How to Open Windows Media Player on Windows 11
Windows Media Player is the classic Microsoft program built into Windows 11 for playing music and videos. Opening this familiar media software takes just a quick search in the taskbar or a quick command.
Windows 11 comes with a newer media app pre-installed, but the older version stays on your PC so you can still use the classic interface you know.
Search for “Media Player” in the Start menu and select it from the results. Alternatively, click the Start button , select “All apps,” and then click “Media Player” in the app list.
How to Open Windows Media Player
The Start menu offers the most direct route to the software. Click the Start button, choose ‘All apps’, and scroll down to ‘Media Player’. Missing the app? Head to the Microsoft Store to grab a fresh copy. If the app isn’t installed, it won’t appear. Get it from the Microsoft Store using this link: Install Windows Media Player. Once the app opens, the home page appears. From here, add music and video folders so the app can locate files.
Handy Keyboard Shortcuts
Windows Media Player includes several keyboard shortcuts to control playback and manage media libraries faster. Mastering these shortcuts saves time during listening or viewing sessions.Summary
Windows Media Player remains a reliable choice for playing videos and music on Windows 11. Opening it from the Start menu grants access to playback tools for common media formats, while keyboard shortcuts speed up navigation.Was this guide helpful?
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
[…] The Windows Media Player app is a built-in application that allows you to play various media files, such as videos, music, and images. It is a useful tool for managing and playing your media collection in Windows. It supports various file formats and offers basic playback controls such as play, pause, stop, rewind, and fast-forward. […]
[…] The Windows Media Player app is a built-in application that allows you to play various media files, such as videos, music, and images. It is a useful tool for managing and playing your media collection in Windows. It supports various file formats and offers basic playback controls such as play, pause, stop, rewind, and fast-forward. […]
[…] The Windows Media Player app is a built-in application that allows you to play various media files, such as videos, music, and images. It is a useful tool for managing and playing your media collection in Windows. It supports various file formats and offers basic playback controls such as play, pause, stop, rewind, and fast-forward. […]
[…] The Windows Media Player app is a built-in application that lets you play various media files, like videos, music, and images. It is a useful tool for managing and playing your media collection in Windows. It supports multiple file formats and offers basic playback controls, including play, pause, stop, rewind, and fast-forward. […]
This does not leave me any the wiser regarding how to play music using Media Player.
I have a significant number of albums transferred from an external HD into the Music folder and showing up as ‘present’ ie listed when I open Media Player and select Music.
However nothing happens when I select artist/album/track etc and activate the Play icon other than the red line under the display moving from left to right. No timer movement, no sound.
(Realistically, I do not expect Windows post XP to be user friendly …)