Support for Windows Media Player

Help and support for Windows Media Player. Links to customer service and technical solutions, downloads, updates, and answers to top issues.

Support options and resources

+ Explore your self-support options

Technical support options

You may be entitled to free warranty support from your OEM (original equipment manufacturer)
Visit or OEM contact page to learn how to tell whether your installation is OEM and to browse contact information for many OEMs. If your Microsoft product was preinstalled, distributed with your computer, or obtained as an upgrade directly from your computer manufacturer, the primary source for support is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) who provided the Microsoft product.

Get Microsoft technical support
To contact a Microsoft support professional via e-mail, on-line submission or phone click on the product and version below that is applicable to you. We’ll ask you a few questions in order to serve you efficiently.

Follow the steps in this "How to determine the version of Windows Media Player" article to find out what version of Windows Media Player is installed on your PC.

Windows Media Player

Get non-technical or customer service assistance
For general inquiries about Microsoft products and services visit our Contact Us page.

Technical support options for work

IT Pros: Contact a Microsoft Support Professional using your TechNet Subscription
As a TechNet Plus subscriber, you are entitled to receive two (2) complimentary incidents and a 20 percent discount on any additional phone incidents you purchase. Learn more.

Developers: Contact a Microsoft Support Professional using your MSDN Subscription
As an MSDN Subscriber, you may be entitled to receive up to four (4) technical support incidents depending on your subscription level. These support incidents can be used to resolve technical break-fix issues in a non-production environment and are the equivalent of paid Professional Support incidents. You can use a technical support incident to find a solution to a production issue if you can replicate that issue in a non-production environment. Learn more.

Microsoft Premier Online (MPO)
Enterprise customers with a Premier account can visit Microsoft Premier Online (MPO) for troubleshooting information or to open a support incident with a Microsoft support professional.

Microsoft Partners: Visit the Microsoft Partner Network
Microsoft Partners can access unlimited online support via the Microsoft Partner Network.

+ Browse related solution centers

Top issues

Resolve issues with these top solutions

No sound in Windows
Get steps to identify and fix common sound problems in Windows, including no sound coming from your speakers or headphones.

Playing video files crashes or freezes Internet Explorer or Windows
Automatically diagnose and identify codecs that may cause Windows to become unstable or to stop responding.

Windows Media Player 11 may stop responding when you transfer media to a device that uses the Media Transfer Protocol and then you cancel the transfer process
Resolve the problem when Windows Media Player 11 stops responding when the transfer of media to a device is interupted.

Error: "Cannot open file"
Resolve this error that occurs when you type the name of a file to play with Windows Media Player.

You are redirected to a Web page when you try to play DRM-protected content
This article contains information about a security component upgrade that may resolve the problem.

Get a DVD decoder
Plug-ins add functionality—such as audio effects or DVD capability—to Windows Media Player. You can download plug-ins for your version of the Player.

Browse related solution centers

To learn more about related products or topics, click on a solution center listed below.

Learn more

Using Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player product home page
Visit the Windows Media Player home page for more information useful tips.

Frequently asked questions about Windows Media Player
Get answers to some common questions about using Windows Media Player.

Windows Media Player 12 features
Learn more about Windows Media Player 12 and Windows 7.

Codecs: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about codecs.

Using Windows Media Player
Learn the basics, get music/video, organize and personalize Windows Media Player.

Play a CD or DVD in Windows Media Player
If you have a DVD drive and a compatible DVD decoder installed on your computer, you can use Windows Media Player to play a DVD Video disc.

Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Media Player
Learn how to use Windows Media Player to copy music, pictures, and videos from your library to a blank CD or DVD.

Support lifecycle

Learn more about Windows Media Player support lifecycle

Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player are components of the operating systems with which they were released. When the subject operating system reaches the end of its lifecycle, support for its components also ends.

Support lifecycle policy page
Visit the Microsoft support lifecycle policy page to view Microsoft’s guidelines for product support from availability to end of product support lifecycle.

View the support lifecycle policy information for Windows Media Player and the recent Windows family of products.