If your Windows Media Player is not playing the music playlist on your Windows 11/10 PC, this post will help you. Windows Media Player is, in most cases, a much better media player than the Media Player app. With the music pass aspect dead in the water, maybe it’s time for Microsoft to refocus on Windows Media Player.
Here’s the thing, some users are having an issue with Windows Media Player where the playlist is concerned. One particular user says that he decided to remove his music from the C drive and later placed it on the D drive. He didn’t share why he did that, but doing so shouldn’t have caused any problems, but unfortunately, it did. You see, any attempts to play songs from the playlist using Windows Media Player just don’t work.
Windows Media Player is not playing music
The reason why the songs did not play, is the fact that the media player still believes the songs were located on the C drive despite the move to the D drive. The problem is, then, how does one get the media player to recognize the correct location? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered on this one.
Follow these steps and you’ll be on your way!
1] Run WMP Troubleshooters
You can run the built-in Get Help WMP Troubleshooter. Launch the GetHelp app, type Windows Media Player Troubleshooter in the text box, and run the troubleshooter. It will guide you through the steps. See if they help you fix your problem.
2] Rebuild Windows Media Player database
If the above fails then chances are, you might need to rebuild the Windows Media Player database. We’ll do this by launching the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows Key + R, then executing the following command:
%userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Player
Click on Enter, and right away a new File Explorer window should pop up. This is the Media Player folder, and every item (except the folders) inside it needs to go. Bear in mind, that you must delete only the individual contents inside but not the folders.
The final step, then, is to relaunch Windows Media Player and watch as it automatically rebuilds your music library.
Need more ideas? See this post on Troubleshooting Windows Media Player.
Why won’t my music play on Windows Media Player?
If the Windows Media Player is not playing your music, it may not support the file format you’re trying to play. Ensure your music files are in a compatible format. If they’re not, consider using an audio converter. Try playing different music files. If other files play without issues, the original file might be corrupted. Some files also require external codecs to play. Install a Media Codec Pack that can handle a wide range of audio/video formats and then try playing the file.
How do I get Windows Media Player to play music continuously?
To get Windows Media Player (WMP) to play music continuously, enable the ‘Shuffle’ or ‘Repeat’ options. Open the legacy Windows Media Player app on your Windows 11/10 PC (not to be confused with the new Media Player app). Switch to Now Playing mode if you’re in the Library view. In the Now Playing window, right-click anywhere in the empty space within the player. Select Repeat from the context menu. To play music in a random order, select the Shuffle option.
Read Next: How to import iTunes Music and Playlist to Media Player app on Windows.
