Prefer the classic Windows player for your music and video files? Windows Media Player turns locally stored songs and videos into a browsable library, plays individual files and lets you build playlists from your collection.
Media library and playlists
The library provides a central way to browse music and video files stored on the computer. Music can be grouped by artist, album, or genre, making it easier to locate tracks in a larger collection. Playlists collect chosen songs in a sequence for a particular listening session.
Library problems sometimes affect what appears in the collection or how files play. Windows Media Player includes a Restore Media Library command in its menu for rebuilding the library database.
Audio and video playback
Windows includes support for a range of common media formats. Audio examples include MP3, AAC, M4A, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, and WMA. Supported video formats include H.264, WMV, VC-1, VP8, and Motion JPEG.
A file encoded with a format that lacks an installed codec may fail to play. Windows offers separate codec extensions for formats such as MPEG-2, HEVC, VP9, AV1, and OGG.
Playback troubleshooting
Playback errors usually come down to a missing codec, a damaged library or a faulty file.
For playback or library trouble, the menu includes options to restore the media library and clear the playback history. Clearing the history is available under Tools, Options, and Privacy; restoring the library is under Tools and Advanced.
Pros
- Organizes music by artist, album, and genre
- Creates playlists from locally stored tracks
- Plays common formats including MP3, FLAC, MP4, and WMV
Cons
- Some formats require an additional codec to play
System requirements: Windows 10, Windows 11
Which media formats can Windows Media Player play?
Common supported formats include MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, WMA, H.264, WMV, VP8, and Motion JPEG. Other formats may need an additional codec.
Can Windows Media Player organize music into playlists?
Yes. The library organizes music by details such as artist, album, and genre, and playlists let you group selected tracks.
What should I try if the library or playback has a problem?
Use Restore Media Library from the Tools and Advanced menu to rebuild the library. The Privacy options include a command to clear playback history.