How to add "Play with VLC" to folder context menu

Question

I love the feature of Windows Media Player where you can right click a music folder and select Play With Windows Media Player because I organize all my music in individual folders (and subfolders for that matter).

I know that it is possible to open (and play) a whole folder through the open menu of VLC Media Player.

Is it also possible to have a context menu on a folder (in Windows) which works the same way? How can I enable this (is it somewhere in the advanced VLC settings)?

Solution 1

This feature is available in the latest VLC player. Please the image below where right clicking the vlc media player asks to add it in player list. vlc version for the image 2.1.5

Solution 2

The way I did this was:

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell

1. Add new key named PlayWithVLC, edit its default string to: Play With VLC
2. Under PlayWithVLC, add a new String Value named Icon, edit its value to: "C:\Program Files\Videolan\VLC\vlc.exe",0
3. Under PlayWithVLC key, add a key named command, edit its default string value to: "C:\Program Files\Videolan\VLC\vlc.exe" "%1"

At least its working for me.

Some people say that you should clone these settings in another registry location, but I can't find that reference now.

-Marine

Solution 3

Adding a subtlety to what has already been said. In windows if the file association for songs is not VLC the context menu in windows explorer will not appear.

Solution 4

...and if you're running the latest version, and don't have the menu item in your context menu?

Find your installer (or if you can't find it, download the latest one) and run it. You will be given a chance to reinstall/repair the settings (picture).

Take the defaults, or at least ensure that Context Menus is selected (picture) and you should be good to go.

I've noticed, however, that if you are manually selecting files, selecting more than 15 files will cause the "Add to VLC media player's Playlist" option does not appear. To get around this, select groups of no more than 15 files, or select the folder from the parent folder's file listing instead.

Solution 5

Note, as of 2021-10-17, you need to install VLC 32bit version, not 64bit, to get "Play with VLC" in context menu.

In the 64bit version the option to add this feature does not exist in the install process - for some strange reason.

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Comments

[Blackwood]

This seems to be a comment on an existing answer rather than a complete answer.

[Jehandad]

I am not "reputable" enough to comment on someone's answer :) Please add it as a comment to the original answer and I will delete this. Feel free to recommend a better way to address the issue at hand.

[E_Blue]

This solved my problem.

[Joe M]

This worked for me. But be advised you'll have to make sure you get the correct path for vlc.exe. My copy was in the "Program Files (x86)" path.