Windows Media Player has been around in various forms for decades. While it used to be the default Windows media histrion, that'south changed for Windows 10. You at present need to install Windows Media Player before it's available; the method you utilize volition depend on your version of Windows 10.

If you're missing this classic Windows utility, nosotros're here to show you how to get it back quickly and for costless. We'll too offering up some culling media players because Windows Media Role player hasn't seen a major update in years.

Windows Media Thespian is software that plays and manages music and video files. If you're new to Windows, you may never have heard of information technology, let solitary used it. All the same, Windows Media Player was the de-facto media role player for many, especially Windows viii and prior versions.

The first iteration of the programme was called Media Player, launched in 1991 and included in Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions.

Over fourth dimension, Windows Media Player grew to support more media formats (all the codecs in the now-defunct Windows Media framework, forth 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 could also apply dissimilar themes.

For many, 1 of the nigh of import features of Windows Media Player was its ability to rip from and burn to discs. When music was withal by and large consumed on disc, Windows Media Player was invaluable for bringing your tunes on to your computer.

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

The quickest way to check if you lot have Windows Media Player 12 (the latest version) installed and enabled is to open up the Beginning carte du jour and search for information technology.

It comes as an "optional feature" for the majority of Windows 10 versions. However, Microsoft at present disables it by default, and so there'south every gamble your search will yield no results.

There are also two versions of the operating system that don't have information technology at all: Windows 10 N and Windows 10 NK.

This is because the European Commission ruled that Microsoft's do of pre-installing some software on their operating systems is anti-competitive. Thus, Microsoft was forced to offering culling versions of Windows 10 with some of these cardinal features removed. Non only do they lack Windows Media Player, but they also exclude apps such as Video and Vocalism Recorder.

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

Information technology's extremely uncomplicated to install Windows Media Histrion 12. The method you need will depend on your version of Windows ten.

Windows ten Northward and NK

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

First, select your language using the dropdown, and then click Download. You 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 discover this out, press Windows cardinal + R, input dxdiag, and click OK. This will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Await at the line Operating Arrangement and bank check if information technology reads 32-bit or 64-bit.

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

          Microsoft-Windows-MediaFeaturePack-OOB-Package.msu        

If you lot're running 64-bit, select the other file. Once checked, click Next. Yous should then be prompted by your browser to Open with Windows Update Standalone Installer (default). With this selected, click OK to begin the installation.

installing windows feature pack

Follow the wizard through, and the update volition be installed. Along with installing Windows Media Thespian, this will likewise install other apps like Skype, Voice Recorder, and Groove Music. A full list of the boosted features can be institute on Microsoft's support page.

Windows 10 Home and Pro

Windows Media Player comes included as an optional feature with these versions of Windows 10, simply information technology needs to exist enabled.

To exercise so, press Windows primal + I to open Settings. Get to Apps > Optional features > Add a feature.

windows 10 optional features

Roll downward to Windows Media Actor and select it. Click Install.

Job washed! Go back a page, and you'll see Windows Media Player on the listing of installed optional features. You tin can as well uninstall it from here, should you e'er wish to.

Some people consider Windows Media Player to exist an annoying Windows feature they don't demand. If that's y'all, then you'll probable desire alternative audio and video playing software. Happily, there are a number of free and nifty alternatives to Windows Media Thespian.

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

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

vlc media player video

Other skilful free 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, you could use other default Windows applications. These were designed with Windows ten in mind and offer a more than mod user interface. For video, practise a system search for Films & TV. For audio, search for Groove Music. The latter likewise comes with a store and streaming service, simply you can but use it to manage your local music collection if yous want.

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

Remember, you don't take to use Windows Media Player if it doesn't suit your needs. In fact, there are improve players out there since Microsoft'south offering has fallen by the wayside.

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