{"id":33833,"date":"2026-03-12T19:25:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T03:25:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/?p=33833"},"modified":"2026-03-19T22:27:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T06:27:41","slug":"windows-media-player-review-1426","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/windows-media-player-review-1426.html","title":{"rendered":"Windows Media Player Review: Is It Working on Windows 11?","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"anchor-list-point\">\n<p><strong>Summary<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul-inside pl40\">\n<p>Learn how the new Windows Media Player works and  discover a better media player for Windows 11 in this comprehensive review.<\/p>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>For an entire  generation, Windows Media Player has been the go-to choice for playing videos  and music on PCs. But there haven\u2019t been major upgrades to this software since  2009. On your latest Windows 11, does it still hold up, or do you need an  alternative to Windows Media Player? This review has all the answers you need.<\/p>\n<p class=\"subtitle\">Also Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/vlc-media-player-review-1426.html?utm_source=leawo.com&#038;utm_medium=260313_vlc_media_player_review&#038;utm_campaign=1426\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">VLC Media Player Review<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/can-windows-media-player-play-blu-ray-1426.html?utm_source=leawo.com&#038;utm_medium=260313_can_window_media_player_play_blu-rays&#038;utm_campaign=1426\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Can Windown Media Player Play Blu-rays?<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/videobyte-blu-ray-player-review-1426.html?utm_source=leawo.com&#038;utm_medium=260313_videobyte_blu-ray_player_review&#038;utm_campaign=1426\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">VideoByte Blu-ray Review<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"anchor-list-1\">\n<p>Outline<span>CLOSE<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#part1\">Windows Media Player: Overview<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#part2\">Where Windows Media Player Falls Short Today<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#part3\">How Is The New Media Player in Windows 11?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#part4\">Need a Better Option? Try Leawo Blu-ray Player<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"part1\" class=\"title4\"><strong>1. Windows Media Player: Overview<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Windows Media  Player has been around for several decades. Even today, on Windows 11, it still  serves, only renamed to Windows Media Player Legacy. Before getting to how it  performs on the latest system, it helps to understand what Windows Media Player  is and where it came from.<\/p>\n<h3>History and Legacy<\/h3>\n<p>Windows Media  Player was originally launched in 1991. During the Windows XP and Windows 7  eras, it became most people\u2019s first-ever media player. Whether we watched DVDs,  listened to CDs, or played media files in different formats, it was the go-to  choice. It was more than just a media player: back in the days, we used it to  rip CDs, burn mixes, and organize massive MP3 libraries. Version 12 was  released with Windows 7 in 2009, and since then, Microsoft has stopped its  active development.<\/p>\n<p>In the Windows  10 era, it released Groove Music while keeping WMP on PCs. Over a decade later,  Windows 11 arrived, with Groove Music rebranded as the Media Player app. The  Windows Media Player we are familiar with is now called Windows Media Player  Legacy. It is pre-installed on your Windows 11. Alternatively, you can follow  the steps to enable it:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Step 1<\/strong>: Select Start  &gt; Settings &gt; System &gt; Optional Features &gt; View features.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Step 2<\/strong>: Search for  Windows Media Player Legacy. Check the box next to it. Select Next, then Add.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3>Key Features<\/h3>\n<p>While features  have been quietly taken away from the Windows Media Player legacy, here\u2019s what  this version can still do at the time being:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul-inside\">\n<li>Broad format support:  It supports formats like MP3, WMA, WAV, WMV, AVI, MP4, MPEG, DivX, XviD, etc.  Some of them are no longer recognized in modern apps.<\/li>\n<li>Library management:  You can easily organize your local music collection by artist, album, and  genre, and edit its metadata in this tool.<\/li>\n<li>CD ripping and  burning: While you can still rip audio CDs with this tool, it fails to retrieve  album and track data. The &quot;find album info&quot; feature has been removed.<\/li>\n<li>Visualizations: During  music playback, it can display animated visuals like Alchemy.<\/li>\n<li>Device sync: It can  sync music and videos to supported portable devices.<\/li>\n<li>Media streaming: It  allows you to stream music and video across home and office local networks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"tc2\"><a class=\"highslide\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/windows-media-player-legacy.jpg\" rel=\"highslide\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-136102 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/windows-media-player-legacy.jpg\" title=\"windows-media-player-legacy\" alt=\"cleverget-interface\" width=\"650\" height=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 2166px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 2166\/1424;\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"part2\" class=\"title4\"><strong>2. Where Windows Media Player Falls Short Today<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>As a legacy  tool, Windows Media Player fails to meet the needs generated in the streaming  age. Here\u2019s where it struggles today:<\/p>\n<h3>Outdated User Interface: <\/h3>\n<p>The WMP Legacy  hasn\u2019t seen a major design update since Windows 7. The interface of the player is  so outdated, with tiny buttons and cramped menus, which contrasts with Windows  11\u2019s clean, modern UI.<\/p>\n<h3>Limited Codec and Format Support:<\/h3>\n<p>This is one of  the biggest hurdles for most users. Most 4K videos today use HEVC (H.265). It  is one of the most widely used video codecs. However, if you play those files  in WMP, it simply shows a &quot;Missing Codec&quot; error. That\u2019s because it  does not include the HEVC decoder natively. You can get the HEVC Video  Extensions in the Microsoft Store for $0.99.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tc2\"><a class=\"highslide\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/windows-media-player-alternative-codec.jpg\" rel=\"highslide\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-136102 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/windows-media-player-alternative-codec.jpg\" title=\"windows-media-player-alternative-codec\" alt=\"cleverget-interface\" width=\"650\" height=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 2036px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 2036\/1198;\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<h3>No DVD playback:<\/h3>\n<p>This is where  WMP Legacy hurts the most. Once a standout feature, DVD playback was stripped  from WMP since Windows 8. Microsoft\u2019s solution was to roll out an official  Windows DVD Player app for $14.99, which received mixed reviews.<\/p>\n<h3>No Streaming or Online Integration:<\/h3>\n<p>In an era when  everything is about streaming, WMP remains local. You can\u2019t find lyrics or  subtitles for your media files through the player. It doesn\u2019t support casting  to your smart TVs either. It has no integration with any online streaming  service.<\/p>\n<p>Taken together,  as its name suggests, Windows Media Player Legacy is left behind. For anything  beyond basic playback needs, it\u2019s no longer enough.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"part3\" class=\"title4\">3. How Is The New Media Player in Windows 11?<\/h2>\n<p>Designed to  fill the gaps WMP Legacy has, how does the new Media Player perform exactly?  Here\u2019s what we can conclude from a deep review of the app:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul-inside\">\n<li>Video format support: AVI,  MP4, WebM, MKV, WMV, MOV (unfortunately, FLV is excluded). Like WMP Legacy, you  will need to buy a HEVC video extension to play HEVC videos in the app.<\/li>\n<li>Subtitle support: It  can display embedded subtitles or load subtitle files.<\/li>\n<li>Audio format support:  MP3, WAV, FLAC, OGG, WMA. You can switch to Legacy to play AIFF and MIDI.<\/li>\n<li>Audio playback: It can  display the cover photo, but visualizations are removed.<\/li>\n<li>Audio CD support: It  can only play CDs; ripping is not available.<\/li>\n<li>DVD support: The new  app can\u2019t play DVDs. You may turn to its $14.99 DVD player or third-party  players.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"tc2\"><a class=\"highslide\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/media-player-for-windows-11-scaled.jpg\" rel=\"highslide\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-136102 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/media-player-for-windows-11-scaled.jpg\" title=\"media-player-for-windows-11\" alt=\"cleverget-interface\" width=\"650\" height=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 2560px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 2560\/1440;\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"part4\" class=\"title4\">4. Need a Better Option? Try Leawo Blu-ray Player<\/h2>\n<p>How to  convert iTunes M4V to MP4? With the 3 methods introduced above, the tasks can  be easy and efficient. Since iTunes has now fully transitioned its video services to Apple TV, I personally think downloading content directly from  there is an even smarter approach. I can skip the extra conversion step and  download movies or shows straight in MP4 format. Just try it and see it  yourself!<\/p>\n<ul class=\"rec\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.org\/images\/products-banner\/new\/blu-ray-player.png\" class=\"highslide\" rel=\"highslide\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Leawo Free Blu-ray Player\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.org\/images\/products-banner\/new\/blu-ray-player.png\" alt=\"Leawo Free Blu-ray Player\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<p align=\"left\"><a style=\"font-size: 20px;\" title=\"Leawo Free Blu-ray Player\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.org\/blu-ray-player\/?utm_source=leawo.com&#038;utm_medium=260313_leawo_blu-ray_player&#038;utm_campaign=1426\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Leawo Free Blu-ray Player<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A 100% free Blu-ray media player combo that offers totally free media playback solutions for 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, video and audio playback. It could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/how-to-play-4k-blu-ray-disc-with-computer.html?utm_source=leawo.com&#038;utm_medium=260313_play_back_4k_blu-ray&#038;utm_campaign=1426\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">play back 4K Blu-ray<\/a>, Blu-ray and DVD discs regardless of disc protection and region restrictions, without any quality loss and subscription required.<\/p>\n<div><a class=\"rec-dl-win\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.org\/downloads\/blu-ray-player.html?utm_source=leawo.com&#038;utm_medium=260313_download_win&#038;utm_campaign=1426\">Download<\/a><a class=\"rec-dl-mac\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.org\/downloads\/blu-ray-player-mac.html?utm_source=leawo.com&#038;utm_medium=260313_download_mac&#038;utm_campaign=1426\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"title4\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>From this full  review, it is safe to say that Windows Media Player, whether the new app or the  legacy version, can handle basic media playback only. If you are looking for a  better choice that saves you the trouble of switching apps, and more  importantly, supports more file formats, Windows Media Player alternatives like  Leawo Blu-ray Player serve you right.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary: Learn how the new Windows Media Player works and discover a better media player for Windows 11 in this comprehensive review. For an entire generation, Windows Media Player has been the go-to choice for playing videos and music on &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/windows-media-player-review-1426.html\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":18,"featured_media":33837,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2189],"tags":[428],"class_list":["post-33833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-review","tag-blu-ray-player"],"aioseo_notices":[],"views":361,"excerpt_185":"Summary: Learn how the new Windows Media Player works and discover a better media player for Windows 11 in this comprehensive review. For an entire generation, Windows Media Player has...","formatted_date":"12\/03\/2026","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33833"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33833\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33846,"href":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33833\/revisions\/33846"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leawo.com\/knowledge\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}