Windows Media Server Not Showing Files On Other Drives

Question

My Roku and other devices are not seeing the files I added to the Libraries. The folders are there, but no files. It's only files from the other drives I have installed, the files from the Users folders are all there. Added files from the other drives to the Users folders and the devices can see all those files. I tried rebuilding the index, but that didn't fix anything.

Answer 1

Hi Donald,

Thank you for the detailed explanation. Based on what you’ve described, the behavior you’re seeing is consistent with how media streaming works in Windows.

Windows media streaming shares content that has been fully recognized by the system’s media library. Files located in the default Users folders (Music, Pictures, Videos) are automatically included, which is why those files are visible on Roku and other devices. When media is stored on other drives, the folder structure may appear, but the files themselves may not be published unless they are added through the media library process.

Here are some possible options you can try in this situation:

Option 1: Add folders through Windows Media Player

• Open Windows Media Player (classic version).
• Select Organize > Manage libraries.
• Choose Music, Pictures, or Videos.
• Add the folder located on the other drive.
• Close Media Player and restart the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service.

Option 2: Use “Cast to device” as a workaround - This streams the selected file directly and does not rely on library indexing

• In File Explorer, right‑click the media file.
• Select Cast to device.
• Choose your Roku.

Please note that storing media in the default Users folders (or linking to them) ensures consistent visibility across devices. These options should help make your media accessible without needing to move or duplicate large files unnecessarily.

Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

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Answer 2

Windows Media Player / Media Streaming (DLNA) in Windows only exposes media that is in the indexed media libraries (Music, Pictures, Videos). Files on other drives must either:

1. Be in a folder that is part of one of those libraries, and
2. Be included in Windows Search indexing.

From the description, the devices can see files when they are copied into the default Users media folders, but not when they stay on other drives. That indicates the folders on the other drives are either:

• Not added as locations in the Music/Pictures/Videos libraries, or
• Not included in the index, so the media server has nothing to publish from those locations.

To fix this, use one of these approaches:

1. Add the folders on other drives to the appropriate media libraries (Music, Pictures, Videos) so they are treated as library locations.
2. Ensure those folders are included in indexing options so the content is discoverable.
3. If media is on an SD card or removable storage, either:
   • Store it in the media library folders on that card, or
   • Use an app that accesses the SD card directly (for example, via removableStorage capability in a UWP app) instead of relying on the standard media libraries.

DLNA clients (Roku and others) will then see the files once the library and indexing have updated.

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References:

• Files and folders in the Music, Pictures, and Videos libraries
• Access the SD card
• KnownFolders.MediaServerDevices Property
• Manage files, folders, and libraries with Windows App SDK