Open-Shell reworks the Start menu, while Nilesoft Shell goes after a different spot: the right-click menu in File Explorer. It is a context menu manager from the developer Nilesoft, listed here under desktop themes. The current version is 1.9.18, and it runs on Windows 7 or later.
Free, MIT-licensed and a 0.9 MB download
Nilesoft Shell costs nothing and is released under the MIT License. The package weighs only 0.9 MB, so adding a right-click menu editor to Windows File Explorer takes very little space.
Its package ID is Nilesoft.Shell, which is handy if you manage software by identifier. The developer publishes it at nilesoft.org.
Choosing what appears in the right-click menu
The tool lets you pick which items go into the File Explorer context menu. You can also create custom commands that open web pages, files and folders, or launch an application straight from the menu.
It can modify or remove entries added by Windows itself or by third-party software. That makes it a cleanup tool as much as an extender, which fits its tags: context-menu, right-click, file-explorer and shell-extension.
Version 1.9.18 and the April 2026 update
The page was last updated on April 23, 2026. The changelog for 1.9.18 is a single line about internal bug fixes, so this release adds no new features.
What's new in 1.9.18
The changelog for version 1.9.18 reads "Fix internal bugs". No other changes are listed.
Nilesoft Shell pros and cons
Pros
- Free, with the MIT License
- Only 0.9 MB in size
- Can remove or modify menu items added by the system or third-party software
- Custom commands can open web pages, files, folders and applications
- Runs on Windows 7 and later
Cons
- Menu styling can't be previewed before installing
- The 1.9.18 changelog gives only a vague bug-fix note
- Limited to the File Explorer context menu, with no wider desktop theming
Is Nilesoft Shell safe?
The file comes from the official server at nilesoft.org, not from us. Nilesoft publishes the app under the MIT License. No scan results are available for it, so it is worth checking the file yourself before you install it.
How to install Nilesoft Shell
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start Nilesoft Shell from the Start menu.
