Windows Media Player icon

Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player is a media player application developed by Microsoft for playing audio, video and viewing images on Windows PCs. It supports a wide range of media formats and includes features like media library, streaming media playback, CD playback and synchronization with portable devices.

What is Windows Media Player?

Windows Media Player (WMP) 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 Windows operating system. It was first released in 1991 as a simple music player called Media Player, and has been included in every version of Windows released since Windows 98.

WMP supports a wide range of media formats, including MP3, WMA, WMV, MPEG, AVI and many more. It provides an interface to organize and play your digital media collection with features like playlists, media library, album art and metadata support. It also includes optical media playback support for CDs, DVDs, HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs.

Some key features of Windows Media Player include:

  • Media Library to organize your music, videos and photos
  • Support for syncing content to portable devices like phones, tablets or the Xbox
  • Rip CDs and transcode between media formats
  • Online media streaming, including Internet radio and a library of streaming music stations
  • Native playback support for all major media formats like MP3, AVI, WMV, WMA etc.
  • Skins to customize the look and feel
  • Plug-ins to add additional features or codecs

Windows Media Player integrates well with other Windows apps for burning discs or syncing with devices. It provides a free and easily accessible media application for Windows users to manage and play their personal media collections.

The Best Windows Media Player Alternatives

Top Apps like Windows Media Player

MX Player, VLC Media Player, MPC-HC, PotPlayer, AIMP, foobar2000, BSPlayer, MPV, jetAudio, Clementine, SMPlayer, CyberLink PowerDVD, Strawberry, Zoom Player, Kaffeine, Videku, ALLPlayer, Clapper, MPC-BE, QtAV, Archos Video Player, Songbird, 8K Player, myVideos 3D+, Real Alternative, mplayer2, Dragon Player, Music Center, ExMplayer, Buzz Player, Interactual Player, ACG Player, Free Mac Media Player, Azul Media Player, mpv.net, PopCast, Clip (Maui Applications), Parole, gPlayer for Google Play Music, FX Player, yxplayer, Potamus, Media Player .NET, HamMultiPlayer, WACUP, Haihaisoft Universal Player, Cineplay, MKV Amp Player (MP4, DVD), Rise Media Player, Voya Media, Wise Video Player, MPlayer for Windows, Xt7-Player, Vidmore Player, Goodplayer, AVS Media Player, BZR Player, Tonomat, DicePlayer, PicoPlay, MPUI, Subedit Player, okPlayer, InstaMusic, Neuview Media Player, Free DVD Player, Lunettes, SE-MediaPlayer, ALShow, Kaseto, Media Player S, VVave, MPC-QT, ZPlayer, JuceVLC, CornPlayer, Invisible Controls Video Player, Hermit Crab, Sonique are some alternatives to Windows Media Player.

MX Player

MX Player is one of the most popular and highest rated Android video player apps. Developed by J2 Interactive, it supports virtually all video formats including AVI, MKV, MOV, MP4, streaming links, Blu-ray discs and many more.Some key features of MX Player include:Advanced hardware acceleration which allows smooth...

VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player, developed by the VideoLAN project, is a popular and widely used multimedia player known for its versatility, broad format support, and open-source nature. It is designed to play various audio and video file formats, making it a go-to choice for users seeking a universal media player. Key...

MPC-HC

MPC-HC (Media Player Classic - Home Cinema) is a popular open-source video player application for the Windows platform. It is based on the original Media Player Classic code but has been enhanced with additional features and improvements.Some of the key features of MPC-HC include:Plays a wide range of...

PotPlayer

PotPlayer is a free, open-source media player for Windows that aims to be a lightweight yet powerful alternative for playing videos and music. Originally based on KMPlayer, PotPlayer has been completely rewritten with an emphasis on speed, stability, and format support.Some key features of PotPlayer include:Supports nearly all...

AIMP

AIMP is an audio player application for Windows that supports playback of many audio file formats including MP3, MP4, WMA, FLAC, OGG, AAC, and more. Some key features of AIMP include:Lightweight interface that is customizable with skins and color schemesSupports plugins and extensions for added functionalityIncludes advanced audio options...

Foobar2000

foobar2000 is a popular free audio player application for the Windows platform. Originally released in 2002, it has earned a reputation for being lightweight, customizable, and supporting a wide range of audio formats.Some key features of foobar2000 include:Supports common formats like MP3, FLAC, WAV, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, and more...

BSPlayer

BSPlayer is a free multimedia player for Windows that can play a wide range of video and audio formats including AVI, MKV, MP4, FLV, MOV, WMV, MP3, AAC, FLAC, and more. First released in 2000, it has become one of the most popular media players available.Some key features of BSPlayer...

MPV

MPV is an open source, cross-platform media player that supports a wide range of video and audio formats. Some key features of MPV include:Minimal and flexible design - MPV provides a simple media player interface without unnecessary clutter or complex skinsRobust codec and format support - Supports most major...

JetAudio

jetAudio is a feature-packed free media player for Windows. Originally released in 1997, it has been continually developed and improved over the years. Some key features of jetAudio include:Supports a wide range of file formats including MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, APE, and many more for audio and MP4, MKV, AVI...

Clementine

Clementine is a free, open source music player and library organizer. It is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS operating systems. Some key features of Clementine include:Plays music from local files as well as online streaming services like Spotify, Grooveshark, SomaFM, Jamendo, Magnatune, SoundCloud, and Icecast internet radio stationsOrganizes...

SMPlayer

SMPlayer is a free, open source, cross-platform media player that provides a powerful multimedia experience for Windows and Linux users. Developed as a front-end for the award-winning MPlayer, SMPlayer retains all the key functionality of its base while providing an intuitive interface and a host of additional features.Out of...

CyberLink PowerDVD

CyberLink PowerDVD is a feature-rich media player and media center application for Windows. It is one of the most popular apps for watching DVDs, Blu-ray discs and video files on a Windows PC.Key features of CyberLink PowerDVD include:Plays Blu-ray movies in full HD quality with menus and extrasPlays...

Strawberry

Strawberry Perl is a free and open source distribution of the Perl programming language for Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is designed to provide everything you need to run Perl on Windows, including a Perl compiler, debugger, editor, and various libraries and add-ons.Key features of Strawberry Perl include:Latest...

Zoom Player

Zoom Player is a feature-rich media player application for Windows. Originally released in 2005, it has been continually developed and improved over the years to support new formats and technologies.Some key features of Zoom Player include:Supports a wide range of media codecs and formats including AVI, MKV, MP4, DVD...

Kaffeine

Kaffeine is an open-source media player application for Linux designed to play various audio and video formats. It is developed as part of the KDE project but can be used independently from the KDE desktop environment.Some key features of Kaffeine include:Supports a wide range of media formats including...

Videku

Videku is an open-source, self-hosted video sharing platform built using Node.js and MongoDB. It allows users to easily upload, manage, share, and stream videos online without needing extensive technical knowledge.Some key features of Videku include:Intuitive admin dashboard to manage users, categories, videos, comments and moreSupport for public...

ALLPlayer

ALLPlayer is a free, open-source media player application for the Windows operating system. Originally released in 2009, ALLPlayer aims to be an easy-to-use media player with an emphasis on smooth integration of online media content.Key features of ALLPlayer include:Supports a wide range of media codecs and file formats including...

Clapper

Clapper is a powerful yet easy-to-use open-source presentation software that is a great alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint. Developed by the Clapper Project, it is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.Some key features of Clapper include:Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for quickly creating professional presentationsVarious themes and templates to...

MPC-BE

MPC-BE (Media Player Classic - Black Edition) is a free and open-source media player application for the Windows platform. It is a fork of the original Media Player Classic software and includes additional features and functionality.At its core, MPC-BE aims to provide a lightweight yet powerful program for video...

QtAV

QtAV is an open source multimedia framework built for the Qt framework. It provides a simple API and abstraction layer for developers to easily integrate audio and video playback along with basic editing and manipulation capabilities into Qt applications.Key features of QtAV include:Hardware accelerated video decoding through FFmpeg...

Archos Video Player

The Archos Video Player is a highly optimized video player built specifically for Archos devices like tablets and smartphones. It has been developed by Archos to take full advantage of the hardware features of Archos products to provide smooth, high-quality video playback.The player has a simple yet elegant user...

Songbird

Songbird is an open-source, cross-platform music player and media library application originally created by Pioneers of the Inevitable, a company started by former Mozilla developers. It was first released in 2006.Some key features of Songbird include:Support for playing local music files in formats like MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC...

8K Player

8K Player is a free, open-source media player software for Windows operating systems. Developed by 8K Solutions, it specializes in playing ultra high-definition 8K videos up to 8192×4320 pixels resolution without stuttering or freezing.Compared to other popular media players like VLC Media Player or Windows Media Player, 8K Player is...

MyVideos 3D+

myVideos 3D+ is a feature-rich video player and media library organizer for Windows. It supports playback of standard 2D videos as well as 3D videos and Blu-ray discs. Some key features of myVideos 3D+ include:Clean and intuitive interface for browsing and playing video filesSupport for a wide range of...

Real Alternative

Real Alternative is a free, open source multimedia player and codec pack for Windows. It can play a wide range of audio and video file formats without needing to install additional codecs.Some of the key features of Real Alternative include:Plays all major media formats like AVI, MP4, MP...

Mplayer2

MPlayer2 is an open-source, cross-platform media player capable of playing most video and audio formats. It is a fork of the original MPlayer codebase with an emphasis on bug fixes, security updates, and new features.Some key features of MPlayer2 include:Supports a wide range of media codecs and containers...

Dragon Player

Dragon Player is a free, open source media player application designed for the Linux operating system. It is developed by KDE and aims to provide a simple yet functional media playing experience.Some key features of Dragon Player include:Supports a wide range of audio and video file formats including...

Music Center

Music Center is a user-friendly digital music player and library management software. It provides an intuitive interface to browse, search, play, and organize your music collection on your Windows computer.Key features of Music Center include:Import music from iTunes, Windows Media Player, and other sources to create a consolidated...

ExMplayer

ExMplayer is a free, open-source video player application for the Windows operating system. Originally forked from MPlayer in 2013, ExMplayer plays a wide range of video and audio file formats without needing to install external codecs.Some key features of ExMplayer include:Plays most video codecs out-of-the-box like H.264, HEVC, MPEG-...

Buzz Player

Buzz Player is a feature-rich media player application for Windows. Originally released in 2008, it has grown into a popular alternative to more common players like VLC media player and Windows Media Player over the years.Some key features and highlights of Buzz Player include:Supports a wide range of media...

Interactual Player

Interactual Player was a media player and web browser application originally created by Interactual Technologies in the late 1990s. It was one of the first all-in-one media players that could play DVDs, CDs, and function as a web browser.Some key features of Interactual Player included:DVD and CD playback...

ACG Player

ACG Player is a free, open-source media player application for Windows. Developed by ACGSoft, ACG Player aims to provide a lightweight yet full-featured alternative to mainstream players like VLC media player and Media Player Classic.Some key features of ACG Player include:Supports a wide range of media codecs and...

Free Mac Media Player

The Free Mac Media Player is an open-source, multi-format media player for Mac OS. It is designed to play all mainstream media files like videos, music, and images in various formats seamlessly.One of the key features of Free Mac Media Player is broad format support. It can play popular...

Azul Media Player

Azul Media Player is a free and open source cross-platform media player. Originally developed for Linux, it is now available for Windows and macOS as well.Azul can play most common audio formats including MP3, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, AAC, etc. It supports an extensive range of video formats as...

Mpv.net

mpv.net is an open-source graphical user interface for the mpv media player on Windows. It makes using mpv easier and more convenient by providing an intuitive way to manage playlists, streams, and media files with a focus on keyboard-driven control.Some key features of mpv.net include:Playlist support...

PopCast

PopCast is a podcast client application designed specifically for Windows. It provides a streamlined interface to subscribe, manage, and listen to your favorite podcasts from a variety of sources.Some key features of PopCast include:Automatic podcast updates - New episodes are downloaded automatically in the background so your podcasts...

Clip (Maui Applications)

Clip is a modern, cross-platform note taking and productivity application built with .NET MAUI that runs on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. It provides users with a flexible canvas to capture thoughts and ideas with support for text notes, freehand drawing, diagrams, images, PDF annotation and more.Key features of...

Parole

Parole is a media player application designed specifically for the Xfce desktop environment on Linux. It aims to provide a simple yet functional media playing experience without unnecessary complexities or bundled features.As a lightweight application, Parole is focused on the essential media playback functions. It can play audio CDs...

GPlayer for Google Play Music

gPlayer is a feature-packed yet easy to use music player for streaming songs from your Google Play Music library. It provides a streamlined interface that loads faster and runs smoother than the official Google Play Music app on most devices.Key features of gPlayer include:Designed specifically for Google Play...

FX Player

FX Player is a feature-rich video player application for Windows. Developed by J2 Technologies, it supports a wide array of video formats including AVI, MP4, MKV, FLV, WMV, and MOV. Some key features of FX Player include:A clean and intuitive interface with custom skins available.Hardware acceleration support for...

Yxplayer

yxplayer is a free, open-source cross-platform media player available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Developed by a team of volunteers, it aims to be a lightweight yet powerful media application.Some key features of yxplayer include:Plays a wide range of media codecs and formats including MP4, AVI, MKV, FLV...

Potamus

Potamus is a free, open-source diagramming and wireframing application used to create sitemaps, flowcharts, wireframes, and more for websites and software projects. It features an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface that allows users to quickly add shapes like rectangles, circles, arrows from a toolbar and arrange them on an infinite canvas.Some...

Media Player .NET

Media Player .NET is an open-source, customizable media player application for the Windows platform. Developed as an alternative to mainstream players like Windows Media Player and VLC media player, it focuses on resource efficiency and providing a smooth playback experience.Some key features of Media Player .NET include:Supports a...

HamMultiPlayer

HamMultiPlayer (HMP) is a free, open-source software application designed for amateur radio operators to make voice over IP (VoIP) connections. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.Some of the key features of HamMultiPlayer include:Make and receive VoIP calls to other amateur radio operators around the world using EchoLink...

WACUP

WACUP (Windows Adobe Creative Cloud Unlocker Portable) is a free, open-source utility that can patch and activate/unlock Adobe CC desktop applications on Windows machines without requiring an Adobe ID or paid Creative Cloud subscription.It works by modifying the Windows hosting file and registry to spoof the Adobe licensing...

Haihaisoft Universal Player

Haihaisoft Universal Player is a feature-rich, open-source media player for Windows. Developed by Haihaisoft, a software company based in China, it aims to be a one-stop media playback solution that can handle all your music and video files.Some key features and capabilities of Haihaisoft Universal Player include:Supports a...

Cineplay

Cineplay is a video player application designed specifically for playing back cinematic video content. It goes beyond typical media players by focusing on features important for enjoying movies, TV shows, and other video in a home theater-like setting.Some key features of Cineplay include:Support for ultra high-definition 4K and...

MKV Amp Player (MP4, DVD)

MKV Amp Player is a free, open-source, cross-platform media player that supports a wide range of video, audio, and subtitle formats. It can play MKV, MP4, AVI, FLV, WMV, QuickTime MOV, MP3, FLAC audio files, DVD ISO images, and more.Some key features of MKV Amp Player include:Hardware acceleration...

Rise Media Player

Rise Media Player is a free and open-source media player application for Windows. Developed as an alternative to mainstream players like VLC media player and Windows Media Player, Rise Media Player aims to provide a lightweight yet full-featured playback experience.Some key features of Rise Media Player include:Supports a...

Voya Media

Voya Media is an online video platform that allows users to upload, view, share, comment on, and engage with video content. Launched in 2005, it has become one of the largest and most popular video sharing websites on the internet.Some key features of Voya Media include:Video uploading and sharing...

Wise Video Player

Wise Video Player is a free and open-source media player application for the Windows operating system. Developed by Wise Technologies, it was first released in 2013 as a lightweight alternative to more complex media players.Some key features of Wise Video Player include:Supports a wide range of video codecs out...

MPlayer for Windows

MPlayer for Windows is a free, open source media player application for the Windows operating system. It is the Windows port of the popular MPlayer media player software. MPlayer is known for being able to play a wide range of media file formats, including many proprietary codecs that other media...

Xt7-Player

Xt7-Player is a free and open-source cross-platform media player software. It is designed to play most multimedia files as well as Audio CDs, DVDs, and VCDs. Some of the key features of Xt7-Player include:Support for a wide range of audio and video formats including MP3, FLAC, AAC...

Vidmore Player

Vidmore Player is a free, open-source media player application for Windows. It enables users to easily play videos, music, and other media files locally stored on their device. Some key features include:Supports a wide range of media file formats including AVI, MP4, MKV, FLV, MOV, MP3, FLAC, AAC, and...

Goodplayer

Goodplayer is a free, open-source cross-platform media player software. Originally developed for macOS, Goodplayer is now available for Windows and Linux as well.Goodplayer supports a wide range of video and audio formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WMV, MP3, AAC, FLAC, and more. It can play Ultra HD 4K...

AVS Media Player

AVS Media Player is a free, open-source media player for the Windows platform. Originally released in 2006, it has been steadily updated over the years to support new formats and features.Some key features of AVS Media Player include:Plays all major media formats including AVI, MP4, MKV, FLV, WMV, MOV...

BZR Player

BZR Player is a free and open-source media player application for the Windows operating system. Developed as an alternative to mainstream players like VLC media player and Media Player Classic, BZR Player aims to provide a lightweight yet full-featured playback solution.Some key features of BZR Player include:Plays a...

Tonomat

Tonomat is a comprehensive social media analytics and management platform designed specifically for digital marketing agencies, media companies, and enterprise brands. It allows users to connect multiple social media accounts to track campaign performance, benchmark competitors, automate reporting, and gain actionable insights to optimize social media efforts.Key features of...

DicePlayer

DicePlayer is a free, open-source media player application for Windows. Originally released in 2013, it has gained popularity for its lightweight footprint, ease of use, and support for many video codecs out of the box.Some key features of DicePlayer include:Supports most common video formats including AVI, MKV, MP4, FLV...

PicoPlay

PicoPlay is an open-source, cross-platform media player application designed to be lightweight and easy to use. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.Some key features of PicoPlay include:Supports a wide variety of media formats including MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC for audio and MP4, MKV, AVI...

MPUI

MPUI is an open-source, cross-platform user interface framework designed for building desktop applications. It allows developers to create graphical user interfaces by composing reusable UI components using a minimalist, declarative API.Some key features of MPUI include:Minimalist API focused on simplicity and ease of useDeclarative component model for composing...

Subedit Player

Subedit Player is a free and open-source subtitle editor and media player application for Windows. It allows users to easily edit and synchronize subtitles for videos, as well as play videos with subtitle tracks.Some of the key features of Subedit Player include:Supports loading and editing various subtitle formats...

OkPlayer

okPlayer is a free and open-source cross-platform media player software. It is designed to be simple yet powerful, supporting a wide range of media formats out of the box while retaining a clean, intuitive interface.Some key features of okPlayer include:Support for most common audio formats like MP3, AAC...

InstaMusic

InstaMusic is a groundbreaking artificial intelligence-driven music composition software that revolutionizes how people create and experience custom music. With its innovative neural network technology, InstaMusic can instantly generate commercial-grade, royalty-free instrumental music tracks in virtually any genre at the click of a button.After selecting your preferred musical style and...

Neuview Media Player

Neuview Media Player is a versatile, multi-platform media player capable of playing a wide variety of audio and video file formats. Developed as an open-source project, it is completely free to download and use.Some key features of Neuview Media Player include:Support for most common media codecs out-of-the-box, including...

Free DVD Player

Free DVD Player is a free, open-source media player application for Windows that specializes in playing DVDs, audio CDs, and various video file formats. It is designed to be a lightweight yet fully-featured alternative to commercial DVD player software.With Free DVD Player, users can easily navigate and play their...

Lunettes

Lunettes by Optinvent is an open-source augmented reality (AR) headset designed to enhance real-world experiences through digital overlays and information. First unveiled in 2014, Lunettes features transparent lens displays that allow users to view the physical environment around them while also seeing computer-generated graphics, notifications, data readouts, and more.From a...

SE-MediaPlayer

SE-MediaPlayer is a free, open source media player application for Windows. Developed as an alternative to mainstream commercial media players like Windows Media Player, SE-MediaPlayer aims to provide a lightweight yet full-featured playback solution.Key features of SE-MediaPlayer include:Supports a wide range of media codecs and file formats including...

ALShow

ALShow is an open-source audio player and library management application for Windows. It is designed to provide a customizable and feature-rich music listening experience.Some key features of ALShow include:Supports playback of various audio formats including MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, APE, and moreLibrary management tools for organizing your music...

Kaseto

Kaseto is a comprehensive product development platform designed to help software teams align, prioritize, build, and track innovative products efficiently. Its key capabilities include:Product roadmapping tools to define strategic goals, initiatives, and featuresIdeation frameworks to crowdsource and evaluate new product ideasCustomizable workflows to standardize the product lifecycleIntegrations with Jira...

Media Player S

Media Player S is a free, open-source cross-platform media player application for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. Released under the GNU General Public License, Media Player S is focused on resource efficiency and supports a wide variety of multimedia file formats.The user interface of Media Player S uses...

VVave

VVave is a relatively new video conferencing and online collaboration platform built for small and medium businesses. It aims to provide an easy-to-use and affordable alternative to platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.Some key features of VVave include:HD video conferencing - Supports up to 100 participants with...

MPC-QT

MPC-QT is an open-source desktop wallet application for the privacy-focused cryptocurrency Monero (XMR). It gives users the ability to securely send, receive, and store Monero on their computer in a simple graphical interface.Some key features of MPC-QT include:Native support for ring signatures, stealth addresses, and ring confidential transactions...

ZPlayer

ZPlayer is a free, open-source media player for the Windows operating system. Developed as an alternative to mainstream players like VLC media player and Media Player Classic, ZPlayer aims to provide a lightweight yet full-featured video and audio playback solution.Some key features of ZPlayer include:Supports a wide range...

JuceVLC

JuceVLC is an open-source library that provides seamless integration of the VideoLAN VLC media framework into applications built using the JUCE C++ framework. It enables JUCE developers to add powerful video playback capabilities to their apps with just a few lines of code.Some key features of JuceVLC include:Plays...

CornPlayer

CornPlayer is a free, open-source cross-platform media player software for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. Developed by Corn Production Inc., CornPlayer aims to provide an intuitive yet powerful media playing experience.Key features of CornPlayer include:Supports a wide range of media codecs and formats including MP4, MKV, AVI...

Invisible Controls Video Player

Invisible Controls Video Player is a JavaScript video player designed for seamless integration into websites. It features a clean, unobtrusive interface that keeps controls out of sight until the user hovers near the bottom of the player.When controls are hidden, the player displays only the video content, allowing for...

Hermit Crab

Hermit Crab is an open-source web browser that prioritizes user privacy and security. It is based on Chromium and developed by a small team of developers who forked the codebase to create a more private browsing experience.By default, Hermit Crab blocks online trackers, ads, and fingerprinting attempts to prevent...

Sonique

Sonique is a feature-rich audio player and media library application for Windows. Originally released in the late 1990s, it pioneered many innovative features that later became commonplace in media players.Key capabilities and characteristics of Sonique include:Supports playback of all major audio formats including MP3, WMA, OGG Vorbis, FLAC...