SnelMenu – documentation
SnelMenu is a small quick menu in the Windows notification area (the “system tray” at the bottom right, next to the clock). You put your favorite
programs, files, folders and websites in it and open them with two clicks. On this page you can read what you need, how to
install SnelMenu and how to use all of its features.
1. Requirements
- Operating system: Windows 11 (64-bit). SnelMenu also works on Windows 10 (64-bit) from version 1809 onward.
- .NET 10 Desktop Runtime (64-bit) from Microsoft. SnelMenu is deliberately small (about 0.2 MB) and does not bundle .NET itself.
The installer checks whether the runtime is present and offers to download and install it automatically
(about 60 MB, directly from Microsoft). You can also install it yourself from
dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/10.0.
- Disk space: About 5 MB.
- Permissions: Installing in the Program Files folder requires administrator rights. In the installer you can also
choose “only for me”, or choose a portable installation.
- An internet connection is needed to check for updates; for everything else it is not.
2. Installing
Download the installer (SnelMenu-Setup-x.x.x.exe) from the download page and run it. The first thing the installer asks
is which language you want to use (Nederlands or English). That choice also applies to SnelMenu itself; you can change the language later in
Settings. After that you choose the type of installation.
Standard installation (recommended)
- On the Type of installation page, choose Standard. Your settings are then stored in your user profile
(
%APPDATA%\SnelMenu) and are kept when you update or uninstall.
- Choose the destination folder (by default
Program Files\SnelMenu) and, if you like, a desktop shortcut.
- If the .NET 10 Desktop Runtime is not present yet, the installer asks whether it may download and install it now.
- Click Install and then Finish. SnelMenu starts and tells you that it is running in the notification area.
Windows 10 and 11 often put new icons under the arrow for hidden icons, close to the Windows clock. Click that arrow and drag the
SnelMenu icon to the taskbar, and it will always stay visible.
Portable installation
A portable installation is meant for a USB stick or a folder of your own in which everything stays together.
- On the Type of installation page, choose Portable.
- Choose a folder in which you have write permission (so not Program Files). The installer suggests a new
SnelMenu folder
in the same folder as the installer. With Browse... you can pick another folder, and you can create a new folder there too.
- The installer puts
SnelMenu.exe and a config.json in that folder. This is how SnelMenu recognizes that it is portable:
if config.json is next to SnelMenu.exe, SnelMenu uses that file.
A portable installation differs in a few ways, because the drive letter of a USB stick can change from computer to computer:
- There is no shortcut in the Start menu or on the desktop.
- There is no uninstaller and no entry in Apps & features.
- Start automatically when I sign in to Windows is not available; SnelMenu does not register anything on the computer.
- The .NET 10 Desktop Runtime must be installed on every computer on which you use SnelMenu portably. If you want to install it manually, download it
here (under .NET Desktop Runtime, pick the version for Windows x64).
Updating
Choose Check for updates... in the menu (see Updates). SnelMenu downloads the new installer and runs it
when you ask it to. For a portable installation, the update is placed in the same folder. Your settings are kept.
You can also run the new installer from the website manually.
Uninstalling
- Standard installation: Uninstall SnelMenu via Settings → Apps → Installed apps. The installer asks whether
your settings may be deleted too.
- Portable installation: Close SnelMenu (Exit in the menu) and delete the folder containing
SnelMenu.exe and config.json.
3. Using the menu
After it starts, the SnelMenu icon appears in the notification area. By default the menu opens with both a left and a right mouse click
on the icon. You can change that with the setting Also open the menu with a left click on the icon (see
Program settings). Click outside the menu or press Esc to close it.
- Opening an item: Click the line. SnelMenu closes the menu and opens the program, file, folder or website.
- Submenus: A line with an arrow expands when you hover over it for a moment, or when you click it.
Submenus can contain further submenus.
- Description: If an item has a description, it appears as a tooltip when you hover over the item for a moment.
- Long lists: If the menu does not fit on the screen, only the list scrolls (mouse wheel, scroll bar or arrow keys).
The fixed lines at the bottom always stay visible.
- Bold: An item (or part of its name) can be bold, see Menu layout.
- Light and dark: The menu follows the light or dark mode of Windows. The other SnelMenu windows are always light for now.
Keyboard
| Key | Action |
|---|
| ↑ / ↓ | Previous / next line |
| PageUp / PageDown | Up / down a page |
| Home / End | First / last line |
| Enter | Open the selected line |
| → | Open submenu |
| ← or Esc | Close submenu or menu |
The fixed lines at the bottom
| Line | What it does |
|---|
| Settings... | Opens the Settings window |
| Configuration file | Submenu with three choices:
- Open – opens
config.json in your editor (Notepad by default; can be changed under
Program settings)
- Open containing folder – opens File Explorer with the file selected
- Reload – reads the file again right away and applies it; you get a confirmation. If there is an error in the
file, the current configuration stays in effect and you see the error message.
|
| Check for updates... | Opens the Update check window |
| Documentation | Opens this documentation page on the website |
| About SnelMenu | Shows the version, the author and the location of your configuration file |
| Exit | Closes SnelMenu |
4. The Settings window
Open it via Settings... in the menu. The window has three tabs. In the top right corner is a
blue circle with a question mark (or press F1): it opens this documentation at the section that belongs to the
active tab. At the bottom you choose Save to keep your changes or Cancel to discard them.
On the left you see your menu as a tree under the root “SnelMenu”. On the right you edit the selected item.
The buttons above the tree
| Button | Action |
|---|
| Add item | Adds a new item in the selected submenu, otherwise directly below the selection. |
| Add separator | Adds a horizontal line to group your menu. |
| Add submenu | Adds a submenu in which you can put more items. |
| Clone selected item | Makes a copy of the selected item (including a whole submenu), directly below it. |
| Delete | Deletes the selection. Whether you are asked for confirmation is set under Program settings. |
| Move up / move down | Moves the selection. |
| Move out of the submenu / move into the submenu above | Moves items up one level, or puts them in the submenu above. |
{ } | Shows or hides the targets and commands in the list (hidden by default). |
Multiple items at once: Hold Ctrl or Shift (or press Ctrl+A)
to select multiple items. Delete, move up, move down, move out of and move into the submenu then apply to all selected items in one go.
The fields of an item
| Field | Explanation |
|---|
| Name | The text in the menu. You can make part of it bold with double asterisks: My **important** folder. |
| Bold in the menu | Makes the whole name bold. |
| Description | Short explanation that appears as a tooltip on the menu item. |
| Target | The program, file, folder or website (URL) that is opened. With File... and Folder... you pick one.
You may use environment variables here, such as %USERPROFILE%; SnelMenu fills them in when opening.
A bare name such as notepad.exe is found through the Windows search path. |
| Arguments | Optional parameters that are passed to the program. |
| Run as administrator | Always starts this item with administrator rights. Windows then shows the UAC prompt, unless SnelMenu itself is already running as administrator. |
| Working folder | The folder in which the program starts (optional). |
| Window | How the program opens: Normal, Minimized, Maximized or Hidden. Read below what you need to know about
hidden programs. |
| Icon | See Icons. Below the field you see a preview of the icon as it will appear in the menu. |
Opening a program hidden: how do you bring it back or stop it?
If you choose Hidden under Window, the program starts without a visible window. There is then nothing to bring to the front, and SnelMenu itself
can no longer close the program either. You can still see and stop it via Task Manager:
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
- Find the program on the Processes tab (or Details), select it and choose End task.
So only use Hidden for programs or scripts that work in the background or stop by themselves. A program that you open
Minimized can be brought to the front by clicking its icon in the taskbar. Programs with their own icon in the notification area (next to
the SnelMenu icon) can usually be opened or closed from there as well.
Program settings tab
| Section | Setting | Explanation |
|---|
| Startup settings |
Start automatically when I sign in to Windows |
Starts SnelMenu right after you sign in to Windows. Without administrator rights this is done through an entry for your account in the Windows registry;
if SnelMenu runs as administrator, SnelMenu adds a task to the Windows Task Scheduler for this instead. If you turn the option off, that entry or task is removed again.
Not available for a portable installation. |
| Run SnelMenu itself as administrator |
Runs SnelMenu with administrator rights. This gives a UAC prompt every time it starts. If you have set SnelMenu to start automatically, Windows
only asks once (when you set it up) whether SnelMenu may run. |
| Show a splash screen when SnelMenu starts |
Briefly shows a screen with the logo, name, author and version at startup (5 seconds). Checked by default. You can also turn it off with the checkbox in the splash screen itself. |
| Taal / Language |
SnelMenu language |
Choose Nederlands, English or Automatic (Windows language). With Automatic, SnelMenu uses Dutch if Windows is set to Dutch and English otherwise.
The language can only be changed here. The menu changes immediately, and the windows you open afterwards use the new language right away. SnelMenu does not translate your own menu names and descriptions.
You can also switch between Dutch and English at the top of this page. |
| Menu display settings |
Also open the menu with a left click on the icon |
Checked (default): the menu opens with both a left and a right mouse click. Unchecked: the menu only opens with a right mouse click. |
| Maximum visible items before scrolling | Number of lines the menu shows before it starts scrolling. 0 = automatic. |
| Confirmations | Ask for confirmation when deleting menu items |
Checked (default): when you delete items on the Menu layout tab, SnelMenu first asks “Are you sure you want to delete this item?”
(or, for multiple items, “Are you sure you want to delete the x selected items?”). |
| Storage location of the settings | Move... |
Moves your configuration file to the default location (AppData), to the same folder as the program (portable) or to a folder of your own. See Where are my settings stored? |
| Other settings | Open the configuration file with |
Determines which program Configuration file → Open uses. Empty = Notepad; default = the program Windows uses by default for
.json files; or use Browse... to pick an editor of your own, such as Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code. |
Updates tab and the Update check window
Via Check for updates... in the menu, the Update check window opens:
| Button | Action |
|---|
| Check | Asks the website whether there is a newer version. The progress bar shows the communication with the website. |
| Download | Fetches the new installer. SnelMenu then asks whether the installer may be started right away; SnelMenu then closes and the installer starts SnelMenu again afterwards.
If you choose No, you get a link to the folder containing the file. |
| Changelog | Shows what has changed in the newest version. |
| Settings... | Appears when there is no new version and you are not yet looking for both alpha and beta versions. The button opens Settings on the Updates tab, so you can turn that on. After saving, SnelMenu checks again right away. |
| Close | Closes the window. |
On the Updates tab of the Settings window you find these options:
| Section | Setting | Explanation |
|---|
| Which versions to look for? |
Also look for beta versions |
Also looks for beta versions. These are test versions that can be unstable. Unchecked by default. |
| Also look for alpha versions |
Also looks for alpha versions. These are early test versions that can be even less stable. Unchecked by default. |
| Check automatically |
Automatically check for new versions when SnelMenu starts |
Checks in the background, shortly after starting, whether there is a new version. You only get a notification if there is one. Checked by default
(in versions up to and including 2.6.1 this was off by default; if you used one of those earlier, your own choice stays in effect). |
| Check now (button) |
Saves the settings, closes the Settings window and immediately checks for a new version. |
Backup and restore
At the bottom left of the Settings window is the Backup / restore button:
| Choice | Action |
|---|
| Export settings (create backup)... | Saves your settings, as they are in the window at that moment, to a file of your choice. |
| Import settings (restore)... | Reads such a file into the window. Then choose Save to use the settings, or Cancel to discard them. |
5. The configuration file
All your menu items and settings are stored in one file, config.json. You can also edit that file by hand
(Configuration file → Open). Comments with // ... and a comma after the last element are allowed.
After you save, SnelMenu picks up changes automatically; if you want that right away or with a confirmation, choose Configuration file → Reload.
{
"settings": {
"leftClickOpensMenu": true,
"showSplash": true,
"maxVisibleItems": 0,
"configEditor": ""
},
"items": [
{ "name": "Notepad", "target": "notepad.exe" },
{ "type": "separator" },
{ "type": "submenu", "name": "System", "items": [
{ "name": "Task Manager", "target": "taskmgr.exe" },
{ "name": "Command Prompt (admin)", "target": "cmd.exe",
"runAsAdministrator": true, "icon": "builtin:terminal" }
] }
]
}
Fields of an item
| Field | Meaning | Allowed values |
|---|
type | Kind of line. | "item" (default), "separator" or "submenu" |
name | Name in the menu; **bold** makes part of it bold. | Text |
target | Program, file, folder or URL that is opened. | Text; environment variables such as %USERPROFILE% are allowed |
arguments | Optional arguments for the program. | Text |
workingDirectory | Optional working folder. | Text (path) |
runAsAdministrator | Always starts the item with administrator rights. | true or false (default) |
windowStyle | How the program's window opens. | "normal" (default), "minimized", "maximized" or "hidden" (case does not matter) |
bold | Makes the whole item bold. | true or false (default) |
description | Tooltip on the menu item. | Text |
icon | Icon of the item. | Empty (automatic), "builtin:name", a path to an .ico, .png or .bmp file, or an .exe/.dll with an optional ,number – see Icons |
items | Only for a submenu: the items in it. | List of items (with the same fields) |
Settings (settings)
| Field | Meaning | Allowed values | Default |
|---|
runAsAdministrator | Run SnelMenu itself as administrator. | true or false | false |
startWithWindows | Start automatically when you sign in to Windows (not for portable use). | true or false | false |
leftClickOpensMenu | Also open the menu with the left mouse click. | true or false | true |
language | SnelMenu language. | "auto" (Windows language), "nl" (Nederlands) or "en" (English) | "auto" |
showSplash | Show a splash screen at startup. | true or false | true |
confirmDelete | Ask for confirmation when deleting menu items. | true or false | true |
maxVisibleItems | Number of visible items before the menu starts scrolling. | Integer of 0 or higher; 0 = automatic | 0 |
configEditor | Program for Configuration file → Open. | "" (empty) = Notepad; "default" = the Windows default program for .json; otherwise the path or command of a program, for example "C:\\Program Files\\Notepad++\\notepad++.exe" or "code" | "" |
checkUpdatesOnStartup | Check for a new version in the background at startup. | true or false | true |
updateBeta | Also look for beta versions. | true or false | false |
updateAlpha | Also look for alpha versions. | true or false | false |
6. Icons
Every item and submenu can have an icon. If you leave the Icon field empty, SnelMenu automatically uses the icon of the target
(for a submenu, a small folder). You can choose from:
- A built-in icon: Click Built-in icons... and choose from the overview (organized in categories; on the left you jump to a category and at the top you search by name), or type
builtin:name (for example builtin:gear).
Below the field you immediately see a preview.
- An image: An
.ico, .png or .bmp file (Browse... button).
- An icon from a program or library: An
.exe or .dll, optionally with a number, such as shell32.dll,4.
With Choose icon... you see all the icons in that file and pick one.
Built-in icons: home, folder, folder-open, file, globe, gear, terminal,
star, mail, calendar, power, edit, download, search, link,
lock, play, print, camera, phone, code, pin, cloud,
apps, music, video, info, close, chevron, add, delete,
copy, refresh, help, up, down, left, right, line.
In addition there are over 200 others, such as calculator, car, bank, heart, bug, bus and health. You can see the overview with all the names with the Built-in icons... button.
7. Where are my settings stored?
SnelMenu looks for the configuration file in this order:
- A
config.json in the same folder as SnelMenu.exe (portable);
- The custom folder you have chosen (the choice is stored in
%APPDATA%\SnelMenu\location.txt);
- Otherwise
%APPDATA%\SnelMenu\config.json (default).
The current location is shown in About SnelMenu and in Settings → Program settings → Storage location of the settings.
With the Move... button you choose another place: Default (user profile), Portable (in the same folder as the program, provided you have write permission there)
or Other folder. The file is moved, not copied. If a file already exists at the new location, SnelMenu first asks whether
it may be overwritten. If moving fails, everything stays in the old location.
8. Frequently asked questions
I cannot see the SnelMenu icon.
Click the arrow for hidden icons at the bottom right, right next to the Windows clock in the taskbar, and drag the SnelMenu icon to the other visible icons in the taskbar.
SnelMenu does not start.
Check that the .NET 10 Desktop Runtime (64-bit) is installed; see Requirements. If SnelMenu is already running, it tells you so and you will see the icon in the notification area.
SnelMenu showed an error message or the menu stayed empty.
On a heavily loaded computer it can take a moment before the menu appears. If something does go wrong, SnelMenu closes the menu, reports it in the notification area and keeps running. The technical details are saved in the file crash.log, in the same folder as config.json (by default %APPDATA%\SnelMenu). Include that file when you report a problem.
My changes to the configuration file are not picked up.
Save the file and choose Configuration file → Reload. If the file is not valid (for example a missing comma or quotation mark), SnelMenu shows the error message and the old configuration stays active.
If the Settings window is open, reloading is not possible: close it first.
An item with “Run as administrator” keeps asking for permission.
That is the Windows UAC prompt. If SnelMenu itself runs as administrator (Program settings), that prompt no longer appears for each item.
Can I use SnelMenu on a USB stick?
Yes, choose Portable when installing. The .NET 10 Desktop Runtime must be installed on every computer on which you want to use SnelMenu.
If you want to install it manually, you can download it here.
I opened a program hidden. How do I bring it back or stop it?
A hidden program has no visible window. Open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc and end it there. See Opening a program hidden.
How do I move my settings to another computer?
Use Backup / restore → Export settings (create backup)... on the old computer and Import settings (restore)... on the new one, or copy config.json.
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This documentation was written by Claude (Anthropic), based on SnelMenu 3.0.0, on October 5, 2026.
