Windows Media Player is available for Windows-based devices. Use this table to find the right version of the Player for your system. (If you've got a Mac, you can download Windows Media Components for QuickTime to play Windows Media files.)
And besides making it the default music player and video player, you can create shortcuts for Windows Media Player on your start menu, taskbar, or desktop – YES! Just like the good old days, I tells ya. Making Windows Media Player your default music player is easy. Click the start button; Click Settings; Click System; Find Default Apps on the. Zoom to 50 percent. Zoom to 100 percent. Zoom to 200 percent. Show or hide album information in the Copy from CD feature. Windows Media Player Shortcuts Like most media players the default Windows player can be controlled almost exclusively via the keyboard.
Operating system/browser | Player version | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
Windows 10 | Windows Media Player 12 | Included in clean installs of Windows 10 as well as upgrades to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7. In some editions of Windows 10, it's included as an optional feature that you can enable. To do that, select the Start button, then select Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Manage optional features > Add a feature > Windows Media Player, and select Install. DVD playback isn't included. Go to the DVD playback for Windows page to find out how to add DVD playback to Windows 10. |
Windows 8.1 | Windows Media Player 12 | Included in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Pro, but doesn't include DVD playback. Go to the DVD playback for Windows page to find out how to add DVD playback to Windows 8.1. For Windows Media Player 12 for Windows 8.1 N and KN editions, get the Media Feature Pack. |
Windows RT 8.1 | N/A | Windows Media Player isn't available for Windows RT 8.1. |
Windows 7 | Windows Media Player 12 | Included in Windows 7 Starter, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. For Windows 7 N or KN editions, get the Media Feature Pack. |
Mac OS X | Windows Media Components for QuickTime |
Windows Media Player Key Commands
If you want to reinstall Windows Media Player, try the following:
Click the Start button, type features, and select Turn Windows features on or off.
Scroll down and expand Media Features, clear the Windows Media Player check box, and click OK.
Restart your device. Windows Media Player should be uninstalled.
Repeat step 1.
Scroll down and expand Media Features, select the Windows Media Player check box, and click OK.
Restart your device. Windows Media player should now be reinstalled.
Windows Media Player Desktop Icon
Note: To troubleshoot issues like playback and codec problems, see the 'Get help' section in Windows Media Player.
We have published lots of articles and tutorials about Windows Media Player 11. This time we have prepared for you a list with the most useful keyboard shortcuts.
- Show video in full screen – ALT+ENTER
- Switch to full mode – CTRL+1
- Switch to skin mode – CTRL+2
- Play the previous item – CTRL+B
- Play the next item – CTRL+F
- Move the focus to the search box in the library – CTRL+E
- Turn shuffle on or off – CTRL+H
- Show or hide the Classic Menus (menu bar) in full mode – CTRL+M
- Create a playlist – CTRL+N
- Open a file – CTRL+O
- Play or pause a file – CTRL+P
- Stop playback – CTRL+S
- Rewind video – CTRL+SHIFT+B
- Turn captions and subtitles on or off – CTRL+SHIFT+C
- Fast-forward through video or music – CTRL+SHIFT+F
- Play faster than normal speed (time compression) – CTRL+SHIFT+G
- Play at normal speed – CTRL+SHIFT+N
- Play slower than normal speed (time expansion) – CTRL+SHIFT+S
- Repeat the playlist – CTRL+T
- Close or stop playing a file – CTRL+W
- Open Help – F1
- Show the Classic Menus (menu bar) -F10
- Switch to full-screen mode – F11
- Edit media information on a selected item in the library – F2
- Add media files to the library – F3
- Refresh information in the panes – F5
- Increase the size of album art – F6
- Decrease the size of album art – SHIFT+F6
- Mute the volume – F7
- Decrease the volume – F8
- Increase the volume – F9
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Windows Media Player 11