diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 886f017..4b7c3a8 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ project(${META_PROJECT_NAME})
 # options for partial build
 option(NO_CLI "specifies whether building CLI should be skipped" OFF)
 option(NO_TRAY "specifies whether building the tray should be skipped" OFF)
+option(NO_FILE_ITEM_ACTION_PLUGIN "specifies whether building the file item action plugin should be skipped" OFF)
 option(NO_MODEL "specifies whether building models should be skipped, implies NO_TRAY" OFF)
 
 # add subdirectories
@@ -32,3 +33,6 @@ if(NOT NO_MODEL)
         add_subdirectory(tray)
     endif()
 endif()
+if(NOT NO_FILE_ITEM_ACTION_PLUGIN)
+    add_subdirectory(fileitemactionplugin)
+endif()
diff --git a/fileitemactionplugin/CMakeLists.txt b/fileitemactionplugin/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e32c1ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fileitemactionplugin/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# metadata
+set(META_PROJECT_NAME syncthingfileitemaction)
+set(META_APP_NAME "Syncthing KIO-Plugin")
+set(META_APP_DESCRIPTION "KIO file item action for Syncthing")
+set(META_PROJECT_TYPE qtplugin)
+
+# add project files
+set(HEADER_FILES
+    syncthingfileitemaction.h
+)
+set(SRC_FILES
+    syncthingfileitemaction.cpp
+)
+
+# find c++utilities
+find_package(c++utilities 4.6.0 REQUIRED)
+list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CPP_UTILITIES_MODULE_DIRS})
+
+# find qtutilities
+find_package(qtutilities 5.0.0 REQUIRED)
+use_qt_utilities()
+#list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${QT_UTILITIES_MODULE_DIRS})
+
+# find backend libraries
+find_package(syncthingconnector ${META_APP_VERSION} REQUIRED)
+use_syncthingconnector()
+find_package(syncthingmodel ${META_APP_VERSION} REQUIRED)
+use_syncthingmodel()
+
+# link also explicitely against the following Qt 5 modules
+list(APPEND ADDITIONAL_QT_MODULES Network)
+list(APPEND ADDITIONAL_KF_MODULES KIO)
+
+# include modules to apply configuration
+include(BasicConfig)
+include(QtGuiConfig)
+include(QtConfig)
+include(WindowsResources)
+# KIO libs can not be determined automatically
+list(REMOVE_ITEM PRIVATE_LIBRARIES KF5::KIO)
+list(APPEND PRIVATE_LIBRARIES KF5::KIOCore KF5::KIOFileWidgets KF5::KIOWidgets KF5::KIONTLM)
+include(LibraryTarget)
+include(ConfigHeader)
diff --git a/fileitemactionplugin/global.h b/fileitemactionplugin/global.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8626762
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fileitemactionplugin/global.h
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// Created via CMake from template global.h.in
+// WARNING! Any changes to this file will be overwritten by the next CMake run!
+
+#ifndef SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_GLOBAL
+#define SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_GLOBAL
+
+#include <c++utilities/application/global.h>
+
+#ifdef SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_STATIC
+# define SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_EXPORT
+# define SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_IMPORT
+#else
+# define SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_EXPORT LIB_EXPORT
+# define SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_IMPORT LIB_IMPORT
+#endif
+
+/*!
+ * \def SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_EXPORT
+ * \brief Marks the symbol to be exported by the syncthingfileitemaction library.
+ */
+
+/*!
+ * \def SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_IMPORT
+ * \brief Marks the symbol to be imported from the syncthingfileitemaction library.
+ */
+
+#endif // SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_GLOBAL
diff --git a/fileitemactionplugin/syncthingfileitemaction.cpp b/fileitemactionplugin/syncthingfileitemaction.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d4ca76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fileitemactionplugin/syncthingfileitemaction.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,264 @@
+#include "./syncthingfileitemaction.h"
+#include "../model/syncthingicons.h"
+
+#include "../connector/syncthingconfig.h"
+#include "../connector/syncthingconnectionsettings.h"
+#include "../connector/syncthingdir.h"
+#include "../connector/utils.h"
+
+#include <qtutilities/aboutdialog/aboutdialog.h>
+
+#include <KFileItemListProperties>
+#include <KFileItem>
+#include <KPluginFactory>
+#include <KPluginLoader>
+
+#include <QMenu>
+#include <QAction>
+#include <QWidget>
+#include <QDir>
+#include <QEvent>
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <functional>
+
+#include "resources/config.h"
+
+using namespace std;
+using namespace Dialogs;
+using namespace Data;
+
+K_PLUGIN_FACTORY(SyncthingFileItemActionFactory, registerPlugin<SyncthingFileItemAction>();)
+
+struct SyncthingItem
+{
+    SyncthingItem(const SyncthingDir *dir, const QString &path);
+    const SyncthingDir *dir;
+    QString path;
+    QString name;
+};
+
+SyncthingItem::SyncthingItem(const SyncthingDir *dir, const QString &path) :
+    dir(dir),
+    path(path)
+{
+    int lastSep = path.lastIndexOf(QChar('/'));
+    if(lastSep > 0) {
+        name = path.mid(lastSep + 1);
+    } else {
+        name = path;
+    }
+}
+
+SyncthingConnection SyncthingFileItemAction::s_connection;
+
+SyncthingFileItemAction::SyncthingFileItemAction(QObject *parent, const QVariantList &) :
+    KAbstractFileItemActionPlugin(parent)
+{
+    if(s_connection.apiKey().isEmpty()) {
+        // determine path of Syncthing config file
+        const QByteArray configPathFromEnv(qgetenv("KIO_SYNCTHING_CONFIG_PATH"));
+        const QString configPath = !configPathFromEnv.isEmpty()
+                ? QString::fromLocal8Bit(configPathFromEnv)
+                : SyncthingConfig::locateConfigFile();
+        if(configPath.isEmpty()) {
+            cerr << "Unable to determine location of Syncthing config. Set KIO_SYNCTHING_CONFIG_PATH to specify location." << endl;
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // load Syncthing config
+        SyncthingConfig config;
+        if(!config.restore(configPath)) {
+            cerr << "Unable to load Syncthing config from \"" << configPath.toLocal8Bit().data() << "\"" << endl;
+            if(configPathFromEnv.isEmpty()) {
+                cerr << "Note: Set KIO_SYNCTHING_CONFIG_PATH to specify config file explicitely." << endl;
+            }
+            return;
+        }
+        cerr << "Syncthing config loaded from \"" << configPath.toLocal8Bit().data() << "\"" << endl;
+        SyncthingConnectionSettings settings;
+        settings.syncthingUrl = config.syncthingUrl();
+        settings.apiKey.append(config.guiApiKey);
+
+        // establish connection
+        bool ok;
+        int reconnectInterval = qEnvironmentVariableIntValue("KIO_SYNCTHING_RECONNECT_INTERVAL", &ok);
+        if(!ok || reconnectInterval < 0) {
+            reconnectInterval = 10000;
+        }
+        s_connection.setAutoReconnectInterval(reconnectInterval);
+        s_connection.reconnect(settings);
+        connect(&s_connection, &SyncthingConnection::error, &SyncthingFileItemAction::logConnectionError);
+        connect(&s_connection, &SyncthingConnection::statusChanged, &SyncthingFileItemAction::logConnectionStatus);
+    }
+}
+
+QList<QAction *> SyncthingFileItemAction::actions(const KFileItemListProperties &fileItemInfo, QWidget *parentWidget)
+{
+    // check whether any directories are known
+    const auto &dirs = s_connection.dirInfo();
+    if(dirs.empty()) {
+        return QList<QAction*>();
+    }
+
+    // get all paths
+    QStringList paths;
+    paths.reserve(fileItemInfo.items().size());
+    for(const KFileItem &item : fileItemInfo.items()) {
+        if(!item.isLocalFile()) {
+            // don't show any actions when remote files are selected
+            return QList<QAction*>();
+        }
+        paths << item.localPath();
+    }
+
+    // determine relevant Syncthing dirs
+    QList<const SyncthingDir *> detectedDirs;
+    QList<const SyncthingDir *> containingDirs;
+    QList<SyncthingItem> detectedItems;
+    const SyncthingDir *lastDir;
+    for(const SyncthingDir &dir : dirs) {
+        QStringRef dirPath(&dir.path);
+        while(dirPath.endsWith(QChar('/'))) {
+            dirPath.chop(1);
+        }
+        for(const QString &path : paths) {
+            if(path == dirPath) {
+                detectedDirs << (lastDir = &dir);
+            } else if(path.startsWith(dir.path)) {
+                detectedItems << SyncthingItem(&dir, path.mid(dir.path.size()));
+                containingDirs << (lastDir = &dir);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    // add actions for explicitely selected Syncthing dirs
+    QList<QAction*> actions;
+    if(!detectedDirs.isEmpty()) {
+        actions << new QAction(
+                       QIcon::fromTheme(QStringLiteral("folder-sync")),
+                       detectedDirs.size() == 1
+                       ? tr("Rescan ") + detectedDirs.front()->displayName()
+                       : tr("Rescan selected directories"),
+                       parentWidget);
+        if(s_connection.isConnected()) {
+            for(const SyncthingDir *dir : detectedDirs) {
+                connect(actions.back(), &QAction::triggered, bind(&SyncthingFileItemAction::rescanDir, dir->id, QString()));
+                containingDirs.removeAll(dir);
+            }
+        } else {
+            actions.back()->setEnabled(false);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // add actions for the Syncthing dirs containing selected items
+    if(!containingDirs.isEmpty()) {
+        actions << new QAction(
+                       QIcon::fromTheme(QStringLiteral("folder-sync")),
+                       containingDirs.size() == 1
+                       ? tr("Rescan ") + containingDirs.front()->displayName()
+                       : tr("Rescan containing directories"),
+                       parentWidget);
+        if(s_connection.isConnected()) {
+            for(const SyncthingDir *dir : containingDirs) {
+                connect(actions.back(), &QAction::triggered, bind(&SyncthingFileItemAction::rescanDir, dir->id, QString()));
+            }
+        } else {
+            actions.back()->setEnabled(false);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // add actions for the selected items itself
+    if(!detectedItems.isEmpty()) {
+        actions << new QAction(
+                       QIcon::fromTheme(QStringLiteral("view-refresh")),
+                       detectedItems.size() == 1
+                       ? tr("Rescan %1 (in %2)").arg(detectedItems.front().name, detectedItems.front().dir->displayName())
+                       : tr("Rescan selected items"),
+                       parentWidget);
+        if(s_connection.isConnected()) {
+            for(const SyncthingItem &item : detectedItems) {
+                connect(actions.back(), &QAction::triggered, bind(&SyncthingFileItemAction::rescanDir, item.dir->id, item.path));
+            }
+        } else {
+            actions.back()->setEnabled(false);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // don't show anything if relevant actions could be determined
+    if(actions.isEmpty()) {
+        return actions;
+    }
+
+    // create the menu
+    QAction *menuAction = new QAction(statusIcons().scanninig, tr("Syncthing"), this);
+    QMenu *menu = new QMenu(parentWidget);
+    menuAction->setMenu(menu);
+    menu->addActions(actions);
+
+    // add action to show further information about directory if the selection is only about
+    // one particular Syncthing dir
+    if(detectedDirs.size() + containingDirs.size() == 1) {
+        QAction *infoAction = menu->addSeparator();
+        infoAction->setIcon(QIcon::fromTheme(QStringLiteral("dialog-information")));
+        infoAction->setText(tr("Directory"));
+        QAction *statusAction = menu->addAction(tr("Status: ") + statusString(lastDir->status));
+        switch(lastDir->status) {
+        case SyncthingDirStatus::Unknown:
+        case SyncthingDirStatus::Unshared:
+            statusAction->setIcon(statusIcons().disconnected);
+            break;
+        case SyncthingDirStatus::Idle:
+            statusAction->setIcon(statusIcons().idling);
+            break;
+        case SyncthingDirStatus::Scanning:
+            statusAction->setIcon(statusIcons().scanninig);
+            break;
+        case SyncthingDirStatus::Synchronizing:
+            statusAction->setIcon(statusIcons().sync);
+            break;
+        case SyncthingDirStatus::Paused:
+            statusAction->setIcon(statusIcons().pause);
+            break;
+        case SyncthingDirStatus::OutOfSync:
+            statusAction->setIcon(statusIcons().error);
+            break;
+        }
+        menu->addAction(QIcon::fromTheme(QStringLiteral("accept_time_event")),
+                        tr("Last scan time: ") + agoString(lastDir->lastScanTime))->setEnabled(false);
+        menu->addAction(tr("Rescan interval: %1 seconds").arg(lastDir->rescanInterval))->setEnabled(false);
+    }
+
+    // about about action
+    menu->addSeparator();
+    menu->addAction(QIcon::fromTheme(QStringLiteral("help-about")), tr("About"), &SyncthingFileItemAction::showAboutDialog);
+
+    return QList<QAction*>() << menuAction;
+}
+
+void SyncthingFileItemAction::logConnectionStatus()
+{
+    cerr << "Syncthing connection status changed to: " << s_connection.statusText().toLocal8Bit().data() << endl;
+}
+
+void SyncthingFileItemAction::logConnectionError(const QString &errorMessage)
+{
+    cerr << "Syncthing connection error: " << errorMessage.toLocal8Bit().data() << endl;
+}
+
+void SyncthingFileItemAction::rescanDir(const QString &dirId, const QString &relpath)
+{
+    s_connection.rescan(dirId, relpath);
+}
+
+void SyncthingFileItemAction::showAboutDialog()
+{
+    auto *aboutDialog = new AboutDialog(nullptr, QStringLiteral(APP_NAME), QStringLiteral(APP_AUTHOR), QStringLiteral(APP_VERSION), QStringLiteral(APP_URL), QStringLiteral(APP_DESCRIPTION), QImage(statusIcons().scanninig.pixmap(128).toImage()));
+    aboutDialog->setWindowTitle(tr("About") + QStringLiteral(" - " APP_NAME));
+    aboutDialog->setWindowIcon(QIcon::fromTheme(QStringLiteral("syncthingtray")));
+    aboutDialog->setWindowFlags(static_cast<Qt::WindowFlags>(aboutDialog->windowFlags() | Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose));
+    aboutDialog->show();
+}
+
+
+#include <syncthingfileitemaction.moc>
diff --git a/fileitemactionplugin/syncthingfileitemaction.desktop b/fileitemactionplugin/syncthingfileitemaction.desktop
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..950eb3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fileitemactionplugin/syncthingfileitemaction.desktop
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+[Desktop Entry]
+Type=Service
+Name=Trigger Syncthing scan
+Name[de]="Syncthing-Rescan" im Servicemenü
+X-KDE-Library=syncthingfileitemaction
+X-KDE-Submenu=Syncthing
+
+Icon=syncthingtray
+ServiceTypes=KFileItemAction/Plugin
+MimeType=application/octet-stream;inode/directory
diff --git a/fileitemactionplugin/syncthingfileitemaction.h b/fileitemactionplugin/syncthingfileitemaction.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed9e06d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fileitemactionplugin/syncthingfileitemaction.h
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#ifndef SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_H
+#define SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_H
+
+#include "../connector/syncthingconnection.h"
+
+#include <KAbstractFileItemActionPlugin>
+
+QT_FORWARD_DECLARE_CLASS(QAction)
+QT_FORWARD_DECLARE_CLASS(QWidget)
+
+class KFileItemListProperties;
+
+class SyncthingFileItemAction : public KAbstractFileItemActionPlugin
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+
+public:
+    SyncthingFileItemAction(QObject* parent, const QVariantList &args);
+    QList<QAction *> actions(const KFileItemListProperties &fileItemInfo, QWidget *parentWidget) override;
+
+private Q_SLOTS:
+    static void logConnectionStatus();
+    static void logConnectionError(const QString &errorMessage);
+    static void rescanDir(const QString &dirId, const QString &relpath = QString());
+    static void showAboutDialog();
+
+private:
+    static Data::SyncthingConnection s_connection;
+};
+
+#endif // SYNCTHINGFILEITEMACTION_H