How do I get Microsoft Code to come up in my right click menu?

Question

How do I get Microsoft Code to come up in my right click menu?

William Thompson 125

When I right button click on a folder in Windows Explorer, the option to launch that new and empty folder in Microsoft Visual Studio Code is not available to me as it appears in a youtube tutorial like so. How do I get it there as a menu option If I have this helpful IDE already installed?

Visual-Studi-Code-in-Menu

Samir Isagov 6 Reputation points

2025-06-12T10:59:44.26+00:00

Sorry guys, what about making it work without reinstallation?
Nizar Ahmad 65 Reputation points

2025-07-25T17:27:55.7533333+00:00
This method involves modifying the Windows Registry and should be performed with caution. Incorrect edits can cause system instability.

Open Registry Editor: Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

Navigate to Shell Key: Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell.

Create New Key: Right-click on shell, select New > Key, and name it Open with VS Code.

Set Default Value: Double-click on (Default) within the Open with VS Code key and set its Value data to Open with VS Code.

Add Icon (Optional): Right-click Open with VS Code, select New > String Value, name it Icon, and set its Value data to the path of Code.exe (e.g., "C:\\Users\\YourUserName\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\Code.exe").

Create Command Key: Right-click on Open with VS Code, select New > Key, and name it command.

Set Command Value: Double-click on (Default) within the command key and set its Value data to the path of Code.exe followed by "%V" for folders or "%1" for files (e.g., "C:\\Users\\YourUserName\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\Code.exe" "%V").

Note: The exact path to Code.exe might vary depending on your installation location. Adjust the paths accordingly.
Benjamin Kaufman 0 Reputation points

2025-08-07T19:27:44.27+00:00

I ran into this problem and Nizar Ahmad's solution worked perfectly, including the optional icon. I used %V and I go into the directory (i do not select a directory to right click on).
Renan Ribeiro 0 Reputation points

2025-08-08T11:51:06.0066667+00:00

I have made an account just to thanks Nizar AHmad for his answer. This is a bug that came back from time to time and I always had to reinstall. This time, even reinstall did not fix it. But with Nizar's answer, it worked!
Parziale, Jim 0 Reputation points

2026-01-22T12:21:09.82+00:00

None of these "solutions" work on Windows 11.

Example: right-click on a batch file (e.g. test.bat)
There's no way to "Open with..."
And having to click on another menu item to open another menu is not a solution. They need to put all the menus back to a single click. I don't understand why I have to waste half my day clicking on menus to get to menus to do things. It's unintuitive and counterproductive.

But since when has Windows ever been intuitive or productive? LOL

2 answers

Your answer

Samir Isagov 6 Reputation points

2025-06-12T10:59:44.26+00:00

Sorry guys, what about making it work without reinstallation?
Nizar Ahmad 65 Reputation points

2025-07-25T17:27:55.7533333+00:00

This method involves modifying the Windows Registry and should be performed with caution. Incorrect edits can cause system instability.

Open Registry Editor: Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

Navigate to Shell Key: Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell.

Create New Key: Right-click on shell, select New > Key, and name it Open with VS Code.

Set Default Value: Double-click on (Default) within the Open with VS Code key and set its Value data to Open with VS Code.

Add Icon (Optional): Right-click Open with VS Code, select New > String Value, name it Icon, and set its Value data to the path of Code.exe (e.g., "C:\\Users\\YourUserName\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\Code.exe").

Create Command Key: Right-click on Open with VS Code, select New > Key, and name it command.

Set Command Value: Double-click on (Default) within the command key and set its Value data to the path of Code.exe followed by "%V" for folders or "%1" for files (e.g., "C:\\Users\\YourUserName\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\Code.exe" "%V").

Note: The exact path to Code.exe might vary depending on your installation location. Adjust the paths accordingly.
Benjamin Kaufman 0 Reputation points

2025-08-07T19:27:44.27+00:00

I ran into this problem and Nizar Ahmad's solution worked perfectly, including the optional icon. I used %V and I go into the directory (i do not select a directory to right click on).
Renan Ribeiro 0 Reputation points

2025-08-08T11:51:06.0066667+00:00

I have made an account just to thanks Nizar AHmad for his answer. This is a bug that came back from time to time and I always had to reinstall. This time, even reinstall did not fix it. But with Nizar's answer, it worked!
Parziale, Jim 0 Reputation points

2026-01-22T12:21:09.82+00:00

None of these "solutions" work on Windows 11.

Example: right-click on a batch file (e.g. test.bat)
There's no way to "Open with..."
And having to click on another menu item to open another menu is not a solution. They need to put all the menus back to a single click. I don't understand why I have to waste half my day clicking on menus to get to menus to do things. It's unintuitive and counterproductive.

But since when has Windows ever been intuitive or productive? LOL

Answer 1

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 34,826 Microsoft External Staff

Hello @William Thompson,

You can run the setup.exe file again, but this time check following two options

Add "Open with Code" action to Windows Explorer file context menu

Add "Open with Code" action to Windows Explorer directory context menu

User's image

Click Next to modify the settings and wait for it finishes. After that you should see the "Open with Code" option in your right-click menu.

BTW, right-click menu is a little different in Windows 11. If you are using Windows 11, you might see it("Open with Code" option) like following

User's image

Feel free to let us know if you have any further concerns :D

Sincerely,

Tianyu

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Tianyu Sun-MSFT 34,826 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-08-29T01:35:14.1666667+00:00

Hello @William Thompson,

May I know if you have got any chance to check my answer? Does the "Open with Code" option appear on your side?

Regards,

Tianyu
John McGrath 0 Reputation points

2025-06-03T19:42:20.1433333+00:00

When will Open with Code be available without needing to click "Show more options" first? Supposedly the omission from the top level menu is from the developer not supporting the windows 11 version of the right click menu yet, but since the developer here is also Microsoft.....
Samir Isagov 6 Reputation points

2025-06-12T11:01:28.66+00:00

Is it achievable without reinstallation?
Jan Dvořák 1 Reputation point

2026-03-17T12:14:36.6666667+00:00

I did the reinstall and ticked the options as shown. This worked, BUT after later updating the VSCode, the option to open a folder or a file in VSCode is gone again. I am not going to reinstall after every update.

Answer 2

Method 1: Use VS Code Installer to Repair

Close VS Code if it’s open.

Download the latest VS Code installer from https://code.visualstudio.com/.

Run the installer and choose Repair (or reinstall).

This usually restores the right-click context menu options.

Method 2: Enable "Open with Code" from VS Code settings

Open VS Code.

Press Ctrl + Shift + P to open the Command Palette.

Type Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH and select it.

Restart your computer.

Note: This mostly helps with command line, but sometimes also restores integration.

Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH., NOT VISIBLE

If “Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH” is NOT visible in your VS Code Command Palette, it usually means:

You are on Windows (this command mostly appears on Mac/Linux).

Or you might have a custom VS Code installation missing this.

Method 3: Add "Open with Code" to right-click manually (for Windows)

You can add it manually via registry or using VS Code’s built-in command:

Open VS Code as administrator.

Press Ctrl + Shift + P, type and select Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH.
Then run this command from your terminal: Method 1: Use VS Code Installer to Repair Close VS Code if it’s open.
```
  **Download the latest VS Code installer** from [https://code.visualstudio.com/.](https://code.visualstudio.com/)

     Run the installer and choose **Repair** (or reinstall).

           This usually restores the right-click context menu options.
```
Method 2: Enable "Open with Code" from VS Code settings Open VS Code.
```
  Press `Ctrl + Shift + P` to open the Command Palette.

     Type **Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH** and select it.

        Restart your computer.
```
Note: This mostly helps with command line, but sometimes also restores integration. Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH., NOT VISIBLE If “Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH” is NOT visible in your VS Code Command Palette, it usually means: You are on Windows (this command mostly appears on Mac/Linux).
```
  Or you might have a custom VS Code installation missing this.
```
Method 3: Add "Open with Code" to right-click manually (for Windows) You can add it manually via registry or using VS Code’s built-in command: Open VS Code as administrator. Press Ctrl + Shift + P, type and select Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH.
1. Then run this command from your terminal: if nothing works the regedit you have to use, which code you find below: https://artisthindustani.blogspot.com/2025/08/method-1-use-vs-code-installer-to.html?spref=pi

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How do I get Microsoft Code to come up in my right click menu?

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