File extension shell verbs don't show up in Windows 10 context menus

Question

Shell verbs for the .AHK extension:

• Don't show up in Explorer context menus
• Don't work when launching the process programmatically

I've confirmed that:

• They're in the correct registry key
• .ahk is set to use that registry key

Answer 1

The FileExts registry key was overriding the other key.

1. Open Registry Editor.

2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.

3. Delete the .ahk key.

   

Now the correct shell verbs show up.

Answer 2

To create extension-specific context menu entries that will be displayed regardless of the FileExt > PrgID association and/or the HKCU\...\Explorer\FileExts\<.ext>\UserChoice values, create your entry under:

     `HKCR\SystemFileAssociations\<.ext>`

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations.mp3]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations.mp3\Shell]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations.mp3\Shell\MyCommand]
@="NewMenuVerb"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations.mp3\Shell\MyCommand\Command]
@="Notepad "%1""

Answer 3

Adding to @Eric Eskildsen's answer: If this is causing the problems, you want to add your commands to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\XXX.XXX\shell\....
E.g.: Your file type is associated with notepad.exe. You would add your commands to Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad.exe\shell\...