Windows Media Player Will Not Play a MP3 File & Its Alternative

Encounter Windows Media Player not working issue that Windows Media Player will not play a MP3 file? This common issue can be caused by various factors, from missing codecs to corrupted files. Don't worry. Don't worry. This post will show you how to fix Windows Media Player's inability to play MP3 files. Let's dive in and find the perfect solution for you.

How to Fix Windows Media Player Will Not Play a MP3 File

There are several effective solutions to fix the Windows Media Play not playing MP3 issue, let’s dive into the step-by-step guide to troubleshoot and fix it.

Fix 1. Codec Update for Windows Media Player

To play MP3 in Windows Media Player(WMP) smoothly, Windows Media Player needs to have the necessary and non-outdated codecs. Normally, WMP will come with supported file encodings. But if you don't update your code in time, it may also stop working. Please update the codec in your Windows Media Player. You can also install a codec pack like the K-Lite Codec Pack.

Step 1. Launch Windows Media Player and navigate to Tools > Options.

Step 2. Check the Once a Day or Once a Week option under the Automatic Updates option.

Step 3. Click on the Apply button to begin the codecs update process. After installing the codec updates, restart Windows Media Player to ensure the changes take effect.

Fix 2. Update Windows Media Player

It's essential to ensure you have the latest version of Windows Media Player installed. Microsoft regularly releases updates to address compatibility issues and enhance functionality. You can update Windows Media Player by following:

Step 1. Open Windows Media Player and right-click on the top blank area to choose Show menu bar.

Step 2. Go to Help > Check for Updates on the menu bar to update Windows Media Player.

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Fix 3. Check File Integrity

Confirm that the MP3 file is not corrupted by playing the MP3 file on another media player. If the file itself is corrupted, Windows Media Player will not play it.

Fix 4. Convert MP3 to other formats

If you cannot play an MP3 file, you can try to convert it to other formats like OGG, WAV, or WMA using a media converter. You can do it using a free online converter like Convertio.

Fix 5. Run Troubleshooter on Windows 11/10

Windows comes with the Troubleshoot tool to help you fix some system bugs with ease. You can go to Start > Settings, and search troubleshot in the search bar. Then, choose the Other troubleshooters option and Run Playing Audio.

Fix 6. Reset or Clear Windows Media Player Library and Cache

Resetting or clearing the Windows Media Player library and cache can be a helpful troubleshooting step when dealing with playback issues, including problems with MP3 files.

Step 1. Open WMP and go to Tools > Advanced > Restore Media Library to reset the library.

Step 2. Then go to Tools > Options > Privacy, and click Clear History to clear the cache.

Fix 7. Reinstall Windows Media Player

Reinstalling Windows Media Player, you can fix some playing bugs when playing MP3 or other media files. A fresh installation ensures that all necessary files, codecs, and settings are correctly in place.

Step 1. Press Windows + I to open Settings and click on Apps in the left sidebar.

Step 2. Choose the Optional features and search Windows Media Player under the Installed features.

Step 3. Click the drop-down arrow and select Uninstall.

Step 4. Click Add an optional feature at the top of the page and search for Windows Media Player. Check the box next to it and click Install.

Fix 8. Update Windows

If you still can't play MP3 after reinstalling or updating your Windows Media Player, please update your Windows system directly. Windows updates often include improvements and bug fixes that can resolve media playback issues.

You can go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates to update your Windows OS.

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Play MP3 via Windows Media Player Alternative

Still cannot fix the Windows Media Player will not play MP3 files problem? You can use a Windows Media Player alternative that can play MP3 files without issues. EaseUS RecExperts is one of the ideal media players and recorders for seamless MP3 playback. It is designed to play a wide range of audio and video formats, including MP3, WAV, FLAC, and more. With it, you can play media files smoothly without downloading other codecs. It's a great audio and video player for Windows and Mac.

Additionally, it's also a powerful screen recorder that you can use to capture screen, webcam, and audio(both system and microphone) in high quality. That means you can easily record meetings, gameplay, music, or other content you want to save.

Key features

• Supports various file formats like MP3, AAC, WAV, OGG, FLAC, MP4, MOV
• Supports 0.5x, 0.75x, 1.0x, 1.25x, 1.5x, 2.0x playing speed
• Built-in edit tools like trim and transcribe audio files, or add watermarks to videos

Step 1. Launch EaseUS RecExperts, and click "Recordings" on the lower left to open the media player.

Step 2. Click "Import" on the bottom right to load your media files. It allows you to import multiple files or a folder.

Step 3. Then, you can enjoy your audio or video file with different playback speeds, from 0.5X to 2.0X.

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Conclusion

By following these solutions above, you can resolve the issue of Windows Media Player not playing MP3 files. If the problem is still not resolved, EaseUS RecExperts is a fantastic alternative. RecExperts offers a seamless and enjoyable media playback experience with its comprehensive compatibility, such as easy to use and support multi-format.

Hit the button below to download and try it to play MP3 and other media files.

Windows Media Player Won't Play MP3 FAQs

1. Can you record on Windows Media Player?

Unfortunately, Windows Media Player doesn’t have a built-in recording feature. If you need to screen record on your Windows PC, you can use a third-party screen recorder like EaseUS RecExperts.

2. What formats does Windows Media Player support?

Windows Media Player supports various media formats like MP3, WAV, WMA, AVI, WMV, MPEG, MOV, MP4.