How to Change the Proxy and Buffer Settings in Windows Media Player

This article describes how to change the proxy and buffer settings in Microsoft Windows Media Player.

To change the default buffer settings in Windows Media Player, use the following steps:

1. Start Windows Media Player (click Start, click Run, type mplayer2, and then click OK).
2. On the View menu, click Options.
3. On the Advanced tab, click Streaming Media (Windows Media).
4. Click Change.

At this point, you can specify the default buffer range from 0-30 seconds of data in the Buffering section (the default is 5 seconds of data).

Proxy settings are configured to use browser proxy settings by default in the HTTP section of the Protocols area. These settings use the current proxy settings of the version of Microsoft Internet Explorer that is installed on the computer. When the No Proxy option is enabled, Media Player does not use the Internet Explorer proxy settings for playback. The Use Proxy option enables the Configure Proxy Settings dialog box. From the Configure Proxy Settings dialog box you can specify the appropriate proxy server and port information.

NOTE: Changing the proxy settings and increasing the buffer range is helpful in resolving issues when Windows Media Player stops responding (hangs).