The Ultimate Guide to Fixing Windows Media Player With Troubleshooter

When things start glitching, you start looking a bit more into your media player.

Depending on the player you’re using, fixing common issues could either be a piece of cake or headache-inducing. With Windows Media Player, it tends to be the former.

The Windows Media Player troubleshooter is pretty effective at helping you solve common problems and eliminate bugs and glitches. Learn how to use it and find out what other options you can try if the troubleshooter isn’t working as intended.

What Is Windows Media Player?

Windows Media Player (WMP) is the default player that comes pre-installed with your Windows-based PC. First introduced as simply Media Player in 1991, it’s been a staple since the release of Windows 2000.

It’s a simple, lightweight player with all the basic features and functionalities. It supports virtually all image, audio, and video file formats, including MP3, CDA, MPEG-4, WAV, and AVI, among many others. You can use it to open photos, play movies and video files, create music playlists, etc.

You can even use it to burn and rip CDs, though these features have become somewhat old-fashioned.

Since it’s the default media player, it comes as no surprise that it’s one of the most popular players Windows users rely on. While it doesn’t have many of the bells and whistles of other players, it has everything you need to access multimedia files with the utmost ease.

Every Windows Media Player Has a Troubleshooter

Although the Windows Media Player is a simple platform with no unnecessary features that could weigh it down or start glitching, it can still encounter occasional issues. Fortunately, the Windows Media Player troubleshooter is generally good at helping you identify the cause of the issues and solving them for you.

Every WMP has a useful built-in troubleshooter that quickly diagnoses and fixes common problems. It doesn’t take any prior knowledge or skill to use it to your advantage. All you have to do is start the troubleshooter and let it diagnose the issue. When the diagnosis is complete, it will provide information on what you can do next to solve the problem.

Different Windows Media Player Issues You Can Fix With a Troubleshooter

The Windows Media Player troubleshooter isn’t an all-powerful solution to any glitch or issue. However, it can prove to be helpful in an array of different scenarios. Here are some of the most common WMP problems you can solve with the troubleshooter.

How to Fix Windows Media Player Problems With Troubleshooter + More Options

Regardless of the issues you come across with your Windows Media Player, the chances are that you can fix them using either the built-in troubleshooter or other suitable tools and software. The following are some of the best solutions to your misbehaving Windows media Player.

Fix 1: Using Windows Media Player Troubleshooter

When you first encounter issues with your Windows Media Player, you should always try using the built-in troubleshooter to solve them. The process is simple – you just have to follow a few steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows and R keys simultaneously;

Step 2: Type msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerConfigurationDiagnostic in the Run box;

Step 3: Click OK > Next;

Step 4: Select Apply This Fix.

If your WMP was unresponsive before, this solution should help it run smoothly again.

Fix 2: Re-Register DLL Files to Fix Windows Media Player Errors

If using the troubleshooter hasn’t worked for you, you could try re-registering your DLL files. DLL, or Dunamic-Link Library, is a code library that can be used by multiple programs simultaneously. By re-registering your DLL files, you can help these programs locate and use your files properly.

Step 1: Go to the search bar and type in cmd;

Step 2: Under Command Prompt, select Run as administrator;

Step 3: Type in regsvr32 vbscript.dll and press Enter;

Step 4: Type in regsvr32 jscript.dll and press Enter;

Step 5: Type in regsvr32 wmp.dll and press Enter.

Step 6: Exit Command Prompt and restart your PC.

When you start your PC, Windows Media Player should work without issues.

Fix 3: Delete Windows Media Player Library

Sometimes, the overfilled library could start causing problems for your Windows Media Player. Therefore, deleting your library could be an effective solution:

Step 1: Press the Windows and R keys simultaneously;

Step 2: Type services.msc in the Run box and click OK;

Step 3: Right-click onWindows Media Player Network Sharing Service and select Stop;

Step 4: Open the File Explorer and go to C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft;

Step 5: Open Media Player and delete .wmdb files.

When you’ve completed all these steps, try and open your Windows Media Player app. If the cause of the issue was an overfilled library, the app should be working as intended now.

Fix 4: Fix Corrupt Videos Using Wondershare Repiarit

Of course, the fault might not lie in Windows Media Player itself. If you’ve tried the solutions above and nothing seems to be working, the likely cause is in the files you’re trying to open. You could check this by trying to open the files using another media player or even a different device altogether.

If your files are corrupted, you’ll need third-party solutions like Wondershare’s Repairit to fix them.

It’s a professional data repair solution that can restore corrupted or otherwise damaged files, regardless of their format. It works with countless file types, making it an effective solution for all your video, audio, and image files.

It boasts high success rates and is incredibly easy to use:

Step 1: Download and install Repairit on your PC;

Step 2: Click +Add to add your corrupted files and click Repair;

Step 3: Click Preview to check the content of your files, then click Save.

You can then choose the path where you want to save your files. It could take Repairit a few moments to complete this whole process. The more damaged your files are, the longer it will take, so be patient.

The process is similar whether you’re trying to repair corrupted videos, images, or other file types.

Moreover, if your files are severely corrupted, you can use the tool’s advanced repair option to salvage them.

For advanced repair, you’ll also have to provide a sample file that isn’t corrupted in addition to your corrupted file. The sample file should have the same format as the corrupted one.

If your corrupted and sample files are eligible for the advanced repair, you can simply click , and the tool will do the rest.

After repairing your corrupted files with Repairit, Windows Media Player should have no further trouble opening them.

Fix 5: Reinstall Windows Media Player

If all else fails, you can always try reinstalling your Windows Media Player. You might have an outdated version of the program that contains bugs and glitches, or maybe the player wasn’t properly installed in the first place.

Reinstalling your Windows Media Player is a simple, straightforward process:

Step 1: Open Control Panel > Programs;

Step 2: Under Programs and Features, select Turn Windows features on or off;

Step 2: Expand Media features and uncheck Windows Media Player;

Step 3: Click Yes > OK;

Step 4: Restart your PC;

Step 5: Repeat steps 1 through 3 and check the Windows Media Player box;

Step 6: Restart your PC.

After following these steps, the Windows Media Player will be reinstalled and, hopefully, start working properly again.

Conclusion

Issues with Windows Media Player aren’t uncommon, but fortunately, they can usually be solved. The Windows Media Player troubleshooter can be quite effective at diagnosing and fixing common issues, while tools like Wondershare’s Repairit can repair almost any corrupt file causing problems. Don’t give up – try these solutions, and enjoy using the WMP uninterrupted.