How to Remove or Disable Windows Media Player in Windows 11 and 10

Windows Media Player Legacy keeps opening your files, or you want it removed from Windows 11 or 10. That’s annoying, but you can change the default player or disable the legacy component without affecting the newer Media Player app.

What Is Windows Media Player Legacy?

Windows Media Player Legacy is Microsoft’s older desktop program for music, videos, and discs. Some older software also uses its playback, sync, and media library components.

On Windows 11, Media Player and Windows Media Player Legacy are separate:

Media Player is the newer app. You’ll find it under Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Windows Media Player Legacy is the older optional component. It’s usually under Settings > System > Optional features.
Windows 10 often calls the older component Windows Media Player.

Removing one doesn’t remove the other. You can reinstall the legacy player later if an older program needs it.

Prerequisites

Before changing anything, make sure you have:

A PC running Windows 11 or Windows 10
An administrator account or administrator credentials
Any music, video, or disc-burning programs closed
Time to restart if Windows asks
A replacement player if you still need to open media files
The Media Feature Pack if the PC runs a Windows N edition

To check your edition, open Settings > System > About. Read the Edition entry under Windows specifications.

Windows About page with the Windows specifications section and Edition field visible

Warning: Some older programs depend on Windows Media Player components. Reinstall the feature if another app loses playback, syncing, or disc-burning functions after removal.

Step-by-Step Guide

Fix #1: Identify Which Media Player Is Installed

First, confirm which player you’re dealing with. Their similar names make this step worth a minute.

Press Windows + I to open Settings.

On Windows 11, select Apps > Installed apps.

Enter this name in the app search box:

Media Player

Look for an entry named Media Player. That’s the newer app.

Select its three-dot menu and check whether Uninstall appears. Don’t remove it if you only want to disable the legacy player.

Windows 11 Installed apps showing the newer Media Player entry, its three-dot menu, and Uninstall if available

Return to Settings and open System > Optional features.

Search the installed features list for:

Windows Media Player

An entry named Windows Media Player Legacy or Windows Media Player Legacy (App) is the older player.

Windows 11 Optional features showing the installed Windows Media Player Legacy entry, expand control, and removal control

Expected result: You can tell whether the PC has Media Player, Windows Media Player Legacy, or both.

Fix #2: Change the Default Player Without Uninstalling Anything

Use this fix when Windows Media Player opens your music or videos by default. Changing file links keeps the legacy components available to older software. It’s usually the best first move.

Press Windows + I to open Settings.

On Windows 11, open Apps > Default apps.

Search for your preferred media player and select it.

Choose a file type, such as .mp3, .wav, .mp4, or .mkv.

Select your preferred app from the list.

Click Set default or confirm your choice, based on your Windows version.

Windows Default apps area showing a common audio or video file type, its current app, and the control for choosing another app

On Windows 10, open Settings > Apps > Default apps. Change Music player or Video player. You can also use Choose default apps by file type to set each file extension.

Double-click a test media file in File Explorer.

Expected result: Your chosen app opens that file type. Windows Media Player Legacy stays installed for software that needs it.

Fix #3: Remove Windows Media Player Legacy in Windows 11

If changing defaults isn’t enough, remove the optional feature. This removes the legacy player but can leave the newer Media Player app installed.

Press Windows + I.

Open Settings > System > Optional features.

Find Windows Media Player Legacy under Installed features. Use the search box if needed.

Select the entry or its expand arrow.

Click Uninstall or Remove.

Windows 11 Optional features with Windows Media Player Legacy expanded and the Uninstall or Remove button highlighted

Wait for Windows to remove the feature. Keep Settings open while the progress bar is active.

Restart the PC if Windows asks. If you don’t see a prompt, restart it before testing.

Open Start and search for:

Windows Media Player Legacy

Expected result: The legacy player no longer opens, and its optional feature entry disappears. The newer Media Player app may remain because it’s separate.

Fix #4: Disable Windows Media Player in Windows 10

Windows 10 uses a different Settings path and usually drops the word “Legacy.” The component is still the older Windows Media Player.

Press Windows + I.

Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features.

Select Optional features or Manage optional features, based on your Windows 10 version.

Select Windows Media Player.

Click Uninstall.

Windows 10 Optional features showing Windows Media Player selected and its Uninstall button

Wait for the removal to finish.

Restart Windows.

Search Start for Windows Media Player and confirm that it’s unavailable.

Expected result: Windows Media Player is disabled or removed from Windows 10. You can restore it later.

Fix #5: Disable the Player Through Windows Features

Try Windows Features if Settings doesn’t show an uninstall control. This visual option works on many Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs.

Press Windows + R.

Enter optionalfeatures.exe.

Click OK.

Expand Media Features in the Windows Features dialog.

Clear the Windows Media Player checkbox.

Windows Features dialog with Media Features expanded, Windows Media Player visible, its checkbox cleared, and OK highlighted

Click OK.

Read the warning about other Windows features or programs being affected.

Click Yes if you want to continue.

Windows warning that turning off Windows Media Player may affect other Windows features or programs, with the warning text and Yes button highlighted

Wait for Windows to apply the change.

Click Restart now if asked, or restart from the Start menu.

Expected result: Windows Media Player is disabled even if Settings didn’t show an Uninstall button.

Fix #6: Install the Media Feature Pack on Windows N

Windows N editions leave out some media tools. Windows Media Player may stay missing until you install the Media Feature Pack.

This step adds media components. Use it to restore or show the player, not to remove it.

Confirm that the edition name includes N under Settings > System > About.

On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Optional features.

Select View features beside Add an optional feature.

Search for:

Media Feature Pack

Select Media Feature Pack.

Windows N Optional features search results showing Media Feature Pack and its selection control

Click Next.

Click Add or Install.

Wait for the installation to finish.

Restart Windows even if Settings doesn’t ask.

Return to Optional features and look for Windows Media Player Legacy.

Expected result: The missing media components become available. Windows may then list Windows Media Player Legacy as another optional feature.

Fix #7: Reinstall Windows Media Player Legacy

Reinstall the player if another app stops playing media or loses its sync and disc tools. That’s a strong sign the app used legacy Windows media components.

On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Optional features.

Click View features beside Add an optional feature.

Search for:

Windows Media Player Legacy

Select Windows Media Player Legacy.

Click Next.

Windows 11 Add an optional feature dialog showing Windows Media Player Legacy selected in the search results and the Next button

Click Add or Install.

Wait until Settings says the installation is complete.

Restart Windows.

Open Start, search for Windows Media Player Legacy, and launch it.

Complete any first-run library or privacy choices.

Expected result: Windows Media Player Legacy opens and plays a local media file.

If the player isn’t available in Settings, use Windows Features:

Press Windows + R.

Run optionalfeatures.exe.

Expand Media Features.

Select Windows Media Player.

Click OK.

Restart Windows after the installation finishes.

Fix #8: Use PowerShell or DISM as a Fallback

Use administrator commands only when Settings and Windows Features are missing or fail. These commands change Windows components, so copy them exactly.

Right-click Start.

Select Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).

Approve the User Account Control prompt.

To disable Windows Media Player, run:

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "WindowsMediaPlayer"

Administrator PowerShell window showing Administrator in the title bar and the complete Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature command

Wait for the command to finish. A successful result usually shows the feature state and whether Windows needs a restart.

Restart Windows if RestartNeeded is True.

If PowerShell can’t process the feature, open Command Prompt (Admin) and run:

DISM /online /disable-feature /featurename:WindowsMediaPlayer

To restore the feature later, open PowerShell as an administrator and run:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "WindowsMediaPlayer" -All

Restart Windows after restoring it.

Expected result: The command disables or enables the same optional component found in Windows Features.

Configuration

Fix #9: Set Up the Restored Player

The classic setup screens feel dated, but the useful controls are still under Tools > Options.

Open Windows Media Player Legacy from Start.

Choose the recommended settings unless you need custom privacy or library options.

Press Alt if the classic menu bar is hidden.

Select Tools > Options.

Open the Player tab. Choose whether the player can get media details automatically.

Open the Library tab and review its media information options.

Click Apply.

Click OK.

Drag a working .mp3 or .mp4 file into the player.

Click Play.

Expected result: The restored player opens the file, plays sound or video, and can access your chosen media libraries.

Tips and Troubleshooting

Fix #10: Resolve a Missing Uninstall Option

A missing Uninstall button often means you’re viewing the wrong Media Player entry. Check the full name before using a deeper fix.

Confirm that you’re viewing Windows Media Player Legacy, not the newer Media Player app.

Run optionalfeatures.exe.

Expand Media Features.

Clear Windows Media Player and click OK.

Restart Windows.

If the checkbox is also missing, check whether the PC runs a Windows N edition. Install the Media Feature Pack, then check again. On a work or school PC, an administrator may need to change hidden optional feature controls.

Fix #11: Restore Playback in Another Application

If another app stops playing video, syncing a device, or burning discs, restore Windows Media Player before reinstalling that app. It’s the quicker test and often fixes the missing dependency.

Note which feature stopped working after removal, such as video playback, device syncing, or disc burning.

Re-enable Windows Media Player through optionalfeatures.exe.

Restart Windows.

Test the affected app again.

Reinstall that app only if restoring Windows Media Player doesn’t fix it.

Take the Windows Features dependency warning seriously. Some software uses media components without opening Windows Media Player.

Fix #12: Remove the Modern Media Player App

Use this fix only after you confirm that the unwanted program is the newer Windows 11 app. Removing it won’t disable Windows Media Player Legacy.

Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.

Search for Media Player.

Select the three-dot menu beside the modern Media Player entry.

Click Uninstall if Windows offers it.

Confirm the removal.

If Uninstall is unavailable, keep the app installed and change its file links using Fix #2.

Expected result: The modern app is removed where Windows allows it. Windows Media Player Legacy stays unchanged.

Conclusion

Step	Action	Applies To
1	Identify the modern and legacy players	Windows 11
2	Change media file defaults	Windows 11 and 10
3–5	Remove or disable the legacy player	Windows 11 and 10
6	Install missing media components	Windows N editions
7–8	Restore or manage the feature	Windows 11 and 10

Fix #2 is the best pick when you only want another app to open your files. Use Fix #3, #4, or #5 when you need the legacy component removed for cleanup or a compatibility test.

If another program breaks afterward, reinstall Windows Media Player Legacy first. If playback still fails, check for malware, damaged Windows files, or storage errors.

For more information on Windows Media Player, visit the official Microsoft support page. You can also learn about Windows support for Windows Media Player Legacy and how to troubleshoot Windows Media Player errors.

Additionally, you can find tutorials on how to change the default media player in Windows 11 and how to set a new default media player in Windows 11.