This media player is a super versatile app for any file format you probably may think of: FLV, MP4, AVI, MOV, DAT, MKV, MP3, FLAC, M4V, Blu-ray are all supported as well as many others. With Elmedia Player you are getting a smooth HD playback with no interruptions or slowdowns. Some of Windows Media Player aliases include 'Windows Media Player 10', 'Windows Media Player 11', 'Windows Media Player-Systemupdate'. This free program is an intellectual property of Microsoft. The following versions: 12.0, 11.0 and 10.0 are the most frequently downloaded ones by the program users. The latest version of Windows Media Player is unknown on Mac Informer. It is a perfect match for Players in the Audio & Video category. The app is developed by Microsoft and its user rating is 3 out of 5. It seems that you give the impression that windows media player 12 is available for windows 10, but I have found nowhere on line to download a copy for free. CNET Download provides free downloads for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices across all categories of software and apps, including security, utilities, games, video and browsers.
Windows Media Player is available for Windows-based devices. Use this table to find the right version of the Player for your system. (If you've got a Mac, you can download Windows Media Components for QuickTime to play Windows Media files.)
Operating system/browser | Player version | How to get it |
---|---|---|
Windows 10 | Windows Media Player 12 Learn more | Included in clean installs of Windows 10 as well as upgrades to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7. In some editions of Windows 10, it's included as an optional feature that you can enable. To do that, select the Start button, then select Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Manage optional features > Add a feature > Windows Media Player, and select Install. DVD playback isn't included. Go to the DVD playback for Windows page to find out how to add DVD playback to Windows 10. |
Windows 8.1 | Windows Media Player 12 Learn more | Included in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Pro, but doesn't include DVD playback. Go to the DVD playback for Windows page to find out how to add DVD playback to Windows 8.1. For Windows Media Player 12 for Windows 8.1 N and KN editions, get the Media Feature Pack. |
Windows RT 8.1 | N/A | Windows Media Player isn't available for Windows RT 8.1. |
Windows 7 | Windows Media Player 12 Learn more | Included in Windows 7 Starter, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. For Windows 7 N or KN editions, get the Media Feature Pack. |
Mac OS X | Windows Media Components for QuickTime |
If you want to reinstall Windows Media Player, try the following:
- Click the Start button, type features, and select Turn Windows features on or off.
- Scroll down and expand Media Features, clear the Windows Media Player check box, and click OK.
- Restart your device. Windows Media Player should be uninstalled.
- Repeat step 1.
- Scroll down and expand Media Features, select the Windows Media Player check box, and click OK.
- Restart your device. Windows Media player should now be reinstalled.
Note: To troubleshoot issues like playback and codec problems, see the 'Get help' section in Windows Media Player.
This article will summarize the best free plug-ins for Windows Media Player and will also enlighten reader to get to know a best alternative to Windows Media Player.
Plug-ins come in all kinds of ways and fixs all kinds of problems and improve user experience a lot. This article will summarize the best free plug-ins for Windows Media Player and will also enlighten reader to get to know a best alternative to Windows Media Player in the end.
Part 1: About Windows Media Player
You cannot be more familiar with Windows Media Player more. It is a media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing audio, video and viewing images on personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile-based devices. Previously, editions of Windows Media Player were also released for classic Mac OS, Mac OS X and Solaris but the development of these has since been discontinued.
Windows Media Player is a now a household name to all PC users, because, in some operating system, it is pre-installed by default so users may naturally use it to stream any media files. It does not mean that Windows Media Player can playback any media file since it does have some limitations, such as it may lack the support to read certain types of files or it might fail to edit advanced metadata information without the help of plug-ins.
As a consequence, many practical yet lightweight plug-ins become popular among Windows Media Player users all over the world. Once they get certain plug-ins installed, their Windows Media Player may turn out to be more powerful and more user-friendly. Let’s take a look at the list of best 7 free plug-ins for Windows Media Player in the next section.
Part 2: 7 Best Free Plugins for Windows Media Player
Based on our screening from hundreds of plug-ins for Windows Media Player, we have selected the following top picks seriously, which I am sure will be helpful to you as well.
1. Directshow Filters
This is a useful plug-in for Windows Media Player 12. As you know, Windows Media Player 12 lacks the support of some video formats. Luckily, Directshow Filters adds support for FLAC, OGG Vorbis, and other formats. As a Windows Media Player plug-in, it bridges the compatibility gap and enables Windows Media Player to read and play .flac, .ogg, etc. naturally. Therefore, when you install them, it's possible to play FLAC files directly in WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER 12.
2. Google talk Plug-in
This plug-in will be a perfect choice for businessmen because it makes video calls or message viewing possible on Windows Media Player. This software enables you to use the functionality and also gives you the ability to take part in the instant messaging functions offered by Google. It is compatible with many operating systems. When you download and install this plug-in, it will be shown under the background category of the Windows Media Player and you will take advantage of it immediately when you get content from Google talk.
3. DFX audio enhancer
![Free Free](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126498264/914325179.jpg)
If you are an enthusiast to audio sound enjoyment, this plug-in will be exactly your choice. DFX Audio Enhancer is your road to whole new listening pleasure. Giving you whole loads of options to choose for your audio (bass, ambient, fidelity, 3DSurround, Dynamic Boost), it even comes with skins to suit your taste. With this plugin, your Windows Media Player will bring a more awesome sound experience to you.
4. Lyrics Plugin
Using an online database to accomplish the lyrics, this plugin is the type of add-on that is the most popular way to expand the usefulness of Windows Media Player 12. Rather than displaying all the words at once as some lyrics plug-ins do, this add-on uses timed lyrics so you see the words on the screen in real-time as the song plays. This is practical and user-friendly, isn’t it?
5. Windows Media Player Plus
It is actually a toolbox suite, including many useful tools to improve Windows Media Player performance. So it is more of a toolbox than one particular add-on. It contains a lot of tools to enhance Windows Media Player 12. For example, if you want to edit advanced metadata information, its Tag Editor Plus tool gives you several options. Editing embedded album art is just one option - you can directly view, change, or remove an image for a song.
6. Last.fm Scrobbler
Last.fm Scrobbler can keep a record of users’ listening habits via their account of Windows Media Player 12. The standard version of Windows is bundled with this plugin. The information of album and artist for the songs which are playing can be pulled up automatically, which makes a chance for you to get the songs added, shared or tagged.
7. WMPKeys Plug-in
A very classy set of hotkeys are exiting in WMP 12 and Windows 7. WMPKeys Plug-in gives you a quick path to get the hotkeys tweaked or edited in WMP 12. The hotkey even can be changed for playback and volume, you also can have ratings on it.
Part 3: How to add plugins to Windows Media Player
Plug-ins can be downloaded by clicking on Tools and then selecting Plug-ins and choosing Downloading plug-ins. Also, you can click on Tools, then choose Download and then select Plugins. You also can select Visualizations from this menu.
This action will navigate you to the webpage of Plug-ins for Windows Media Player via the defaulted web browser, where kinds of plug-ins can be browsed, downloaded and installed just like you get any program downloaded from Internet.
Once the plug-ins are already installed. Click to the Tools to view and configure the installed plug-ins. Then click to Plug-ins and select Options. A list of categories about plug-in can be seen in the next panel. Choose a category and you can get the installed plug-ins viewed from the chosen category.
Click on one plug-in from the box on the right side and then a description of the plugin can be seen below the box. Choose Properties and the configuration options will be shown for the chosen plugin. Finally, click on OK button.
Part 4: Windows Media Player Alternative on PC - Leawo Blu-ray Player
Windows Media Player is not bad but to let you open your mind, I will share a perfect alternative to you. Leawo Blu-ray Player is a competitive and user-friendly media player, which supports many types of media files, including but not limited to DVDs, Blu-rays, ISO, 4K video, HD video, and so on.
It is freeware that gives users excellent movie experience with state-of-art technologies in media processing. You will never experience stuttering or interruption during playback with this media player, which may happen on Windows Media Player in some specific scenarios. Leawo Blu-ray Player takes advantage of the GPU-accelerating technology to process files at a higher speed so there will be no lagging.
![Windows Windows](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126498264/182593734.jpg)
Believe it or not, you can play anything on this media player, including playing region-locked files because it can naturally and automatically remove any region code before playback so that users may not need to switch from one region to another.
Plus, if you upgrade to the premium version for Leawo Blu-ray Player, you may use it as a MKV video converting tool, allowing you to convert any disc, Blu-ray, ISO, and other video files to MKV format for playback on any device or system reliably. Despite all-powerful features it offers, it still remains a handy media player even for beginners.
Using three steps on Leawo Blu-ray Player and you will be able to enjoy a cinema-like movie experience at home.
Step 1: Download and install the media player.
Click the button below to download and install the media player.
Step 2: Load the source video file to the player.
Click Open File to load the source media files to the player, which will be shown on the right panel for playback.
Step 3: Enjoy the video playback.
Click the target file to play back and enjoy the supreme movie experience without being interrupted by others.
Note that you also have options to edit the playback habits, such as add subtitles, set audio and video parameters. This is optional so you may skip it if you are already happy with the existing file.
Part 5: Comparison between Windows Media Player and Leawo Blu-ray Player
Here we can draw an unflattering comparison between Windows Media Player and Leawo Blu-ray Player. To begin with, Windows Media Player has only supported Windows operating system and another system like Mac OS will be not able to use it anymore though it was previously compatible with Apple devices.
Leawo Blu-ray Player has offered two respective versions to users for either Windows or Mac operating system, making it more dynamic and robust in terms of supported OS. Windows Media Player has lacked of many basic options to allow users to read or play back files in .flac or .ogg, which will not be an issue for Blu-ray Player, because it kind of supports all kinds of media formats. Basically it plays back everything, including region-locked media files. Plus, the rich editing features for Leawo Blu-ray Player have made it even more user friendly than Windows Media Player because users can actually turn this media player to their own style.
In summary, from the perspective of the compatible operating system, file format, and editing features, Leawo Blu-ray Player turns out to be more competitive and robust.
Windows Media Player Download Free Install
Part 6: Conclusion
Microsoft Windows Media Player 12 Download
Here comes to our conclusion of this article. We have given top picks of best plugins for Windows Media Player in the above sections, including the basic toolbox of Windows Media Player plus. All these 7 best plug-ins for Windows Media Player will be practical and useful during your daily life.
Besides, they are lightweight add-ons so you will not need to worry about the installation size. Later, we have introduced a perfect alternative to Windows Media Player - Leawo Blu-ray Player to you for playing back any files smoothly.
This powerful freeware will help you a lot during media playback, especially when it comes to region-locked files. It has the ability to decrypt or remove any region code so that users won’t get mad at switching from one region to another. It is all done by this media player for you. You just need to sit back and enjoy the awesome playback of your media files. You are free to give it a shot immediately.