Play WMA files on Windows 10; What if WMA does not play in WMP

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WMA or Windows Media Audio is a series of sound codecs. Microsoft develops information technology forth with its corresponding audio coding formats. Y'all can play WMA files on Windows ten using Windows Media Player which comes preinstalled in Windows 10. So if you have Windows 10 on your estimator, WMP 12 is all you need to play. In this post, we are looking at how you lot can play WMA files on Windows 10, and what to do if WMA doesn't play in WMP.

How to play WMA files on Windows 10

This post discusses the following topics:

How to install Windows Media Actor
How to prepare WMA every bit the default player in Windows 10
What to do if WMA does not play in WMP.

How to install Windows Media Histrion

WMP is included in clean installs of Windows 10 as well equally upgrades to Windows x from Windows viii.1 or Windows 7. However, in some editions of Windows 10, it'south included as an optional feature. Follow the steps to install Windows Media Player:

Click on the Beginning button, and type Command Panel
Click on the "Control Panel Desktop App" which comes in the list.
Navigate to Programs and then click on Turn on Windows Features on or off
In the pop-up windows wait for Media Features.
Click on the plus icon and select Windows Media Role player
Click on, and it will install the WMP on Windows 10

One time installed, you can play the WMA files right away.

How to ready Windows Media Player as the default histrion

Windows Media Actor includes support for some of the virtually popular codecs, like MP3, Windows Media Audio, and Windows Media Video.

WMP supports WMA out of the box, and all you need to open the file with Windows Media Player. It is possible that it is WMP is not the default player for WMA files. Here is how to change information technology:

Right-click on the WMA file.
Navigate to Open with > Choose another app.
It volition open up a prompt with a list of players installed on the computer.
In the prompt, starting time Check the box which says "Always use this app to open .wma files."
Next select Windows Media Player, and click on the Ok button.

Notice the icon of the WMA file volition expect related to the Windows Media Actor icon. Double click and it volition play WMA files on Windows 10 using Windows Media Player.

Read: How to enable DVD playback for Windows.

What to do if WMA does not play in WMP

Even after setting WMP every bit the default player for WMA, if Windows x doesn't play the format, then the problem is somewhere else. The codec is bachelor with WMP, and there is no demand to install it separately. However, if it even so cannot play, here is what you tin can do:

1] Folder Permission

WMP 12 needs at least read permission to play music files on your computer. If you have included your music binder, brand sure information technology has read permissions. This problem normally happens when you have moved folders from another computer or upgraded Windows. You may demand to alter folder permissions.

ii] License cannot exist downloaded

Information technology is a chip odd one. One of forum user reported that when information technology tried to play music which is available on its NAS server, he got a license validation fault. The histrion tried to open a URL in the edge browser simply resulted in – "Web browser is non supported problem."

Internet Explorer is available as a desktop app in Window 10. Search, open up and paste the URL in the IE browser, and it may resolve the problem.

3] Microsoft Movies & TV app

Install the make new Movies & Tv app from Microsoft Store. It is capable of playing all the codecs WMP 12 can play.

4] Install third-political party players

There are many free media players available on the Net. Yous tin can use them play both audio and video files on Windows 10.

Lastly, I take seen many recommendations where y'all are asked to download codecs. The option is however non bachelor anymore in Windows Media Player > General tab.

Allow us know if this helped you to play the WMA files in Windows 10.

Ashish is a veteran Windows, and Xbox user who excels in writing tips, tricks, and features on information technology to improve your solar day to twenty-four hour period experience with your devices.