6 Ways to Fix Media Player Not Working in Windows 11

Quick Tips

• Run the Windows Media Player troubleshooter from the Settings app.
• Search for Turn Windows Features On or Off from the Start menu, and turn on Media Features.
• Re-install or Reset Windows Media Player to get rid of corrupted files.

Fix 1: Check the File Format

The latest Windows Media Player is built to work with all the popular audio and video formats. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support all of them. The possibility is high that the Media Player doesn’t support the media file you are trying to play.

To check for that possibility, check the Windows Media Player file compatibility list and ensure your file is compatible. If it isn’t, change the file type to a compatible format.

Fix 2: Use the Windows Media Player Troubleshooter

Windows Media Player is a new application, so it is common to encounter issues. Fortunately, you can eliminate most of its issues, including the one at hand, using the Windows Media Player troubleshooter.

Step 1: Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app.
Step 2: Choose System from the left sidebar and Troubleshoot from the right pane.

Step 3: Choose Other troubleshooters.

Step 4: Click the Run button next to Windows Media Player.

Step 5: In the Get Help window, click Yes to allow Windows to repair the found problems automatically.

The Windows Media Player will look for any available issues and automatically fix them without much user input. After that, restart your computer and check for the problem.

Fix 3: Re-Register DLL Files

Dynamic Link Libraries (DLL) files are important to ensure programs perform their task properly. If the DLL files associated with the Windows Media Player get corrupt or missing, the app will struggle to work properly. The only way to fix these files is to re-register them.
Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start Menu.
Step 2: Type Command Prompt in the search bar and choose Run as administrator from the right pane.

Step 3: Execute the following commands one by one:

regsvr32 vbscript.dll 
regsvr32 jscript.dll 
regsvr32 wmp.dll

After that, restart your computer and check for the issue. If it continues, try the next solution on the list.

Fix 4: Enable Windows Media Player in Windows Features

If Windows Media Player is not functioning, it may be disabled in Windows Features. You’ll have to access Windows Features and enable Windows Media Player to fix the issue.
Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start Menu, type Turn Windows Features on or off, and press Enter.

Step 2: Check the Media Features box and click OK.

Fix 5: Repair or Reset the Windows Media Player

Another possible reason Windows Media Player is not working in Windows 11 is file corruption. You can quickly detect and eliminate corruption using the Windows repair feature.
Step 1: Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app, choose Apps from the left sidebar, and then Installed Apps from the right pane.

Step 2: Click the three horizontal dots next to Media Player and choose Advanced options.

Step 3: Click the Repair button.

Wait till the repair process is complete. Once done, you’ll see a checkmark next to the Repair button. Now, check if the problem is resolved.

If not, you’ll have to reset the app, which will clear all its data. To reset the Media Player, open the Advanced options of the Media Player and click the Reset button.

Fix 6: Reinstall Windows Media Player

Is the Windows Media Player still not working on Windows 11? Perhaps there’s corruption in installation files that is causing the issue.

Step 1: Press Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app, select Apps from the left sidebar, and select Installed apps from the right pane.

Step 2: Click the three dots next to Media Player and choose Uninstall. Then, choose Uninstall again to confirm your selection.

Now, restart your computer and download the Windows Media Player from the Microsoft Store.