On this page, you'll learn about the default Microsoft Windows Media Player, including its features, supported file formats, a brief history, and common troubleshooting tips.
Windows Media Player, or WMP, is a multimedia player developed by Microsoft. It allows users to play, manage, and organize various digital media files, including audio, video, and images, on Windows-based devices.
Key functions include video and audio playback, CD ripping, burning, playlist creation, syncing data with portable devices, and streaming live content with URLs.
It is compatible with PCs running Windows and some older Windows mobile devices.
While Windows Media Player is still available in modern Windows versions, Microsoft has stopped providing official updates and support, thus it is considered obsolete in many respects. For instance, many users have reported issues with the URL streaming feature, which no longer works on legacy versions of Windows Media Player. Additionally, files encoded with advanced formats like AV1 often fail to open in WMP, prompting users to switch to its successor, Media Player on Windows 11.
Despite this, some users still prefer WMP for its simplicity and familiarity. Others keep it for its flexibility in sorting music and its ability to rip and burn CDs.
1991: Originally named “Media Player” and released with Windows 3.0, supporting basic multimedia files.
1999: In this year, Microsoft released multiple versions of Windows Media Player, introducing a visible screen and support for streaming and new media formats.
2000: Windows Media Player 7.0 dramatically changed the user interface compared to previous versions.
2001: Windows Media Player 8 launched with Windows XP, adding CD ripping and burning features.
2006: Windows Media Player 11 debuted with Windows Vista, featuring an improved interface and better library management.
2009: Windows Media Player 12 released with Windows 7 is the latest version of the popular player.
Windows Media Player can play many media types, including digital video and audio, streaming content, and CD music.
Check the full list of File types supported by Windows Media Player on Microsoft Support.
If you fail to open media in Windows Media Player, it is likely due to incompatible container format, missing codec, corrupted files, playback settings, software conflicts, and so on.
Often, you can fix it by running Windows Media Player Troubleshooter or re-installing the player. However, given that this player has not been maintained, it is prone to playback failures when playing certain Apple formats or files with modern compression standards. In such cases, you’re highly recommended to convert the video or audio by using:
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