Windows 11 ships with a redesigned Media Player app that genuinely works well — it’s cleaner than the old Windows Media Player, handles local music libraries properly, plays most video formats, and includes CD ripping. If you’ve been defaulting to VLC or Spotify out of habit rather than necessity: it’s worth giving the current version a look before installing anything additional. If you want the full context, see our Windows 11 How-To Guides.
Finding and opening Media Player
Win+S → “Media Player” → the redesigned app opens. If it’s not installed: it’s available free from the Microsoft Store. The interface has two main sections: Music (library management and playback) and Video (video file playback). These are separate modes with different interfaces — the left sidebar switches between them.
Music library setup
Media Player scans folders you specify and builds a library from the music files it finds. On first run: it scans the default Music folder. To add more folders: Settings (gear icon, top right) → “Music library” → “Add a folder” → navigate to wherever your music is stored.
Library view: Artists, Albums, Songs, Genres — standard library organisational views populated from the music files’ metadata (ID3 tags for MP3, FLAC tags for FLAC, etc.). If tracks show wrong artist names, incorrect albums, or missing artwork: the metadata in the files themselves is the issue. Media Player displays whatever the files contain; it doesn’t rewrite tags. Third-party tools (MusicBrainz Picard, free and accurate) fix music metadata from the files themselves.
Album art: Media Player searches for embedded artwork in the files, then for cover.jpg/folder.jpg in the album directory. Missing art appears as a generic placeholder. Embed art with Mp3tag (free) or fix it with MusicBrainz Picard’s artwork lookup.
Playback features
Standard playback controls: play/pause (Space), previous/next track, shuffle, repeat, volume. The mini player (the downward arrow at the right of the toolbar) minimises Media Player to a compact floating player that stays above other windows — useful when the main window would take too much screen space during work.
Equaliser: the EQ button (if available in your version) opens basic frequency adjustment. Not a parametric EQ, but functional for broad adjustments — boosting bass, cutting harsh highs. The EQ implementation has varied between Media Player versions; some users find it absent and need to check for app updates.
Video playback
Media Player handles video through its Video section. Supported formats include: MP4 (H.264 and H.265 with the right codecs), AVI, MKV (with codec support), WMV, and MOV. Codec support depends on what’s installed — H.265/HEVC requires the “HEVC Video Extensions” from the Microsoft Store (paid, though often bundled with devices). Without it: H.265 content shows a codec error.
For MKV and other container formats with varied codecs: Media Player handles many configurations but not all. VLC still makes sense as a complement for edge-case formats. For everyday MP4 playback: Media Player is reliable without additional codecs.
CD ripping
Insert a CD → Media Player detects it automatically → the CD appears in the left panel. “Rip CD” button → rips the album to the configured format and location. Settings → “Rip settings” → choose format (AAC, MP3, WMA, FLAC) and quality (bitrate). For archival: FLAC preserves the lossless audio. For streaming-compatible files or limited storage: AAC or MP3 at 256kbps or higher.
Track names and album metadata come from an online music database lookup during ripping. If the CD isn’t recognised (common for less-known or older albums): enter the track names manually in the CD listing before ripping. The track names determine the filename, so getting them right before ripping saves renaming work afterward.
Our guide on Windows 11 default apps covers setting Media Player as the default audio and video player, and our guide on Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts covers the media control shortcuts (play/pause, next/previous) that work system-wide from any application. For codec compatibility and video format support details, Microsoft’s Media Player documentation covers supported file types and codec requirements for the current version.
Setting Media Player as the default player
Settings → Apps → Default apps → search “Media Player” → set as default for audio and video file types individually. Or: right-click any audio/video file → “Open with” → Media Player → “Always.” The second method is faster for setting a single file type; the Settings path covers all file types that Media Player supports in one place.
Playlist management
Media Player supports playlists: drag songs to the “Now Playing” queue on the right side of the screen (click the queue icon if not visible). Right-click the queue → “Save as playlist” → names and saves the queue as a .m3u file in the playlists folder. The playlist then appears in the library. Import existing .m3u playlists: File → Open (or drag .m3u file into Media Player).
The queue is Media Player’s equivalent of Winamp-era playlist management — add songs, reorder them, save the result. It’s functional rather than elaborate; for complex playlist management with smart playlists and extensive features, dedicated music apps (foobar2000, Musicbee) provide more depth.
Media Player vs alternatives
The realistic comparison:
- For music library management: Media Player is adequate for straightforward libraries. Musicbee and foobar2000 (both free) provide considerably more features — smart playlists, DSP plugins, advanced library views, and extensive format support.
- For streaming-integrated playback: Spotify, YouTube Music, and similar services; Media Player doesn’t integrate streaming.
- For video with broad format support: VLC still handles more edge-case codecs and container formats than Media Player without any additional downloads.
- For everything local and everyday: Media Player handles it without requiring third-party software.
| Task | Media Player? | Alternative if no |
| Play local MP3/AAC/FLAC | Yes | — |
| Manage music library | Yes (basic) | Musicbee, foobar2000 |
| Rip CDs | Yes | Exact Audio Copy (more control) |
| Play MP4/H.264 video | Yes | — |
| Play H.265/HEVC video | With HEVC extension | VLC (free codec bundled) |
| Play MKV with unusual codecs | Sometimes | VLC |
| Streaming music | No | Spotify, YouTube Music |
| Podcast playback | No | Windows native Podcasts app, or any podcast client |
Media Player in Windows 11 is one of those built-in tools that has genuinely improved to the point where it competes with third-party alternatives for most everyday use. CD ripping to FLAC, a clean music library view, and reliable MP4/AAC playback — handled natively, without installation, without ads, without accounts. The cases where it falls short (complex video formats, serious library management, streaming integration) are specific and well-covered by free alternatives. For users who previously defaulted immediately to VLC or Spotify: the current Media Player warrants a fresh evaluation.
Media Player and OneDrive music
If your music is stored in OneDrive (and synced locally or via Files On-Demand): add the OneDriveMusic folder to Media Player’s library. When using Files On-Demand: tracks stored cloud-only download automatically when Media Player tries to play them. The download takes a few seconds for the first play; subsequent plays use the locally-cached file. For large libraries where you only listen to a subset regularly: this cloud-library integration means the whole collection is in Media Player without all of it consuming local storage.
Keyboard shortcuts in Media Player
| Shortcut | Action |
| Space | Play / Pause |
| Ctrl+Right | Next track |
| Ctrl+Left | Previous track |
| F7 | Mute |
| F8 / F9 | Volume down / up |
| Ctrl+Enter | Toggle fullscreen (video) |
| Ctrl+M | Show/hide menu bar |
| Ctrl+Shift+P | Always on top toggle |
Media control keyboard shortcuts work even when Media Player isn’t the active window. Windows’ media key support (found on keyboards with dedicated play/pause/next buttons) controls Media Player from anywhere — the keyboard’s media keys send system media commands that Windows routes to whichever media application is actively playing. If another application is “stealing” the media keys (browser playing a video, for example): clicking Media Player first to make it the active media session gives it control of the system media keys.
Audio streaming from Media Player
Media Player supports DLNA/UPnP streaming to compatible devices on the same network — smart TVs, streaming receivers, network-attached speakers. Library → three-dot menu → “Stream” → select a target device. This lets you play music from the Windows library on a living room speaker or TV without any additional apps or subscriptions.
Not all devices appear in the streaming list — they need to be DLNA-compatible and on the same local network. Troubleshooting if devices don’t appear: ensure “Network discovery” is enabled in Windows network settings and that the target device is powered on and connected to the same network. Some smart TV streaming features require the TV to be in “DLNA server” or “DLNA renderer” mode rather than just being connected to the network.
Troubleshooting Media Player issues
Common issues and their fixes:
- Library not showing music: check that the folder containing music has been added to the library in Settings → Music library. Also verify the music folder is in an indexed location (Windows Search coverage affects Media Player library scanning).
- Tracks showing incorrect metadata: the metadata is in the files, not in Media Player. Fix with Mp3tag or MusicBrainz Picard, then rescan the library (Settings → Library settings → Rebuild).
- Video won’t play (codec error): identify the video codec with MediaInfo (free tool) → install the appropriate codec extension from the Microsoft Store, or use VLC as the playback alternative.
- App crashes or doesn’t open: Settings → Apps → Media Player → Reset → if that fails, Repair. These options reinstall the app without losing library settings.
Media Player updates through the Microsoft Store automatically when connected to the internet. If a feature you’ve read about isn’t appearing: check the Store for a pending Media Player update. The app has been regularly updated since Windows 11’s release, and some features only appeared in later updates rather than being available from day one.
For users coming from the legacy Windows Media Player (still available at %SystemRoot%ehomeWMPlayer.exe for edge cases that need it): most familiar workflows exist in the new app with a cleaner interface. The transition is worth making — the legacy player hasn’t been updated in years and its interface doesn’t scale well on high-DPI displays. The current Media Player is the right long-term choice for local media playback on Windows 11.
FLAC and lossless audio support
Media Player handles FLAC natively — no additional codecs or extensions needed. For audiophiles or users who rip CDs to FLAC for archival: the playback chain is Media Player → Windows audio subsystem → output device. Windows supports WASAPI (Windows Audio Session API) exclusive mode for bit-perfect playback, and Media Player can use this. For bit-perfect audio from FLAC through Media Player: the audio driver needs to support WASAPI exclusive mode, which most modern audio hardware does.
Higher-resolution audio files (24-bit/96kHz, 24-bit/192kHz FLAC from HDTracks or Bandcamp) play in Media Player if the audio output device supports those sample rates. Check: right-click the speaker icon → Sound settings → your audio device → Advanced → ensure the supported format matches the file’s bit depth and sample rate. A mismatch causes Windows to resample the audio to match the device’s setting — audible to trained ears, not to most users.
Media Player and system integration
Media Player integrates with Windows’ media controls — the lock screen shows Now Playing information and playback controls when Media Player is active. The system tray’s volume control also shows media information and skip/pause controls when Media Player is playing. This system-level integration means you can control playback from the taskbar or lock screen without switching to the application window.
Notification area integration also works with Windows’ media key routing: pressing a keyboard’s media play/pause button when the screen is locked controls Media Player without unlocking. This makes Media Player a reasonable choice for dedicated music-playing scenarios — playing while working in other applications, during calls, or with the screen locked — with system-level control accessible from wherever you are without needing to switch windows. If this sounds familiar, Protect Your Privacy on Social Media is worth a look.
The Windows 11 Media Player succeeds at being the local media player most Windows users need for daily use, without the complexity of media server software or the account requirements of streaming services. Its honest limitation is anything requiring advanced library management, complex codec support, or external service integration — those genuinely require the alternatives. For the everyday use case: it’s the right default tool that most users overlook simply because the legacy Windows Media Player left a lasting negative impression that the current version doesn’t deserve. Our guide on How to Use Loom covers an adjacent issue.
