Media Player will not play my MP4 video


For the longest time, Media Player came with every version of Windows. But it was always limited, as to just what types of media it could play.
I like Media Player because I can set the Equalizer to my own taste, and add some WOW for greater sound depth.
And I don't have to ADD another media player to my PC.

Along with the things I install with every Windows Install, is the K-Lite Codec Pack. That allows Media Player to play most every kind of media file.

Download K-Lite Codec Pack Mega

The K-Lite Mega Codec Pack is a free software bundle for playing all your audio and video files. It contains everything you need. The best solution for solving your playback problems.
codecguide.com codecguide.com

I've been using the K-Lite Mega pack for so long, I don't even question whether I should install it. It gets an upgrade periodically, and I do try to keep it up to date. I just now downloaded the latest version. Excuse me, while I install it!

TM :cool:
PS: The install went smoothly, as always.
 

My Computer

System One

rufford155 said:
I'm not sure why Media Player 12 has been mentioned because I'm reading from MS that it's not possible to have it in Windows 11.

When I have time I shall change the format of the problem video to see if I can fix it seems the only option.

It did install VLC and that plays it ok.

Many thanks for all your replies.
Click to expand...
Hi.
Media Player Legacy is included in Windows 11. I recently clean installed Windows 11 23H2 and then later updated to Windows 11 24H2. I have the good old Windows Media Player Legacy and it plays .mp4 video files well. This media player is not in the Start Menu but can be found in Applications folder, which can be reached at: C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:appsfolder
 

Attachments

  • WMP.jpg
    WMP.jpg
    105.4 KB · Views: 1

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro build 26200.5570 (Dev)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7-4790
    Motherboard
    Asus H97 Pro Gamer with add-on TPM1.2 module
    Memory
    Teams DDR3-1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1150
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron E2250
    Screen Resolution
    1920 by 1080 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Crucial NVMe PCIe M2 500 GB (Windows 11 v.24H2); Samsung SSD Evo 870 500 GB (Windows 11 v.24H2);
    PSU
    Corsair HX850
    Case
    Gigabyte Solo 210
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS7X Tower
    Keyboard
    Microsoft AIO Wireless (includes touchpad)
    Mouse
    HP S1000 Plus Wireless
    Internet Speed
    200 Mb fiber optic
    Browser
    Chrome; MS Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
  • Operating System
    MacOS 12 Monterey
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Apple Macbook Air
    CPU
    Intel Core i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel integrated
    Screen Resolution
    1440 by 900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    128 GB
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless
    Keyboard
    Built-in
    Internet Speed
    802.11 ac
    Browser
    Chrome; Safari
    Antivirus
    N/A
neves said:
Just a personal curiosity: If you have other (Superior) players which work (simply - far far more capable - more features/codecs/filters rich) - why are you so fixated in using one the worst available video players (Windows Media Player) in 2024 and for quite some time now?
Click to expand...
For me the Windows Media Player Legacy has worked the best for Ripping my older CDs to files for use on a computer, especially those Notebooks that no longer have ODDs. I have a 1TB USB SSD over half full of songs. For recording audio from the 'net I use Total Recorder which also plays quite well.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Berton said:
For me the Windows Media Player Legacy has worked the best for Ripping my older CDs to files for use on a computer, especially those Notebooks that no longer have ODDs. I have a 1TB USB SSD over half full of songs. For recording audio from the 'net I use Total Recorder which also plays quite well.
Click to expand...

And yet, even you're praising an audio related feature (while the topic/subject in question is about video playback). 🙂

Side note: almost 20 years ago - back when i was still using Win2k (eventually, did switch to Windows XP - but turn it into Win2K appearance wise - for extra performance) - my OCD/Obsession with finding the best apps for any given task - lead me to ImgBurn as the king of ripping audio CDs (very light, and more capable in more ways than one). WMP seemed to be more demanding on Desktops with 128 - 256 SDRAM and Duron CPUs - especially on Windows XP. When it worked - it did the job (ripping a CD), but sometimes would just freeze randomly while Ripping a CD. Which was really bad if it happened on a Saturday - since no stores were open to buy more CDs. That, never happened with ImgBurn. 😜
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WinDOS 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    CPU
    Intel & AMD
    Memory
    SO-DIMM SK Hynix 15.8 GB Dual-Channel DDR4-2666 (2 x 8 GB) 1329MHz (19-19-19-43)
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia RTX 2060 6GB Mobile GPU (TU106M)
    Sound Card
    Onbord Realtek ALC1220
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung PM981 NVMe PCIe M.2 512GB / 1x Seagate Expansion ST1000LM035 1TB
The OP is using Media Player in Windows not Windows Media Player.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.5039
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    1000/400Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec B746
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-10700K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax
    Memory
    16GB (8GB PC4-19200 DDR4 SDRAM x2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    #1. LG ULTRAWIDE 34" #2. AOC Q32G2WG3 32"
    Screen Resolution
    #1. 3440 X 1440 #2. 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    NVMe WDC WDS100T2B0C-00PXH0 1TB
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB
    PSU
    750 Watts (62.5A)
    Case
    PowerSpec/Lian Li ATX 205
    Keyboard
    Logitech K270
    Mouse
    Logitech M185
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge and Firefox
    Antivirus
    ESET Internet Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Canary Channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec G156
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    AsusTeK Prime B360M-S
    Memory
    16 MB DDR 4-2666
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Speptre HDMI 75Hz
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 EVO 500GB NVMe
    Mouse
    Logitek M185
    Keyboard
    Logitek K270
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge and Edge Canary
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
idgat said:
You need to understand that a video file (of whatever type) is simply a container for a video stream and an audio stream ... it's the format of these streams that media players are sensitive to. Thus an mp4 (or any other type, for that matter) file can contain different video stream formats that result in some being able to be played, and some not
Click to expand...

As I said, it is exactly the same file with exactly the same properties using exactly the same Media Player version.

Windows 10 plays it but Windows 11 does not ! Trust in your technology - I dare you !
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook
rufford155 said:
Trust in your technology
Click to expand...
When it comes to Microsoft multimedia software .... I DON'T !!

Which is why I use Daum PotPlayer and VLC Player (without the need for any codec packs!) for video, and Irfanview for image and sound multimedia

All Windows provided media options are instantly and ruthlessly uninstalled on device setup
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-12400
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    512GB KIOXIA NVMe
    1TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    OOBE
    Case
    OOBE
    Cooling
    OOBE
    Keyboard
    BT
    Mouse
    BT
    Browser
    Brave FFox Chrome Opera
    Antivirus
    KIS
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever anal)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
    Internet Speed
    NBN FTTN 50
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
I had something somewhat similar happen to me a few months back with Windows 10 playing mp4s and crashing explorer.

mp4 files crashes Windows Explorer - Windows 10 Help Forums

This is not a BSOD. What happens is whenever I move my mouse over a VLC mp4 file and attempt to click on it, Explorer starts locking up, the Explorer window goes gray and the taskbar suddenly disappears (Windows Explorer crash) and then recovers and the v
www.tenforums.com www.tenforums.com

Turns out I had to uninstall all third party codec packages (like K-Lite) and just use the built-in codecs that most video and audio software out there comes with, preinstalled.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro
    Memory
    32GB
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 3 Intel (14”) Mobile Workstation - Type 21AK
    Memory
    32GB
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Solved I can't create a play list in legacy windows media player
Replies
11
Views
1K
Vonda
V
Win 11 won't default to media player for cda files
Replies
18
Views
1K
Azor
A
Media Controls disappears if the video is not played within 5 seconds, after pausing a video(running on Chrome) while the Windows Screen is Locked.
Replies
12
Views
377
DennyZenny
DennyZenny
Canary build -- VLC doesn't play m2ts files - Windows media player does.
Replies
3
Views
3K
Winuser
Winuser
Solved VLC error no video for m2ts files - Win legacy media player OK
Replies
4
Views
1K
jimbo45
jimbo45

Latest Support Threads

Latest Tutorials

Back
Top Bottom