Remove AMD Catalyst from Windows desktop right-click menu

If you have ever installed an AMD graphics card and then install the AMD Radeon Software you may see a new context menu option added by AMD drivers. I hated to see a new context menu option added by AMD drivers as it looks just plain ugly with its red icon and its too-wide appearance, but it is easy to remove it and I will show you how.

In case you don’t know what I’m talking about…



Step 1: Open the Registry editor by searching for registry editor in the search box or by pressing Windows key + R and type regedit and press enter.
Step 2: Navigate to KEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ACE
Step 3: Right click on the key “ACE“.and select delete and that's it! Alternatively, you can download these registry files run them to disable or enable back the ATI option.

nVidia does the same with their Control Panel. They also want to add a systray icon. (That can be turned off in the control panel's settings.)

It would have never occurred to me to remove it, as it's only visible when I right click on the desktop. I guess I'm insensitive.

f14tomcat said:

As Bob said, NVidia has it all in the menu at top. Surprised AMD does not have a similar drop-down.

Yeah not sure why AMD doesn't do it I think that they should.

cgrim1985 said:

Alternatively, you can download these registry files run them to disable or enable back the ATI option.

Alternatively, you can run the following commands via either Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Elevated Command Prompt.

To delete the option.

Code:

(REG Delete "HKCR\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ACE" /F)

To add the option.

Code:

(REG Add "HKCR\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ACE" /T REG_SZ /D "{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}" /F)

I rarely use registry files, if ever.

Matthew Wai said:

Alternatively, you can run the following commands via either Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Elevated Command Prompt.

To delete the option.

Code:

(REG Delete "HKCR\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ACE" /F)

To add the option.

Code:

(REG Add "HKCR\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ACE" /T REG_SZ /D "{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}" /F)

I rarely use registry files, if ever.

I don't either unless I really need to

Ghot said:

It doesn't remove AMD Control Panel all together just the option from the right-click context menu.

The author does not bother to translate the registry files into REG commands, which can be integrated into PowerShell, CMD, and batch scripts.