How To Create a New Command in mpc-hc64.exe (Media Player Classic)

If you use Media Player Classic – Home Cinema (MPC‑HC) a lot, it’s natural to want your own shortcuts or custom actions. The 64‑bit version, mpc-hc64.exe, supports quite a bit of customization, but it’s not always obvious how to “create a new command.”

The trick is understanding the difference between:

• Built‑in commands you can remap
• Command line options you can call from outside
• Custom behavior you simulate using external tools or scripts

This FAQ walks through how MPC‑HC commands work, what “new command” really means, and the ways you can extend or trigger playback actions.

What Does “Creating a New Command” in MPC‑HC Actually Mean?

In MPC‑HC you can’t directly add brand‑new internal features from inside the app (like “Add a brand‑new menu item that MPC‑HC has never heard of”). What you can do is:

1. Remap existing internal commands

   • Change keyboard shortcuts
   • Change mouse bindings
   • Change remote control shortcuts (if supported)

2. Call MPC‑HC with different command line switches

   • For example, open a file, start fullscreen, jump to a time, etc.
   • These can be wrapped into a script or a desktop shortcut

3. Use external tools or scripts to extend behavior

   • Automation tools (AutoHotkey, PowerShell, batch files)
   • Media front‑ends or launcher apps that send commands to MPC‑HC
   • Custom remote‑control setups that map buttons to MPC‑HC actions

So “creating a new command” usually means creating a new way to trigger one or more existing MPC‑HC actions, often combined with external automation.

How Built‑In Commands and Shortcuts Work in mpc-hc64.exe

MPC‑HC has a long list of predefined actions, such as:

• Play/Pause
• Seek forward/backward
• Next/Previous file
• Volume up/down
• Toggle subtitles
• Toggle fullscreen
• Switch audio track
• Change subtitle delay, audio delay, and so on

Each of these is a command inside MPC‑HC. You can see and customize them in:

There, you’ll find:

• A list of command names (e.g., “Play/Pause”, “Open File”, “Next Audio Track”)
• The current keyboard shortcut assigned
• The current mouse or remote assignment (if any)

You can’t add an entirely new internal command to this list, but you can:

• Assign a new key to an existing command
• Assign a mouse button or wheel combination
• Change or remove default bindings

This is the built‑in way to “create a command shortcut” inside MPC‑HC.

Step‑by‑Step: Creating a New Shortcut Command in MPC‑HC

If by “new command” you mean “a new key that does what I want,” here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Keys Settings

1. Launch mpc-hc64.exe.
2. Go to View → Options.
3. In the left sidebar, select Keys (sometimes labeled Player → Keys depending on build).

You’ll see a table of all available commands.

2. Choose the Command You Want to Trigger

Scroll through the commands and pick one that does what you need, for example:

• “Next Subtitle” to cycle through subtitles
• “Jump Forward (small)” to skip ahead
• “Increase Sub Delay” / “Decrease Sub Delay” for fine‑tuning subtitles

Click on that command’s row.

3. Add a New Keyboard Shortcut

1. In the right panel, there’s typically a section for “New Hotkey” or similar.
2. Click into the hotkey box.
3. Press your desired key combination, for example:
   • Ctrl + Alt + N
   • Shift + F12
4. Click Add (or the equivalent button).

The new shortcut will now appear attached to that command. You’ve effectively created a new command trigger inside MPC‑HC.

4. Optionally Add Mouse or Remote Control Actions

If you control MPC‑HC from a mouse or external device:

• Use the Mouse section in the same Keys options window.
• Choose which mouse gesture or button you want (e.g., Middle Click, XButton1).
• Assign it to the same or a different command.

Again, you’re not inventing new internal behavior, but you’re creating new ways to issue those commands.

Using Command Line Options: Creating External “Commands”

Another way to think about “new commands” with mpc-hc64.exe is via command line parameters.

You can run MPC‑HC with extra options, such as: