preference.
It’s not a revolution, but it’s a respectful change — giving power back to the user and finally decluttering an area of Windows that needs it.
Sometimes bloat reduction is just as important as new features, and this improvement proves Microsoft is starting to listen.
Disclaimer
This feature is currently available only in Windows Insider Dev and Beta builds. Behavior may change before the stable release. Always avoid modifying system files or registry keys beyond official settings, as it may cause system instability.
#Windows11 #AIActions #WindowsTips #ContextMenu #MicrosoftUpdates
