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Cannot activate Windows media Player Legacy

Kenny Maguire 0 Reputation points
2026-01-24T19:38:09.06+00:00

I have a Windows 11 system, but cannot activate Windows Media Player Legacy. tried following the steps on the help page, but that didn't work. This is what I have done already:

  • Windows 11: Select Start > Settings > System > Optional Features > View features then search for "Windows Media Player Legacy". Check the box next to this item select Next then Add.

Then I did this: Select Start button, enter features in the search, and then select Turn Windows features on or off.

Expand Media Features and see whether the Windows Media Player check box is selected. If it is, clear the check box.

Select OK and then restart your PC. This will remove your current version of Windows Media Player.

After your PC has restarted, repeat step 1.

Expand Media Features and select the Windows Media Player check box.

Select OK and then restart your PC. This will reinstall the latest version of Windows Media Player for your system (Windows Media Player 12, with a few exceptions).

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Apps

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  1. Paulo GM 66,895 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-24T20:55:26.3466667+00:00

    Hi,

    Is the issue with installing it, or does it install fine but won’t open or run? If you're unable to install it, you can try the following method:

    • First, restart the computer
    • Once booted up, click Start, type CMD. You should run this legacy Command Prompt not Terminal
    • Right-click on Command Prompt > Run as administrator
    • Paste the command below and let it run without closing or interrupting the process, as it may take a while to complete. It might appear to be stuck, but please wait until it finishes. In my case, it took more than 30 minutes, but it varies depending on your system. DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Media.WindowsMediaPlayer~~~~0.0.12.0
    • Once you see it is done, you can check the installation folder in C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe

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  2. Anonymous
    2026-01-24T22:18:36.3333333+00:00

    Click Start, type cmd, and ensure you select Run as Administrator.

    Copy and paste the following command exactly:

    DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Media.WindowsMediaPlayer~~~~0.0.12.0

    Even if the progress bar looks like it's stuck at 10% or 34.2%, do not close the window. It is downloading the legacy package from Microsoft’s servers.

    Once it says "The operation completed successfully," restart your computer.

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  3. AI answer

    2026-01-24T19:38:17.7433333+00:00

    It seems you are following the correct steps to activate Windows Media Player Legacy on your Windows 11 system. However, if you are still facing issues after reinstalling Windows Media Player, here are a few additional troubleshooting steps you can try:

    1. Check for Windows Updates: Ensure that your Windows 11 system is fully updated. Sometimes, missing updates can cause issues with features.
    2. Run the Windows Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run the troubleshooter for Windows Media Player.
    3. Check for Corrupted Files: Use the System File Checker tool. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the command sfc /scannow to check for and repair corrupted system files.
    4. Reinstall Media Features: If the above steps do not work, you can try to uninstall and reinstall the Media Features again. Go to "Turn Windows features on or off", uncheck Media Features, restart your PC, then check it again and restart.
    5. Contact Microsoft Support: If the problem persists, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.

    These steps should help you troubleshoot the activation issue with Windows Media Player Legacy.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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