Initiating Playback with Windows Media Player Guide

If you’re looking for an easy way to play and manage your media files in Windows 11, then Windows Media Player is what you need. It’s a free built-in application that allows you to quickly access your audio, video, and photo files with just a few clicks. In this article, we’ll show you how to open Windows Media Player in Windows 11.

1. How to Open Windows Media Player Using Search Tool

If you’re seeking information about how to open Windows Media Player on your computer, the Windows Search tool is a good place to start. To open Windows Media Player using the search tool, do the following:

1. PressWin + Q on your keyboard.
   
2. From here, type “Windows Media Player Legacy ” into the search bar.

Upon doing this, you will see a list of related results; clicking on this will then open Windows Media Player automatically.

2. How to Open Windows Media Player Using Run Dialog Box

The Run dialog box is one of the most useful tools on Windows. It’s a quick and easy way to access frequently used programs and files without having to search through your computer’s file system.

To open Windows Media Player using the Run command, do the following:

1. PressWin + R on your keyboard toopen the Run dialog box . For more information, check out ourcomplete guide to Windows Keyboard Shortcuts .
2. In the Run dialog box, typewmplayer.exe and clickOK .

That’s it. This is how you can open Windows Media Player on your PC.

3. How to Open Windows Media Player Via Task Manager

Task Manager is a powerful Windows tool you can use to manage your computer’s resources as well as close unresponsive programs, but it isn’t limited to this. You can also use it to open applications, such as Windows Media Player, quickly and easily.

To open Windows Media Player using Task Manager, follow these steps:

1. First, press theCtrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously on your keyboard.
2. In the Task Manager window, click onMore details if necessary.
3. ClickRun new task at the top of the page.
   
4. Now in the text box, typewmplayer.exe and press Enter on your keyboard.

This will open up Media Player, so you can enjoy all your media files without any trouble!

4. How to Open Windows Media Player From File Explorer

Another way to access Windows Media Player is by using File Explorer. To do this, follow the below steps:

1. Right-click on Start and selectFile Explorer or pressWin + E on your keyboard. This will open the File Explorer window.
2. From there, go to the address bar, typewmplayer.exe , and hitEnter .

5. How to Open Windows Media Player With the Start Menu

The Start menu works as a central hub on your computer from where you can access the files and programs you have installed. To open Windows Media Player from the Start Menu, follow these steps:

1. The first thing you need to do is open the Start Menu by clicking on the Windows logo at the bottom left of your screen.
2. From here, clickAll apps in the top right corner.
3. Then scroll down and clickWindows Tools in the list.
   
4. Double-clickWindows Media Player Legacy on the next page.

6. How to Open Windows Media Player Using Control Panel

The Control Panel is a feature on Windows that allows you to access and manage system settings easily. With the help of this tool, you can access almost any application you have installed.

To start Windows Media Player from the Control Panel, follow these steps:

1. Click onStart , search forControl Panel , and select it from the top of the list.
2. In the Control Panel window, make sure that the View option is set to Large or Small icons.
3. Scroll down and clickWindows Tools . This will open a new folder containing advanced tools for system administrators.
   
4. Now double-clickWindows Media Player Legacy to launch the tool.

7. How to Open Windows Media Player With a Desktop Shortcut

Creating a desktop shortcut for Windows Media Player is one of the most convenient and efficient ways to start playing audio and video files. This can be very useful if you frequently open the Windows Media Player application on your computer. This way, you can quickly access the application without having to search your hard drive or a search engine.

To open Windows Media Player from a desktop shortcut, you must first create its shortcut. Here’s how to do it.

1. Right-click on your desktop area and selectNew > Shortcut .
   
2. In the text box, type the following path and clickNext or pressEnter .
   C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe
3. Give the shortcut a name and clickFinish .

You will now have a shortcut icon on your desktop. Now, whenever you need to open the Windows Media Player tool, just double-click its shortcut.

There is another way to create a desktop shortcut that only takes a few seconds. The steps are as follows:

1. Go to the Start menu and search forWindows Tools .
2. Then select the result from the top of the list.
3. Next, locateWindows Media Player Legacy and drag it to the desktop.

After creating the shortcut, double-click it to launch Windows Media Player Legacy.

8. How to Open Windows Media Player Using a Keyboard Shortcut

Windows offers multiple ways to open Windows Media Player, but the keyboard shortcut is the quickest and easiest way. To use it, follow these steps:

1. Make a Windows Media Player shortcut as per method number seven.
2. Right-click on the shortcut icon and selectProperties .
   
3. Type any letter or number in the shortcut field.

4. Next, clickApply > OK to save the changes

Once you have done so, just press Ctrl + Alt and type the letter or number you chose. Just remember to keep the desktop shortcut around; if you ever delete it, it’ll take down the keyboard shortcut with it.

Media Player Is Now at Your Fingertips

After reading this article, you should now be familiar with nine different ways that you can use to open Windows Media Player on your Windows operating system. Try them out and choose the one that works for you.

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