New Media Player 11 doesn't load Artist images


hexaae

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All of a sudden I noticed Media Player 11 ver. 11.2603.12.0/Win11 25H2 build 26200.8328 (I didn't launch for months) is missing ALL artist images.

Screenshot 2026-05-09 162747.webpScreenshot 2026-05-09 162804.webp

Album images are ok and loaded as expected instead.
I already tried to toggle "Settings > Look up missing album art and artist art online" but nothing changed.

Just a temporary MS server issue (please, other users can confirm?)? ... How to fix?
 

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@hexaae


Switch to Foobar2000. You'll be much happier.

 

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I already tried to toggle "Settings > Look up missing album art and artist art online" but nothing changed.

Try deleting the cache.

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player\Art Cache
 

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I hate to say it, but..., every time someone has an issue with a UWP App, I install it, investigate it, and come to the same damn conclusion..., it's crap!!!
 

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What about Media Player Legacy, of course if you have it. Is it able to download the images or has the same problem?
 

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What about Media Player Legacy, of course if you have it. Is it able to download the images or has the same problem?
Similar problem..., it will no longer connect to any provider...

12988.webp
 

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Try deleting the cache.

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player\Art Cache
Been having this issue for a while already, oddly that folder does not exist on my system, maybe that's the issue
 

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If I remember correctly, MS no longer supports the media server. It doesn't have anything to connect to, to get the information.
 

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If I remember correctly, MS no longer supports the media server. It doesn't have anything to connect to, to get the information.
Wasn't that only for the older Media Player, why does Album art still work in the new version if the servers were down. The only issue is the Artist artwork
 

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You may be right on that, I never use the media player, I just remembered reading that in a post somewhere.
 

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Similar problem..., it will no longer connect to any provider...

12988.webp
Attempt to connect in Chrome to web address under window title shows:

This musicmatch-ssl.xboxlive.com page can’t be found​

No web page was found for the web address:
Search for this address in Google shows the explanation:

The musicmatch-ssl.xboxlive.com server, formerly used by Windows Media Player (WMP) to identify CD tracks and download album art, was shut down by Microsoft around December 2025. This renders the "Find album info" feature in legacy WMP and the Windows 11 Media Player app effectively broken, resulting in "Unknown Album" or blank metadata.
 

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i just tested a folder with 50 songs on legacy WMP and the new WMP. Legacy pulled artist images, new did not. per Micro-slop's own AI (hysterical that even it's own AI knows they produce trash now days... ironically, admittedly coded with majority AI... LOL) (and yes, this is just in addition to the post above mine. not meant to just regurgitate the same info):

🧩 Why legacy WMP sometimes still works​

  • Some Windows installations (especially older ones or OEM systems) still have Gracenote or other legacy metadata sources enabled.
  • These services were not fully removed from all systems, so legacy WMP may still successfully fetch artist images and metadata.
  • This is inconsistent — some users report it still works, others report it stopped in December 2025.

💥 Why the​

The new Media Player (Windows 11) relies on Microsoft’s musicmatch‑ssl.xboxlive.com metadata endpoint.That endpoint began returning “No match found” or connection errors starting mid‑December 2025.

Microsoft also retired the broader Windows Metadata and Internet Services (WMIS) in 2025, which the new Media Player depended on.

As a result:

  • Artist images no longer download
  • Album art lookup fails
  • CD metadata lookup is broken
  • Both new and legacy WMP are affected, but legacy sometimes still works if it has an alternate metadata provider
 
Last edited:

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For me, WMP, Legacy or New, pulls nothing from the internet..., it merely loads metadata that already exists...

13201.webp
 

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    ASUS VivoBook
  • ASUS VivoBook 'Lite' ~ Windows 11 Home

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