How to Open Windows Media Player on Windows 11
This guide shows you how to open the Windows Media Player app on Windows 11.
The Windows Media Player app is a built-in tool that lets you watch videos, listen to music, and view photos. It is the best way to organize and play your media collection on your computer. It handles many different file types and gives you simple buttons to play, pause, or skip through your files.
Why use Windows Media Player?
You use this app to enjoy your personal media collection. It keeps your files in one place so you can access them quickly.
What happens when you are done?
Once you open the app, you will have a central hub to play your audio and video files. You can also organize your folders and create playlists.
How to Open Windows Media Player
If you want to play your music or videos, follow these steps:
- Click the Start button on your taskbar.
- Select All apps from the menu.
- Scroll through the list and click on Media Player to launch it.
If you cannot find the app, it might not be installed. You can get it from the Microsoft Store using this link: Install Windows Media Player.
Once the app opens, you will see the home page. From here, you can add your music and video folders so the app can find your files.
Handy Keyboard Shortcuts
You can use these keys to control the app quickly:
- Ctrl + 1: Switch to library mode
- Ctrl + 2: Switch to skin mode
- Ctrl + 3: Switch to player mode
- Ctrl + 7: Add to Play
- Ctrl + 8: Add to Burn
- Ctrl + 9: Add to Sync
- Ctrl + A: Select everything in a list
- Ctrl + J: Eject
- Ctrl + N: Create a playlist
- Ctrl + O: Show Open dialog
- Ctrl + Shift + B: Rewind
- Right Arrow: Skip forward
- Left Arrow: Skip backward
- Ctrl + Click: Resize player to image
- Escape: Return to Now Playing
Summary
Windows Media Player is the default app for watching videos and listening to music on Windows 11. By opening it through the Start menu, you gain access to a simple interface that supports most common file formats. Use the keyboard shortcuts listed above to make navigating your media faster and easier.
How do I open Windows Media Player on Windows 11?
What file formats does Windows Media Player support?
What are the basic playback controls in Windows Media Player?
What keyboard shortcuts can I use in Windows Media Player?
How do I add media libraries to Windows Media Player on Windows 11?
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[…] 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 …)