Support for Windows Media Player

Help and information for Microsoft Windows Media Player. Support options, resources and how to topics.

Support options and resources

For technical assistance with Windows Media Player, please click here. For other content, please select a category below.

Find it myself

Self-support options

Windows Media Player Help and How to
Visit the Windows Media Player Help and How to center to learn about how to get all you can out of Windows Media Player.

How to obtain the latest Windows Media Player
Use the table listed here to find the right player for your Windows and Windows Phone operating systems.

Self-support options for work

IT Pros: Windows Client TechCenter on TechNet
Visit the Windows TechCenter on TechNet for advanced troubleshooting and guidance for IT Pros.

Developers: Windows Client Developer Center on MSDN
Visit the Windows Client Developer Center on MSDN to learn about Windows development.

Support for Small Business
Simple help and troubleshooting for small businesses.

Microsoft Premier Customers: Visit Microsoft Premier Online (MPO) for troubleshooting resources or to submit an incident online
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.

Ask the community

Microsoft Community
Post a question or browse for solutions in the Windows Community forums.

IT Pros: Microsoft TechNet Windows forums
Post a question or browse for solutions in the Microsoft TechNet Windows forums.

Developers: Microsoft MSDN Software Development for Windows Client forums
Post a question or browse for solutions in the MSDN Software Development for Windows forums.

Get technical support

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

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.

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.

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.

Using Windows Media Player
Visit the Windows Windows Media Player product page to learn about how to get all you can out of Windows Media Player 12.

Migrating to Windows 7

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
To see if your PC is ready for Windows 7, download and run the free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

Upgrade to Windows 7 today
Get Windows 7 today and be more secure.

Upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7
Learn how to upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 7 and keep your files, settings, and programs in place.

Upgrading to Windows 7: frequently asked questions
Get answers to questions about upgrading to Windows 7, including what the differences are between the upgrade version and the full version of Windows 7.

Where are my files and folders after upgrading from Windows XP or Windows Vista?
Learn how to find your files and folders after upgrading, including accessing the Windows.old folder.

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.

View support lifecycle information

Windows lifecycle fact sheet
View important support lifecycle dates and information for the Windows products.

Support is ending for some versions of Windows
Learn how to check what version and service pack you are running.

Last Review : February 7, 2013