How to remove "Add to Windows Media Player list" from context menu
I am using Windows 10 preview insiders build. I have essentially taken away all media player entries from the context menu.
Open control panel.
Click program and features.
Turn windows features on and off.
scroll down to >Media Features> open that tab up.
You will see a check box. Uncheck only the 'Media Player' check box.
Click OK!
Done.
Enjoy.
These steps remove media player from your computer. Users are encouraged to try Groove Music.
I spent a good few hours yesterday searching through the registry, removing the item on my own machine and then writing scripts to automate the process of removing (and restoring) the problem context menu item. Note that I only tested on my Windows 7 machine running Windows Media Player 12, and even though I automate this process as much as I possibly can, there is always the risk that things can go wrong.
Therefore, before undertaking this tweak, create a Restore Point from which you can go back to in case anything does go wrong. If you run the scripts provided below and they don't do anything, simply restore your computer to that restore point to ensure you're in no worse a position than you were when you started.
Removing the "Add to Windows Media Player list" context menu item
It turns out the corresponding registry keys are hard to find because they're not in any of the usual places where, typically, a single registry key corresponds to all folders, or files of a specific type. Instead, there's a separate key for each extension that the context menu item appears on. These keys are located in registry paths with the following format:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.3G2\shell\Enqueue
...where .3G2 is the extension that the context menu item applies to, and Enqueue is the key that needs to be deleted to remove the menu item for all .3G2 files. There are 23 different extensions that these files need to be deleted for.
Also note that the key says WMP11 even though I'm running version 12 - this could mean that all versions of Windows Media Player are referred to as WMP11 in the Registry, and that, therefore, the scripts below will work for both previous and later versions of Windows 7. Either way, there's no harm in trying so long as you have a recent restore point to hand.
To remove the context menu items for each extension
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.3G2\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.3GP\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.ADTS\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.AIFF\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.ASF\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.ASX\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.AU\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.AVI\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.M2TS\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.m3u\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.M4A\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MIDI\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MOV\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MP3\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MP4\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MPEG\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.TTS\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WAV\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WAX\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.wma\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WMV\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WPL\shell\Enqueue]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WVX\shell\Enqueue]
The above script will delete all the listed Enqueue keys, removing the Add to Windows Media Player list context menu item from all the file extensions it appears in. Copy-and-paste the script into a plain text file and give it the .reg extension. Then run the file and click Yes in the prompt that appears. To test, right-click on any music file. Et voila!
To restore the context menu items for each extension
So you've finally removed the Add to Windows Media Player list context menu item, only to decide that you've grown quite fond of it and want it back after all. No problem. Restoring the context menu item is a little more complicated than removing it, but it can still be done.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.3G2\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.3G2\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.3GP\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.3GP\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.ADTS\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.ADTS\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.AIFF\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.AIFF\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.ASF\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.ASF\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.ASX\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.ASX\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.AU\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.AU\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.AVI\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.AVI\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.M2TS\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.M2TS\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.m3u\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.m3u\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.M4A\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.M4A\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MIDI\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MIDI\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MOV\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MOV\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MP3\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MP3\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MP4\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MP4\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MPEG\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MPEG\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.TTS\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.TTS\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WAV\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WAV\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WAX\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WAX\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.wma\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.wma\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WMV\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WMV\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WPL\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WPL\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WVX\shell\Enqueue]
@="&Add to Windows Media Player list"
"MUIVerb"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,75,00,6e,00,72,00,65,00,67,00,6d,00,70,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,\
2c,00,2d,00,39,00,38,00,30,00,30,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WVX\shell\Enqueue\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}"
Once again, place the script in a .reg file, run it, and test.
I'd also appreciate people letting me know if any of these solutions worked for them on older or newer versions of Windows Media Player and/or Windows itself.