Add “Open in VS Code (WSL)” to the Windows Context Menu

Since my development environment is WSL, my projects are stored inside the WSL filesystem. When I open them from Windows File Explorer, the normal Open in VS Code option doesn't open the project in the WSL environment.

Normally, I have to open the project in a WSL terminal and run:

code .

This can be simplified by adding an Open in VS Code (WSL) option to the Windows context menu.

1. Create the Registry File

Create a file named:

open_in_vscode_wsl.reg

Open it with Notepad and add:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\VSCodeWSL]
@="Open in VS Code (WSL)"
"Icon"="\"C:\\Users\\%USERNAME%\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\Code.exe\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\VSCodeWSL\command]
@="wsl.exe code ."

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\VSCodeWSL]
@="Open in VS Code (WSL)"
"Icon"="\"C:\\Users\\%USERNAME%\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\Code.exe\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\VSCodeWSL\command]
@="wsl.exe code ."

Make sure the file is saved as .reg, not .reg.txt.

2. Apply the Registry Changes

Double-click:

open_in_vscode_wsl.reg

Confirm the Windows Registry prompts.

Now, when right-clicking a project folder in File Explorer, you will see:

Open in VS Code (WSL)

Selecting it opens the project in VS Code's WSL environment, equivalent to running:

code .

from the WSL terminal.