You receive a codec error message, or audio plays but video doesn’t play when you play media files in Windows Media Player 11

This article provides a solution to an issue where the video doesn’t play when you play it in Windows Media Player 11.

Original product version: В Windows 10 — all editions
Original KB number: В 926373

Symptoms

When you try to play a video file in Windows Media Player 11, the video doesn’t play. However, the audio plays.

Additionally, when you try to play an audio file or a video file in Windows Media Player 11, you may receive an error message that resembles one of the following error messages:

Windows Media Player cannot play the file because the required video codec is not installed on your computer.

Windows Media Player cannot play, burn, rip, or sync the file because a required audio codec is not installed on your computer.

A codec is required to play this file. To determine if this codec is available to download from the Web, click Web Help.

Cause

This problem occurs if a codec that’s required to play the file isn’t installed on the computer.

Resolution

To resolve this problem, configure Windows Media Player to download codecs automatically. To do so, follow these steps in Windows Media Player 11:

1. On the Tools menu, select Options.
2. Select the Player tab, select the Download codecs automatically check box, and then select OK.
3. Try to play the file.

If you’re prompted to install the codec, select Install. If you still can’t play the file correctly, try the steps in the Advanced troubleshooting section. If you aren’t comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, ask someone for help, or contact Microsoft Support.

Advanced troubleshooting

The following steps are intended for advanced computer users.

Obtain and install the codec by following these steps in Windows Media Player 11:

Determine whether the codec is installed on the computer that you are using to play the file. To do so, follow these steps:

1. In the Now Playing area, right-click the file that you try to play, and then select Properties.
2. Select the File tab, note the codecs that are specified in the Audio codec and the Video codec areas, and then select OK. If the following conditions are true, go to step 2.
   • No audio codec is specified.
   • No video codec is specified.
3. On the Help menu, select About Windows Media Player.
4. Select the Technical Support Information hyperlink.
5. If you’re trying to play an audio file, determine whether the audio codec that you noted in step 1b is listed in the Audio Codecs area. If you are trying to play a video file, determine whether the video codec or the audio codec that you noted in step 1b is listed in the Video Codecs area. If the codec isn’t listed, go to step 2.
6. Try to reinstall the codec. If you can’t reinstall the codec, go to step 2.
7. Try to play the file. If you can play the file, skip steps 2 and 3.

Install the codec by following these steps:

If you receive an error message when you try to play the file, select Web Help. If you don’t receive an error message when you try to play the file, go to step 3.

On the Microsoft Web site, select the link to the Wmplugins Web site.

Follow the instructions on the Web site to download and install the codec for the file. If the Web site doesn’t automatically find a codec for the file, and if either of the following conditions is true, go to step 3:

• You didn’t note a codec in step 1b.
• You can’t find the codec that you noted in step 1b on the Web site.

Try to play the file. If you can play the file, skip step 3.

Obtain the codec from a third-party vendor.

If you are using Windows Media Player in an environment that is managed by a network administrator, you may have to contact the network administrator to download and install the codec.

More information

The information and the solution in this document represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on these issues as of the date of publication. This solution is available through Microsoft or through a third-party provider. Microsoft doesn’t specifically recommend any third-party provider or third-party solution that this article might describe. There might also be other third-party providers or third-party solutions that this article doesn’t describe. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, this information shouldn’t be interpreted to be a commitment by Microsoft. Microsoft can’t guarantee or endorse the accuracy of any information or of any solution that’s presented by Microsoft, or by any mentioned third-party provider.

Microsoft makes no warranties and excludes all representations, warranties, and conditions whether express, implied, or statutory. These include but aren’t limited to representations, warranties, or conditions of title, non-infringement, satisfactory condition, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose, with regard to any service, solution, product, or any other materials or information. In no event will Microsoft be liable for any third-party solution that this article mentions.

Windows Media Player cannot play the file because the specified protocol is not supported

i am also having a problem with media player. i have a internet site that i use to watch tv from. it uses media player as part of IE. a few days ago my daughter did a hard reboot and now it will not play this site. the site works on my laptop just fine. i have used system restore several times and moved back over 1 month and nothing. when i try to play a channel all i get is ok and a black screen it buffers and everything like it is going to play. but just black screen. when i check error message it says this «

Windows Media Player cannot play the file because the specified protocol is not supported. If you typed a URL in the Open URL dialog box, try using a different transport protocol (for example, «http:» or «rtsp:»).»

i have made sure all the network settings are checked and everything like this but still nothing. i can use the windows media center but i do not like this i want it to work through IE aGAIN.

I hope someone can help me so what do i do??

If you encountered this error by clicking a link on a Web page, the link might not be valid.

A) If you encountered this error by typing a URL in the Open URL dialog box, try opening the file by using a different transport protocol (for example, «http:» or «rtsp:»). The following list shows the protocols that are supported by the Player and examples of the correct URL syntax:

• mms://server/filename (for example, a file with a .wma, .wmv, .asf, or .mp3 extension)

• mms://server/sami.asf?SAMI=http://server/sami/sami_demo.smi (SAMI file)

B) If the Player supports the protocol that you used in the URL and you still can’t play the content, verify that the Player is configured to use all of its supported protocols.

To configure protocol settings

1. In Windows Media Player, on the Tools menu, click Options.

2. In the Options dialog box, on the Network tab, in the Streaming protocols area, select all the protocol check boxes (Multicast, UDP, TCP, and HTTP), so that a check mark is displayed in each.

Note that the supported protocols can be used only to stream digital media files. Windows Media Player cannot be used as a browser.

C) If the above fixes don’t work, you can rename the networking information folder for the Player so that it can rebuild its networking information files after you restart it.

To rename the Player networking information folder

1. Close Windows Media Player. (To do this, on the File menu, click Exit.)

2. Click Start, and then click Run.

3. In the Run dialog box, type the following (exactly as shown):

%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Media

4. In this folder, rename the folder 11.0 to 11.0.bak. For more information about renaming folders, see To change the name of a file or folder.

5. Start the Player and try to stream the content again.

Diana
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
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Windows media player cannot play the file because

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Question

I can not find solution to the issue «Windows Media Player cannot play the file because the required video codec is not installed on your computer» while attempting to play the file with *.wmv extension. Some computer fail in spite of said missing codec being present according the windrows media player in Windows 7 box

Answers

I can not find solution to the issue «Windows Media Player cannot play the file because the required video codec is not installed on your computer» while attempting to play the file with *.wmv extension. Some computer fail in spite of said missing codec being present according the windrows media player in Windows 7 box

MCP ✦ MCTS ✦ MCITP

All replies

I can not find solution to the issue «Windows Media Player cannot play the file because the required video codec is not installed on your computer» while attempting to play the file with *.wmv extension. Some computer fail in spite of said missing codec being present according the windrows media player in Windows 7 box

MCP ✦ MCTS ✦ MCITP

If Rashid’s link does not resolve it. consider the below:

A) As of this writing, the codec for GoToMeeting webinar recordings («G2M4» codec) was only mentioned in *one* web page, of about 10 Microsoft web pages I read, to resolve this problem (and that codec is not included, yet, in their diagnostic tool), so if you’re trying to play a GoToMeeting webinar, simply get the codec for it from their site: http://www.GoToMeeting.com/codec

B) If Windows Media Player (WMP) will not even open the file, you won’t be able to get the 4-character codec’s name (like «G2M4») from WMP. But VLC’s media player will tell you that code, even when it fails to run the video. and then you can search the internet for it.

Windows Media Player cannot play the file because «There might not be a sound device installed on your computer»

Original Title: Windows Media Player cannot play the file because there is a problem with your sound device. There might not be a sound device installed on your computer, it might be in use by another program, or it might not be functioning properly.

It says I have a MMJB sound card problem. My sound was working just fine yesterday, now it will not work. Any help would be great

— Do you get any error code along with this error message?

— Have you installed multiple sound devices on your computer?

Method 1: Quit other programs that might be using your sound device, and then try to play the file again.

Method 2: Install an updated driver.

Step 1: First uninstall the audio driver from the Device Manager and Add or Remove Programs

a. Click Start , and then click Control Panel .

b. Click System , click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager .

c. Under Sound, video and games controller , check the sound card that is listed.

d. Right-click the sound card, and then click Uninstall Driver .

Step 2: To see if an updated driver is available, use Windows Update or go to the sound device manufacturer’s website.

Follow these steps to do the same:

a. Click Start , and then click Control Panel .

b. Click System , click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager .

c. Under Sound, video and games controller , make sure that the sound card is listed.

d. Right-click the sound card, and then click Update Driver to install the latest driver.

e. Visit the Web site of the sound card manufacturer to determine whether a newer version of the driver is available to download.

Method 3: If you have multiple sound devices installed on your computer, try using a different one. The selected sound device might not support Secure Audio Path (SAP).

Additional reference on:

Regards,
Divya R – Microsoft Support.

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Windows Media Player cannot play the file because the required video codec is not installed on your computer

windows media player cannot play the file because the required video codec is not installed on your computer,__i just got my computer and i down loaded windows 7

Windows 7 and WMP 12 do not play several types of files out of the box, you need extra configuration. 🙁

Careful if you got this message from a «.wmv» file, which should not require any extra codec (COder-DECoder,) this kind of codec will most likely install viruses on your computer. You can see the file extension in Windows Explorer, either in the file name if you configured it via the «Tools|Folder options|View» menu to do so, or in the Details view, the «Type» column should display something like «WMV file», or in that case, «Windows Media Audio/Video file».

If it’s a genuine file, for instance a Flash («.flv»), or «.mkv» file, or a Blu-Ray DVD, you need to either play it from a third party player such as VLC, or get the appropriate codec. There’s a bunch of them packaged in a safe installation on shark007(dot)net, and for Blu-Ray, your computer probably came with a DVD playing software that should do the trick, although the codec that ships with it may not be compatible with WMP.

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