[SOLVED] Windows Media Player Cannot Play the File

[SOLVED] Windows Media Player Cannot Play the File
Microsoft has not updated Windows Media Player in ages, but it’s still around in Windows 10 and is just as fast, fluid, and snappy as ever. It isn’t without issues, though. Sometimes, you may end up with a “Windows Media Player cannot play the file” error message while attempting to play an audio or video file.
A lot of people still love to use Windows Media Player as their go-to player, but many users reported Windows Media Player cannot play the file error while trying to play certain files.
The full error message sometimes reads: Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file.
Typically, that happens when Windows Media Player lacks the codecs required to decode specific media file types. Several other reasons, such as outdated codecs and obsolete hardware drivers, can also cause problems. The troubleshooting tips that follow should help you fix the “Windows Media Player cannot play the file” error.
Issues addressed in this tutorial:
windows media player cannot play the file codec
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windows media player cannot play the file mp4
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windows media player cannot play avi file
windows media player cannot open avi file
can't play windows media player
why windows media player cannot play the file
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windows media player cannot play the file error
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windows media player cannot play this file
Windows Media Player is still one of the best tools for playing music and movies, but it does have its own share of problems that pop up now and again. Most issues with the Windows Media Player tool are easily fixed, just like this one. The problem we will talk about today is the one that affects media files such as .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .mov, and .adts. You see, whenever any of these media files have a space in their path or file name, users will experience the following error:
Windows Media Player cannot play the file, The player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file.
This tutorial will apply for computers, laptops, desktops, and tablets running the Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems (Home, Professional, Enterprise, Education) from all supported hardware manufactures, like Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, Toshiba, Lenovo, Alienware, Razer, MSI, Huawei , Microsoft Surface, and Samsung.

[@ethimself5064]

Is there a setting to make this the default?

[@christop_bader]

Yes, in the settings look for Default Apps and click on Windows Media Player and set it to the default

[@ethimself5064]

@@christop_bader Thanks

[@ethimself5064]

Wow, I remember this in XP. I found it excellent

[@Nick41622]

ET, you do know that Chrome is better than Edge? And always will be.👍

[@ethimself5064]

@@Nick41622 I'm starting to hear lately - never know who to believe, cept the trusted few

[@christop_bader]

WMP Legacy is my default media player

[@paulstubbs7678]

Just accept it, Windows media player is a heap of junk, has Microsoft lost the art of programming? VLC has way less problems, it should be the other way around considering the size of Microsoft