Edit with IDLE (ArcGIS Pro) no longer appears when right-clicking on a Python script (.py)

Description

Those who work with standalone Python scripts commonly use the Python IDLE that comes with ArcGIS Pro. This IDLE resides in the Python environment that ArcGIS Pro uses. Each clone of the default Python environment should also contain the IDLE. This means that when scripts are run with this IDLE, the Python environment that contains arcpy is automatically used. This allows users to work with the arcpy library and included tools. To easily access this IDLE, users typically right-click on a Python script (.py) and choose "Edit with IDLE (ArcGIS Pro)", as shown in the image below. Other 'Edit with IDLE' options do not guarantee that the IDLE with the correct Python environment will be used. Not using the correct IDLE is a common cause of errors related to the "import arcpy" command.

Cause

With the deprecation of Windows 10, many users have now migrated to Windows 11. This has resulted in some users noticing the "Edit with IDLE (ArcGIS Pro)" option not appearing. Other causes of this missing option may be related to registry editing being blocked or customized, or different installation locations for virtual or cloud machines. Ultimately, there is a registry key value that is responsible for enabling this option. This key value or key value path may be modified or missing.

Solution or Workaround

Many issues with registry keys can be alleviated by reinstalling ArcGIS Pro or performing a Soft Reset. Should these methods not alleviate the issue, try the following:

Warning:   
The instructions below include making changes to essential parts of your operating system. It is recommended that you backup your operating system and files, including the registry, before proceeding. Consult a qualified computer systems professional, if necessary.
Esri cannot guarantee results from incorrect modifications while following these instructions. Therefore, use caution and proceed at your own risk.

1. Access the affected machine as a user with privileges to edit registry key values. This is typically the admin user.
2. Open the Windows Start Menu.
3. In the search bar, type regedit and press Enter on the keyboard. If prompted, click Yes in the User Account Control window.

4. In the Registry Editor, go to the following path. This can be copy/pasted in the path search bar near the top of the window.

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Python.File\shell\Edit with IDLE (ArcGIS Pro)\command

5. If this path does not exist, incrementally delete folders from the path string and then use the search bar again to see if this path exists. Based on what keys are missing, new keys should be created within the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT folder to match the previously mentioned path. New keys can be created in Registry Editor by right-clicking on the preceding folder, choosing New, and then Key. The Key name should exactly match the associated value in the path in the previous step. 
6. In this key path, there should be one key. For a machine where ArcGIS Pro has been installed on the C: drive it should look something like what is shown in the below image, where both the pythonw.exe and idle.pyw files from the active Python environment are present. 
7. To modify the path, or the Data column, double-click on (Default). The Edit String pane opens. For typical installations where ArcGIS Pro is installed on the C: drive, paste th epath below (including the double quotes) in the Value Data box, and click OK. 
   • If ArcGIS Pro is not installed on the C: drive, navigate to where 'Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\Python\envs\arcgispro-py3' is and copy/paste the paths to pythonw.exe and idle.pyw instead of the above mentioned paths. 
   • This process can also be done for clones of Python environments. Find the same paths to the necessary files from the required environment and copy/paste those. The IDLE will open using this environment instead of the default one. 

"C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\Python\envs\arcgispro-py3\pythonw.exe" "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\Python\envs\arcgispro-py3\lib\idlelib\idle.pyw" -e "%1"

8. Close the Registry Editor. The Edit with IDLE (ArcGIS Pro) option should now be available when right-clicking on a Python script.