While many Windows users rarely use the Windows Media Player, a few others do, and just like every application, you are bound to experience a few issues.
In this post, we have identified a few Windows Media Player issues and a fix for them, if you are a WMP user and are experiencing any issue, then this post is for you.
Some of the errors users have experienced, using the WMP ranges from the music library mismatch, DVD errors, sound issues, and even not opening at all. Most of your Windows Media Player problems can be easily fixed by trying these fixes.
How To Troubleshoot Windows Media Player Issues
The following approaches can be used to troubleshoot Windows media players.
Run Built-in Troubleshooter
There are three major built-in troubleshooters for the Windows Media Player. There’s Windows Media Player Settings, Windows Media Player DVD, and Windows Media Player Library. These three options address three different problems. Let’s take a look at them in detail.
Windows Media Player Settings
This type of troubleshooting addresses issues relating to playback and general settings in the WMP app.
- To run this troubleshooter, press windows key + R to open Run
- then type hit enter: msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerConfigurationDiagnostic
- This will open the WMP settings for you to troubleshoot for errors and fix those related to the player.
Windows Media Library
If your issue is related to your library, missing artwork, missing song info and everything related to your player library.
- Like fixing player settings, you need to press windows key + R to open Run.
- Then type the following and hit enter msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerLibraryDiagnostic this opens the Windows Media Player Library troubleshooter.
Note: For effectiveness, we recommend you run both troubleshooters as An Administrator.
Windows Media Player DVD
If the issue you are experiencing is related to playing DVD follow the procedures below.
- Press “Win + R” to open the “Run” interface.
- Type in msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerDVDDiagnostic to open the Windows Media Player Library troubleshooter.
- Just like the two previously discussed on troubleshooting
- Run as Administrator.
- Click Next and follow the prompts.
Roll Back System Updates
Another reason why Windows Media Library may experience issues may be because of a recently installed update. To fix this, you will need to roll back system updates concerned with Windows Media Player.
- To do this, you will need to right-click on the windows media app.
- Click on restore to the previous version.
- Your PC Will then roll back the update, bringing your app to a previously working state.
Check For Windows Updates
Sometimes, these issues exist because your OS may be out of date. You may want to consider searching for updates for your PC and installing them. Many windows users reported that their issues were fixed when they updated their OS.
Find Alternatives To WMP
From the start, we had said that not too many Windows users use the Windows Media Player for obvious reasons. There is way better software you can use to listen to your music files, purchase music online, and manage your multimedia library.
If you have tried everything to fix the issues you are experiencing with your Windows Media Player, and they don’t work, then it may just be time to let go of the software and move to something better.
In later versions of Windows, the WMP is not a highly recommended app to view and manage your media files – With Windows Groove Music, you can do a lot more than the WMP, and with Windows Film and TV, you can also do a lot, same goes with the Photos App.
You can also consider getting an Apple Music Subscription or a Spotify or Deezer subscription to listen to numerous collections of Songs.
Alternatively, for movies and TV shows, you may want to consider getting a Netflix subscription or an Amazon Prime subscription. There are really a lot of options to choose from.