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Ever found Windows Media Player prompting the error “Windows Media Player Encountered a Problem while Playing the File”? It’s a generic error message that indicates the problems with Windows Media Player.
For media playbacks, WMP is a great application, but getting the “Windows Media encountered a problem while playing the file” message is really troublesome; that means you can’t play the audio or video. To fix this error and experience smooth video playback, we’ve covered all info, from the reasons to quick solutions and expert fixes. So, get into this article for resolution!
Why Does Error “Windows Media Player Encountered a Problem while Playing the File” Occur?
The reasons for “Windows Media encountered a problem while playing the file” are as follows:
- Problems with Windows Media Player itself.
- Incompatibility with File format and Windows Media Player.
- Incorrect or missing codec.
- Hardware issue or video card failure.
- Damaged or broken video file.
- Interference by the antivirus application.
- Corruption in the video file.
These are some quite popular reasons for the error. Now, let’s fix this.
Quick Solutions to fix Windows Media Player Encountered a Problem while Playing the File
- Restart your system, then play the video file.
- Re-download the video from a reliable source.
- Check and update the Windows OS as well as Windows Media Player before playing videos.
- Re-transfer the video file and make sure to eject the external drive after the process.
- Avoid directly playing video from an external drive. Copy them in system, then start playing.
- Update the system drivers (display graphics & audio) and reinstall the USB controller.
What are the Methods to Fix “Windows Media Player Encountered a Problem while Playing the File” Error
Below are a few dedicated manual ways listed that you can apply to fix Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing this file error:
Method 1: Get New Codec Pack via Automatic Update
A video codec allows the compression and decompression of digital video media, and hence, any damaged or missing codec packs can directly affect the video playback and create errors. Immediately check and download the right Windows Media Player codec, like HEVC Player for Windows, to play any video of your choice. Follow the steps below for automatic codec and app updates:
- In Windows Media Player, click on Organize, then Options.
- Go to the Player tab, and either select Once a day or Once a week options to check the updates in the Automatic Updates Click Apply, then OK.
If something is released, install that and try to play a video file of your choice.
Method 2. Try Disabling the Antivirus
Antivirus software protects systems from viruses and malware attacks, but sometimes it interferes. Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing this file, which is another example of that. So, disable the antivirus temporarily and see if it works for you. For the same, follow the procedure below:
- From the Start menu, search for Windows Security and open it.
- Click on Virus & Threat Protection, then tap on Manage Settings.
- Uncheck the turn on Real-time protection checkbox and click on Save changes.
Now open your video file in WMP and check for the playback issue.
Method 3: Restore Windows Media Player Library
Corrupted or damaged media player library files may also lead to playback issues and various video playback errors. So, immediately restore the Windows Media Player library. Go through the following steps:
- In Windows Media Player, press Ctrl + M to open the menu.
- Select Tools, then go to Advanced and select Restore media library.
- Select Yes if you don’t need your media library. After that, try to play videos.
Method 4: Clear Windows Media Player Cache
Over time, old cache files and metadata accumulate and cause “Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing this file”, as well as performance issues. So, delete them using the steps below:
- In Windows Media Player, press Ctrl + M to access the menu.
- Select Tools, then go to Options, then tap on Privacy.
- Under Clear History, select Clear Caches and hit OK.
Method 5. Run Windows Media Player Troubleshooter
Windows Media Player offers an intelligent option to troubleshoot problems related to it. Follow the steps given below to do so:
- Press Windows + R keys and type “msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerConfigurationDiagnostic” and press OK.
- Now, click Advanced, and then check the Apply repairs automatically, and tap on Next.
- Once troubleshooting is complete, select Apply this fix and wait until the process is complete.
After that, restart your system and check if Windows Media Player is working properly or not.
Can I Bypass Windows Media Player Encountered a Problem While Playing the File Error
Yes, you can bypass the error ‘Windows Media Player Encountered a Problem while Playing the File’. Not all media players are responsible to play any type or format of video file. Some videos support only a few or specific media players for playback.
If your videos have problems with Windows Media Player, then try another video player for Windows, such as VLC media player, RealPlayer, KMPlayer, etc. They might provide you with smooth playback.
Still, if the video file is stuck, displays a black screen, or flickers, then transcode it via VLC Media Player for free.
- Open VLC Media Player, go to Media > Convert & Save. Add your file then tap on Convert / Save.
- Select your output format under Profile, click Browse to choose a destination, and hit Start.
After transcoding, play the resultant video file.
The Real Problem May Be Video File Corruption
If the issue is still there even after troubleshooting Windows Media Player issues, trying a different media player, or transcoding the video file, the problem is likely not with the media player but with the video itself. Interrupted file transfers, storage device errors, virus attacks, unexpected system crashes during video playback, etc., can corrupt video files.
How to Repair Corrupted Video Files for Free? Easy Ways
If video file corruption is diagnosed in any video, fix it instantly. For the same, you can use VLC Media Player for free. If your video file is in AVI format, it can work well. Here are the steps:
- Open VLC, tap on Tools and go to Preferences.
- Select Input/Codecs and click Browse, then add video files. Then, select Always fix in the Damaged or incomplete AVI file and tap on Save.
Your corrupted video file will be repaired after a while. You’ll be able to play the video.
Note: You can also use FFmpeg command method to repair video files, only if you are good at the command line. But there are also limitations.
Drawbacks:
- VLC repairs only minor corruption, especially of the .avi format.
- May stucks or fail to repair large videos.
Important to Know: These drawbacks may look general, but they are the major setbacks. Your severely corrupted or unplayable large videos in several formats may remain damaged with errors.
To counter this, a dedicated utility is needed. Kernel Video Repair is one such utility to fix all your video-related issues and corruption, be it minor or severe. Moreover, it supports a wider range of video formats such as MP4, FLV, MOV, MPEG, AVI, WEBM, etc., even large ones, and it can repair in no time. You can also add and repair bulk corrupted video files of different formats in one go in a few easy steps.
Last Say
The error “Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file” puts you in an annoying situation during video playback. Here, we have provided all the probable reasons behind this error and reliable solutions to fix it quickly. You can fix Windows Media encountered a problem while playing the file as well as problems with Windows Media Player anytime.
However, using the recommended video repair tool gives you an extra edge over manual methods to effortlessly resolve any video-related issues with the desired result and no quality loss. So, make your video file always accessible and playable no matter there is application specific issue or file specific issues.
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