Windows Media Player has been effectually in diverse forms for decades. While information technology used to be the default Windows media player, that's changed for Windows 10. You now need to install Windows Media Player before it'due south available; the method yous use will depend on your version of Windows x.

If you're missing this classic Windows utility, we're hither to evidence you how to go it back quickly and for free. Nosotros'll also offering upwards some culling media players considering Windows Media Actor hasn't seen a major update in years.

Windows Media Player is software that plays and manages music and video files. If yous're new to Windows, you may never have heard of information technology, let alone used it. Still, Windows Media Histrion was the de-facto media player for many, peculiarly Windows 8 and prior versions.

The outset iteration of the program was chosen Media Thespian, launched in 1991 and included in Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions.

Over time, Windows Media Player grew to support more media formats (all the codecs in the now-defunct Windows Media framework, along with WAV and MP3) and more features.

windows media player

Some of these features include DVD playback, syncing to portable media players, music visualization, and media streaming. Y'all could also apply dissimilar themes.

For many, one of the most important features of Windows Media Actor was its ability to rip from and burn to discs. When music was still by and large consumed on disc, Windows Media Actor was invaluable for bringing your tunes on to your figurer.

While primarily known as a player for Windows desktops, over the years Windows Media Player was likewise released on Windows Mobile, Mac, and Oracle Solaris.

The quickest mode to check if you accept Windows Media Player 12 (the latest version) installed and enabled is to open the Kickoff menu and search for it.

It comes as an "optional feature" for the majority of Windows ten versions. However, Microsoft at present disables it by default, so there's every take chances your search will yield no results.

There are besides 2 versions of the operating system that don't have it at all: Windows 10 Due north and Windows x NK.

This is because the European Commission ruled that Microsoft's practice of pre-installing some software on their operating systems is anti-competitive. Thus, Microsoft was forced to offer alternative versions of Windows x with some of these key features removed. Non simply practise they lack Windows Media Player, merely they also exclude apps such every bit Video and Vocalisation Recorder.

No matter your operating system version, we'll testify y'all how to install Windows Media Actor for Windows 10—legally and for complimentary.

Information technology's extremely simple to install Windows Media Player 12. The method you demand will depend on your version of Windows 10.

Windows x N and NK

Yous need to download the Media Characteristic Pack from Microsoft's official website.

Showtime, select your language using the dropdown, then click Download. You lot must then choose which version of the file you desire to download. This depends on what bit version of Windows 10 you're running.

To find this out, press Windows key + R, input dxdiag, and click OK. This will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Look at the line Operating System and check if it reads 32-bit or 64-fleck.

If y'all're running 32-bit, check to download this file:

          Microsoft-Windows-MediaFeaturePack-OOB-Packet.msu

If you're running 64-flake, select the other file. Once checked, click Side by side. You should and then be prompted by your browser to Open up with Windows Update Standalone Installer (default). With this selected, click OK to begin the installation.

installing windows feature pack

Follow the sorcerer through, and the update will exist installed. Along with installing Windows Media Player, this will also install other apps like Skype, Voice Recorder, and Groove Music. A full list of the additional features tin can be found on Microsoft's support page.

Windows 10 Home and Pro

Windows Media Histrion comes included every bit an optional feature with these versions of Windows 10, but it needs to be enabled.

To do and then, press Windows key + I to open up Settings. Go to Apps > Optional features > Add a feature.

windows 10 optional features

Scroll down to Windows Media Player and select it. Click Install.

Job washed! Get dorsum a page, and you'll see Windows Media Actor on the list of installed optional features. You can also uninstall it from here, should yous ever wish to.

Some people consider Windows Media Player to be an annoying Windows feature they don't need. If that's yous, then y'all'll likely desire alternative audio and video playing software. Happily, there are a number of gratis and great alternatives to Windows Media Thespian.

One of the best media players you can download is VLC media thespian. This open-source, cross-platform software will run pretty much any audio or video file that you throw at it, thank you to its huge corporeality of video codec support.

VLC can play video files, webcams, streams, and more. Information technology'southward also very lightweight and fast.

vlc media player video

Other good complimentary choices are Winamp, which boasts great visualization and interface customization, and MusicBee, which is a powerful music director that also supports podcasts and radio.

Alternately, y'all could apply other default Windows applications. These were designed with Windows x in listen and offer a more than modernistic user interface. For video, exercise a organization search for Films & TV. For audio, search for Groove Music. The latter likewise comes with a shop and streaming service, only y'all tin only utilise it to manage your local music drove if you desire.

If y'all've been missing Windows Media Player in your life, hopefully, you've now been able to install it on your arrangement. Microsoft may remove support for it entirely in the futurity, but for now, it's here to stay.

Remember, y'all don't have to apply Windows Media Player if it doesn't adjust your needs. In fact, there are better players out there since Microsoft's offering has fallen past the wayside.

The six Best Free Media Players for Windows

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Well-nigh The Writer

Joe Keeley (881 Articles Published)

Joe was born with a keyboard in his hands and immediately started writing nigh technology. He has a BA (Hons) in Business organisation and is at present a full-time freelance writer who enjoys making tech simple for everyone.

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