The VideoLAN Forums

Is there a way to force all mp3s to be opened by VLC media player instead of windows media player ?

When I try to configure this in windows XP, VLC media player is not a selectable choice

How to :
1) when in add/remove program, go in something in the left tab named aproximately like "configure default programs" (my windows is french, sorry)
2) then in the media section you can normally select which program you want by default but VLC is not in shown in the list

Hi Bragador

• The easiest way is to reinstall VLC. (the self-extracting package)
  This way you can choose the file type associations.
• Another way:
  Go to your *.mp3 file and right-click on it, select "Open with", then "Choose Program", if VLC is in the list select it, otherwise click the "Other"-Button, browse to vlc.exe and open it.
  Check "Always use this program to open these files".
  Now every *.mp3 file should be opened with VLC.
• At last:
  Start - Settings - Control Panel - Folder Options - File Types - select MP3 - click on "Change" - browse to vlc.exe and open it.

erbsen

You can replace the Windows Media Player with VLC

1. Run Registry Editor (RegEdit.exe)

2. Open the following key:
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options"

3. Create a new sub-key called "wmplayer.exe"

4. Open the new key and create new String there. Set the name to "Debugger" and set the value to the Path of your VLC.exe


See Screenshot:




Here is a .reg file, which does that job (just insert the correct path to VLC.exe):

wow ! thank you everyone for your help !

Now my only complaint is that the mp3 files still have the windows media player icons instead of the VLC icon but at least it works !

Thank you all again !

To fix the icon:

Control Panel
Folder Options
select File Types tab
select MP3 file type
under "Details for MP3", hit Advanced button
hit Change Icon button (upper right)
hit Browse and hunt for an icon you like (c:/Program Files/VideoLan/vlc.exe)
select OK more times than you thought possible