Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N (October 2018)

Summary

This update provides support of media features in Windows 10 N. These include media-related technologies (Windows Media Player) and certain preinstalled media applications, such as Groove, Movies & TV, Voice Recorder, and Skype. You have to install additional software from Microsoft to have this communication functionality stream music play or create audio CDs, media files, and video DVDs; and take and store pictures.

Some recent features that rely on Windows Media files are not included in Windows 10 N. This includes Windows Mixed Reality, Cortana, Windows Hello, Game DVR, and PDF viewing in the Microsoft Edge browser.

Some websites and software, such as Windows Store applications and Microsoft Office, use Windows Media-related files that are not included in Windows 10 N edition. Users can make these websites and software work correctly for the additional features except Windows Mixed Reality by installing the Media Feature Pack for N versions of Windows 10.

The Media Feature Pack for N versions of Windows 10 is incompatible with Windows Mixed Reality. Users who want to use Windows Mixed Reality must install a non-N version of Windows 10.

How to get this update

Microsoft Software Download Service

Media Feature Pack for N versions of Windows 10 is available for download from the Microsoft Software Download Service.

Additional Steps

Once you have installed the Media Feature Pack, there are additional apps that can be installed from the Store to regain fuller Windows 10 functionality. Such apps include (but are not limited to):

Media codecs for playback of media in apps and in the browser:

Update Information

Prerequisites

To install this update, you must have Windows 10 N installed.

Registry information

To apply this update, you don’t have to make any changes to the registry.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this update.

Update replacement information

This update does not replace a previously released update.

More Information

Excluded features

Windows 10 N includes the same functionality as other Windows 10 editions, except for Windows Media Player and related technologies. The excluded technologies include, but aren’t limited to, the following features.

Windows Media Player user experience: Enables Windows Media Player features, such as the ability to play media files and audio CDs, manage media in a library, create a playlist, provide metadata (including album art) for media, create an audio CD, transfer music to a portable music player, and play streaming content from a website.

Windows Media Player ActiveX control: Exposes methods and properties to manipulate multimedia playback from a webpage or an application.

Windows Media Format: Provides support for the Advanced Systems Format (ASF) file container, the Windows Media audio and video codecs, basic network streaming capability, and digital rights management (DRM).

Windows Media DRM: Enables the secure delivery of protected content for playback on a computer, portable device, or network device.

Media sharing and Play To: Enables music, pictures, and videos on a networked computer to be shared with other computers and devices on the same network. Also enables computers to find those kinds of files on the network.

Media Foundation: Provides support for content protection, audio and video quality, and interoperability for DRM.

Windows Portable Devices (WPD) infrastructure: Communicates with attached media and storage devices that include devices that support the Media Transfer Protocol.

MPEG, WMA, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, AMR, and Dolby Digital audio codecs: Enable the playback of digital audio content, such as MP3, WMA, MPEG-2 audio, AAC audio, FLAC and ALAC audio, and AC-3 audio.

VC-1, MPEG-4, and H.264, H.265, and H.263 codecs: Collectively known as «Standards-based codec components.» Enable Windows 10 program such as Windows Media Player to support activities that include the playback and recording of multimedia files that are encoded with standards-based codecs.

Groove Music: A preinstalled application that’s used to play digital music.

Movies & TV : A preinstalled application that’s used to play digital video.

Voice Recorder: A preinstalled application that’s used to record sounds.

Skype: A preinstalled application that’s used for messaging and communications.

Effects on other features

Some features aren’t excluded directly from Windows 10 N edition, but they are affected by the media technology exclusions. These features include the following.

Application Sync: This feature doesn’t work.

OneDrive and Photos: These applications cannot play videos.

Xbox: Some functionality that’s associated with this application, such as Game DVR, doesn’t work.

Webcam: This feature doesn’t work.

Windows Portable Devices: There is no support for media synchronization, image acquisition, or file browsing.

Windows 10 camera devices: Cameras that use the picture transfer protocol (PTP) don’t work.

Sound Recorder: Recordings are limited to WAV format.

Alarms and clock: Alarm and timer sounds don’t play.

Group Policy for removable disks: This feature is not available in the N edition of Windows 10 Pro.

Cortana Personal Assistant: Speech interaction with Cortana doesn’t work.

Windows Store Media Content: Audio and video content that was obtained through the Store cannot be played. Also, the preview of audio or video content in the Store doesn’t work.

Wireless Display: This feature doesn’t work.

PDF Viewing in Edge: This feature doesn’t work.

Windows Hello: This feature doesn’t work.

References

For more information about the Media Feature Packs for Windows N releases, see the following Knowledge Base article:

3145500 Media Feature Pack list for Windows N editions

Learn about the terminology that Microsoft uses to describe software updates.

Проигрыватель Windows Media

Поддержка Windows 7 закончилась 14 января 2020 г.

Чтобы продолжить получать обновления системы безопасности от Майкрософт, мы рекомендуем перейти на Windows 10.

Загрузка проигрывателя Windows Media

Скачайте проигрыватель Windows Media для своей версии Windows или узнайте, как воспроизводить файлы Windows Media на вашем компьютере Mac. Подробности см. здесь.

Справка

Получите справку и инструкции для вашей версии проигрывателя Windows Media. Узнайте об основных функциях и устранении проблем.

Если проигрыватель Windows Media перестал работать правильно после обновления из Центра обновления Windows, вы можете убедиться, что проблема вызвана обновлением с помощью средства восстановления системы. Для этого:

Нажмите кнопку Пуск , а затем введите восстановление системы.

Выберите Создание точки восстановления, а затем в области Свойства системы выберите Восстановление системы.

Следуйте указаниям, чтобы выбрать точку восстановления перед набором обновлений, которые, как кажется, привели к возникновению проблемы. Затем выполните восстановление системы. (Это может занять некоторое время.)

После восстановления более ранней конфигурации системы проверьте, работает ли проигрыватель Windows Media правильно.

Для использования расширенных возможностей видео, таких как 4K, можно попробовать приложение «Кино и ТВ (Майкрософт)». Чтобы скачать приложение бесплатно в Microsoft Store, перейдите в раздел Кино и ТВ и выберите Скачать.

Персонализация

Настройте проигрыватель Windows Media с помощью легко устанавливаемых скинов, визуализаций и плагинов для нового внешнего вида и дополнительных функций. Подробнее.

Windows Update: FAQ

Note: If you’re looking for Microsoft Office update info, see Install Office updates.

In Windows 10, you decide when and how to get the latest updates to keep your device running smoothly and securely. When you update, you’ll get the latest fixes and security improvements, helping your device run efficiently and stay protected. In most cases, restarting your device completes the update. Make sure your device is plugged in when you know updates will be installed.

If other questions come up when you update Windows 10, here are some other areas that might interest you:

When you only want info about updating Windows 10, you’ll find answers to many of your questions here:

When the Windows 10 May 2020 Update is ready for your device, it will be available to download and install from the Windows Update page in Settings. Choose a time that works best for you to download the update. You’ll then need to restart your device and complete the installation. After that, your device will be running Windows 10, version 2004.

To manually check for the latest recommended updates, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update .

To get help updating to the latest version of Windows 10, go to the Microsoft software download page and download the Update Assistant.

Some updates may not be available on all devices at the same time—we’re making sure updates are ready and compatible.

To stay up to date, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update , and then select Check for updates.

If a feature update is available for your device, it will appear separately on the Windows Update page. To install it, select Download and install now.

Here are a few things you can try if you’re having trouble installing updates:

Make sure that your device is connected to the internet. Downloading updates requires an internet connection.

If you’re connected the internet, try to install the updates manually. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update , and then view available updates.
Check for updates

Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot . Under Get up and running, select Windows Update.

The time required to download updates primarily depends on internet connection speed, network settings, and update size. Make sure your device is plugged in and connected to the internet to download updates faster.

You can’t stop updates entirely—because they help keep your device safe and secure, updates will eventually need to be installed and downloaded, regardless of your update settings. Here’s how to temporarily pause updates from being downloaded and installed. Note that after the pause limit is reached, you’ll need to install the latest updates before you can pause updates again.

In the Windows 10 November 2019 Update (version 1909) or later, or in Windows version 1809 for Pro or Enterprise, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update . Then choose one of the following options:

Select Pause updates for 7 days.

Select Advanced options. Then, in the Pause updates section, select the drop-down menu and specify a date for updates to resume.

To finish installing an update, your device will need to restart. Windows will try to restart your device when you’re not using it. If it can’t, you’ll be asked to schedule the restart for a more convenient time. Or, you can schedule anytime by following these steps:

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update .

Select Schedule the restart and choose a time that’s convenient for you.

You can set active hours to make sure automatic restarts for updates only happen when you’re not using your device. Learn about active hours for Windows 10.

Try deleting files you don’t need, uninstalling apps you don’t use, or moving files to another drive like an external USB drive or OneDrive. For more tips on freeing up disk space, see Free up drive space in Windows 10.

We recommend keeping devices like laptops and tablets plugged in when you’re not using them. This way, if updates are installed outside active hours, your device will have enough power to complete the installation. Windows updates don’t consume more battery than other typical system processes.

An update history is available so you can see which updates were installed, and when. You can also use this list to remove specific updates, although we don’t recommend this unless it’s necessary.

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update > View update history .

For more info about what’s included in updates for Windows 10, see Windows 10 update history.

We don’t recommend that you remove any installed updates. However, if you must remove an update, you can do so in update history.

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates.

Select the update you want to remove, then select Uninstall.

Feature updates are typically released twice per year and include new functionality and capabilities as well as potential fixes and security updates. Quality updates are more frequent and mainly include small fixes and security updates. Windows is designed to deliver both kinds of updates to devices through Windows Update.

To double check that your device is up to date, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and see your update status and available updates.

To find which version of Windows you’re running, see Which version of Windows operating system am I running?

Reserved storage is not automatically turned on by Windows in any update scenarios. It is only turned on for new devices with the Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) or later preinstalled, or devices on which a clean install was performed.

Note: If you’re looking for Microsoft Office update info, see Install Office updates.

The best way to keep Windows 8.1 up to date is to turn on automatic updates. With automatic updates, you don’t have to search for updates online or worry about missing critical fixes or device drivers for your PC. Instead, Windows Update automatically installs important updates as they become available.

To turn on automatic updates:

Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update. If you want to check for updates manually, select Check now.

Select Choose how updates get installed, and then, under Important updates, select Install updates automatically (recommended).

Under Recommended updates, select Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates.

Under Microsoft Update, select Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows, and then select Apply.

Click the questions below to see answers about how Windows Update keeps your device up to date.

Note: If your PC is connected to a network where updates are managed by Group Policy, you might not be able to change settings related to Windows Update. For more info, contact your organization’s technical support.

Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update. To check for updates manually, select Check now.

An update history is available so you can see which updates were installed, and when. You can also use this list to remove specific updates, although we don’t recommend this unless it’s necessary.

To see your PC’s update history, open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update > View your update history.

We don’t recommend that you remove any installed updates. However, if you must remove an update, you can do so in update history.

Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update > View your update history.

Select the update you want to remove, then select Uninstall.

Here are a few things to try if you’re having problems installing updates:

Make sure that your PC is connected to the internet. Some updates can’t be installed if you’re using a metered internet connection.

If you’re connected the internet and updates aren’t installed automatically, wait a few minutes and then try to install the updates manually.

See the Fix Windows Update errors guided walkthrough to try to fix the problem.

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020

We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.

Click the questions below to see answers about how Windows Update keeps your device up to date.