Windows Media Player is a classic media player application that has been included in Windows operating systems for many years. While it remains a popular choice for many users, some may encounter issues with its functionality or performance. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore various troubleshooting steps to help you get Windows Media Player working again on your Windows 10 PC.
Disable and Re-enable Windows Media Player
One of the simplest ways to resolve issues with Windows Media Player is to disable and then re-enable the feature. Here’s how to do it:
Open the Start menu or Windows Search and type “Windows features”.
Select “Turn Windows features on or off” from the search results.
In the Windows Features window, locate “Media Features” and expand it.
Uncheck the box next to “Windows Media Player” to disable it.
Click “OK” and wait for Windows to apply the changes.
Restart your PC to ensure the changes take effect.
Repeat steps 1-3 to open the Windows Features window again.
Check the box next to “Windows Media Player” to re-enable it.
Click “OK” and wait for Windows to apply the changes.
Restart your PC once more to complete the process.
After following these steps, Windows Media Player should be working again, and any issues caused by the previous configuration should be resolved.
Update Windows Media Player
If you’re still experiencing problems with Windows Media Player, it’s possible that your version is outdated. Microsoft occasionally releases updates to fix bugs and improve performance. To check for updates:
Open Windows Media Player.
Click on the “Help” menu and select “Check for Updates”.
If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to download and install it.
Restart your PC to ensure the update is properly applied.
After updating Windows Media Player, test its functionality to see if the issues have been resolved.
Repair Windows Media Player
If disabling and re-enabling or updating Windows Media Player doesn’t solve the problem, you can try repairing the application. Here’s how:
Open the Start menu or Windows Search and type “Control Panel”.
Select “Control Panel” from the search results.
Click on “Programs” and then “Programs and Features”.
Find “Windows Media Player” in the list of installed programs.
Right-click on “Windows Media Player” and select “Change”.
In the Windows Media Player Setup window, select “Repair” and click “Next”.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair process.
Restart your PC when prompted.
After repairing Windows Media Player, test its functionality to see if the issues have been resolved.
Reset Windows Media Player Settings
If you’ve made changes to Windows Media Player’s settings that are causing issues, you can try resetting them to their default values. Here’s how:
Open Windows Media Player.
Click on the “Tools” menu and select “Options”.
In the Options window, click on the “Player” tab.
Click on the “Reset all settings” button.
Click “Yes” to confirm the action.
Click “OK” to close the Options window.
After resetting Windows Media Player’s settings, test its functionality to see if the issues have been resolved.
Reinstall Windows Media Player
If none of the above steps resolve the issues with Windows Media Player, you can try reinstalling the application. Here’s how:
Open the Start menu or Windows Search and type “Control Panel”.
Select “Control Panel” from the search results.
Click on “Programs” and then “Programs and Features”.
Find “Windows Media Player” in the list of installed programs.
Right-click on “Windows Media Player” and select “Uninstall”.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
Restart your PC when prompted.
Open the Start menu or Windows Search and type “Windows features”.
Select “Turn Windows features on or off” from the search results.
In the Windows Features window, locate “Media Features” and expand it.
Check the box next to “Windows Media Player” to reinstall it.
Click “OK” and wait for Windows to apply the changes.
Restart your PC once more to complete the process.
After reinstalling Windows Media Player, test its functionality to see if the issues have been resolved.
If you’ve followed all the steps in this guide and are still experiencing issues with Windows Media Player, it’s possible that there may be a more complex underlying problem with your system. In such cases, it’s recommended to seek further assistance from Microsoft Support or a qualified IT professional.