Windows Media Player has been around in diverse forms for decades. While it used to be the default Windows media role player, that's changed for Windows 10. You at present need to install Windows Media Player before information technology's available; the method y'all use will depend on your version of Windows 10.

If yous're missing this classic Windows utility, we're here to show you how to become it back apace and for free. We'll also offering upward some alternative media players because Windows Media Thespian hasn't seen a major update in years.

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

The first iteration of the program was called Media Role player, launched in 1991 and included in Windows three.0 with Multimedia Extensions.

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

windows media player

Some of these features include DVD playback, syncing to portable media players, music visualization, and media streaming. You lot could also utilize different themes.

For many, one of the near important features of Windows Media Player was its ability to rip from and burn down to discs. When music was all the same more often than not consumed on disc, Windows Media Player was invaluable for bringing your tunes on to your figurer.

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

The quickest mode to check if you have Windows Media Actor 12 (the latest version) installed and enabled is to open up the Start menu and search for it.

It comes every bit an "optional feature" for the majority of Windows ten versions. Notwithstanding, Microsoft now disables it by default, and then in that location's every run a risk your search will yield no results.

In that location are also two versions of the operating system that don't have it at all: Windows 10 N and Windows x NK.

This is because the European Committee ruled that Microsoft'south practice of pre-installing some software on their operating systems is anti-competitive. Thus, Microsoft was forced to offering alternative versions of Windows 10 with some of these key features removed. Non but do they lack Windows Media Actor, but they also exclude apps such as Video and Voice Recorder.

No matter your operating system version, nosotros'll show you lot how to install Windows Media Player for Windows 10—legally and for free.

It's extremely simple to install Windows Media Role player 12. The method you need will depend on your version of Windows ten.

Windows 10 North and NK

You lot need to download the Media Feature Pack from Microsoft'southward official website.

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

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

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

          Microsoft-Windows-MediaFeaturePack-OOB-Package.msu        

If you're running 64-scrap, select the other file. One time checked, click Next. Y'all should then exist prompted past your browser to Open with Windows Update Standalone Installer (default). With this selected, click OK to brainstorm the installation.

installing windows feature pack

Follow the wizard through, and the update will exist installed. Along with installing Windows Media Histrion, this will besides install other apps like Skype, Vox Recorder, and Groove Music. A full list of the boosted features can be institute on Microsoft's back up folio.

Windows 10 Dwelling house and Pro

Windows Media Player comes included as an optional feature with these versions of Windows x, but it needs to be enabled.

To exercise so, press Windows key + I to open Settings. Become to Apps > Optional features > Add together a feature.

windows 10 optional features

Coil down to Windows Media Thespian and select information technology. Click Install.

Job done! Go back a page, and you lot'll meet Windows Media Player on the list of installed optional features. You can also uninstall it from hither, should you ever wish to.

Some people consider Windows Media Player to exist an abrasive Windows feature they don't need. If that's yous, then you'll likely want alternative audio and video playing software. Happily, at that place are a number of free and great alternatives to Windows Media Player.

1 of the best media players you can download is VLC media histrion. This open-source, cross-platform software will run pretty much whatever audio or video file that yous throw at information technology, thank you to its huge amount of video codec support.

VLC tin play video files, webcams, streams, and more than. It's too very lightweight and fast.

vlc media player video

Other good gratis choices are Winamp, which boasts great visualization and interface customization, and MusicBee, which is a powerful music manager that too supports podcasts and radio.

Alternately, you lot could use other default Windows applications. These were designed with Windows ten in mind and offer a more modern user interface. For video, do a system search for Films & TV. For audio, search for Groove Music. The latter too comes with a store and streaming service, but y'all tin can just apply it to manage your local music collection if yous desire.

If you've been missing Windows Media Role player in your life, hopefully, you lot've now been able to install it on your system. Microsoft may remove back up for it entirely in the hereafter, but for at present, information technology's here to stay.

Remember, y'all don't have to employ Windows Media Actor if information technology doesn't suit your needs. In fact, at that place are better players out there since Microsoft's offer has fallen by the wayside.

The 6 Best Gratis Media Players for Windows

Struggling to figure out the right media player for your PC? Hither are the best free media player apps for Windows x.

Read Next

About The Author