To troubleshoot local playback in most scenarios, try to identify the difference between the files that play correctly and the files that do not. If you can play some file types, but you cannot other file types, a codec may be damaged. To test playback, use a file that you know is good.

Discusses the cause and resolution of error 80040265 in Windows Media Player. This error is caused by an unsupported file format or codec or by corrupted Windows Media Player files.

Codecs allow you to play different formats of audio and video files. Media Player supports a wide variety of codecs. Most are included out of the box; some additional codecs can be installed from the Microsoft Store.

Therefore, to resolve the problem, play the .avi file and check the error message in Windows Media Player for help.

Windows Media Player is a built-in multimedia player that comes with Windows. While it is a reliable and widely used application, users may encounter errors and issues from time to time. This article aims to provide guidance on troubleshooting common Windows Media Player errors.

If something isn’t working in Windows Media Player, you might not have the right codec on your PC. The easiest way to fix this problem is to go online and search for the codec you need.

This article lists the multimedia file types that are supported by different versions of Windows Media Player.

After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.

Windows Media Player supports the following file formats: Note MPEG 2 requires third-party software or hardware decoders. Note DVD playback requires third-party software or hardware decoders and is supported only in Windows XP. Note Intel Video File support requires the Intel Video 5.x codec.

This article provides reference points for information about how to troubleshoot the problems that may occur when you play media in Windows Media Player.