How To Set Windows Media Player As Default Windows 7

For as long every bit Windows users tin can recollect, Windows Media Thespian has ever been the default playback program for audio and video files. Unfortunately, this changed when Windows 8 came around, and the same is true for every iteration of the Windows Operating Organisation that was developed and distributed after Windows 8. Microsoft has prepare modern or universal applications every bit playback defaults on Windows eight, 8.ane and ten – Windows 8 and 8.1 have the Music app set as the default playback app for audio files, and Windows 10 has the revamped Groove music app set every bit the default.

The Music and Groove Music apps are pretty decent every bit far as features and audio playback go, but most Windows users would still prefer to have Windows Media Role player handle all of their audio file playing – for nostalgia, if nothing else. Microsoft hasn't made any major changes or improvements to the Windows Media Actor, but the playback program is all the same one of the all-time and virtually usually used media playback applications for Windows. Windows Media Player is also much faster as compared to Windows 10's Groove Music app, which is quite clunky and unstable for most Windows 10 users.

Thankfully, it is entirely possible for you to replace whatever your default music playback application is on whatsoever version of the Windows Operating Arrangement with Windows Media Player. In addition, doing so is also no uber complicated feat. If you lot want to fix Windows Media Player equally default on a Windows reckoner, hither's how yous tin can do exactly that:

On Windows 8/eight.ane

Method 1: Set Windows Media Histrion as default using the Default Programs utility

Switch to theOffsetscreen.
Initiate a search for "default programs".
Click on the search result titledDefault Programs.
Click onSet your default programsin the right pane of the window.
Expect for the list of programs installed on your computer to be populated.
In the left pane, locate the listing forWindows Media PlayerunderProgramsand click on it to select it.
In the right pane, click onSet this plan as defaultto setWindows Media Playeras the default playback program for every single file blazon that information technology supports, or click onChoose defaults for this program, check the checkboxes next to every single one of the file types you wantWindows Media Playerto exist the default for, and click onSave.

Method 2: Fix Windows Media Histrion as the default for individual file types

Alternatively, you can also set Windows Media Actor every bit the default for one specific file blazon at a time. This is especially useful if you only desire Windows Media Player to exist the default playback programme for 1 or a few file types – you can simply set information technology equally the default for the selected file types one by one. To fix Windows Media Player every bit the default playback app for one individual file type at a time, you need to:

Right-click on a file that is of the file type you want to associate withWindows Media Actor.
Hover overOpen with.
Click onChoose default program….
Make sure that theUse this app for all (file extension) filesoption isenabled, and click onWindows Media Actorto select it equally the default playback application for these specific types of files.

On Windows 10

Configuring Windows Media Actor as the default playback application works a bit differently on Windows x than information technology does on Windows 8 and 8.1 as the whole shebang is done via Windows 10'sSettingsutility. To gear up Windows Media Player every bit default on a Windows 10 computer, here'southward what y'all demand to do:

Open up theStarting time Menu.
Click onSettings.
One time you're in theSettingsutility, click onOrganisation.
In the left pane of the window, click onDefault apps.
In the right pane of the window, roll downward to theMusic thespiansection. You volition see an entry for your current default music playback app under theMusic role playersection. In virtually cases, this will beGroove Music. To replace your current default music thespian withWindows Media Actor, click on the entry for your electric current default music player. For example, ifGroove Musicis soon your default playback program for sound files, click onGroove Music.
In theChoose an appdialog that opens up, click on the listing forWindows Media Player. Equally soon as you do so,Windows Media Actorvolition exist set as the default music playback plan for your Windows 10 computer. You tin, at this point, close theSettingsutility and become back to using your computer, at present withWindows Media Thespianevery bit your default music player.