Windows 10: Windows media player takes very long to open a video file

the version is 11.2304.2.0. but when I choose to use the original version of the player, the video file opens almost instantly, I am using Windows 11. Thanks

:)

 

Unable to open videos and movies in Windows 10 default media player.

Hello,

For us to better assist you, we'd like to know the following:

• Confirm which build is currently installed on your device. To check, follow the steps below:

• Press Windows key + R, then type in winver.
• Click OK.

• What type of video file were you trying to open?
• Were there any recent changes made prior to this issue?
• Have you tried running the Windows App troubleshooter? This tool automatically diagnoses and repairs common issues that may prevent Windows Store Apps from working properly.

As a workaround, you can try to right-click on the video files and select
Properties > Opens With: Change > select
Windows Media Player.

Also, try to change the default app for opening video files to Windows Media Player. Refer to the steps below:

• Press Windows key + I, search for Default app settings and click on it.
• Under Video player, click on the button and change to
  Windows Media Player.

We look forward to your response.

Regards.

 

windows media player

Hi,

Thank you for posting on Microsoft Communities.

What is the exact error message you get when you to try play files on Windows Media Player?

I suggest you to run both Windows Media Player Library and Settings troubleshooter and check.

Step 1: If your computer is having problems playing video or audio files in Windows Media Player, try using the Windows Media Player Settings troubleshooter to fix the problem. The troubleshooter checks the configuration and network settings
for Windows Media Player to make sure that you can play content you've downloaded and saved to your computer, or content streaming over a network or the Internet.

Steps to run Windows Media Player Settings troubleshooter are as follows:

• Press Windows key + X and select Control Panel.
• In the search box, type troubleshooter, and then click
  Troubleshooting.
• Click View all, and then click Windows Media Player Settings
  and follow the instructions.

Step 2: If your computer is having problems accessing your collection of digital media files in the Windows Media Player Library, try using the Windows Media Player Library troubleshooter to fix the problem. The troubleshooter makes sure
Windows Media Player is correctly installed on your computer, and checks to see whether your Player Library is corrupted.

Steps to run Windows Media Player Settings troubleshooter are as follows:

• Press Windows key + X and select Control Panel.
  
• In the search box, type troubleshooter, and then click
  Troubleshooting.
• Click View all, and then click Windows Media Player Library
  and follow the instructions.

• • 
    

Please reply us on the status of the issue to assist you further.

 

Cannot open .alm video files with Windows Media Player

I have just bought a new laptop with pre-installed Windows 11. The default video player is the new Windows Media Player (version 11.2210.33.0).

My problem is the following: I tried playing a very old game which has some cutscenes recorded in the .alm format. Whenever these videos are supposed to play, the screen goes black and I can hear only the music.

This should be a tipical problem of codec missing: if I manage to install the appropriate codec then the videos should play normally. But I really do not know how to do this. The usual procedure is to either add an appropriate plug-in manually or to try running the video file separately and a message asking to install the missing codec should pop-up.

I tried to open Media Player and look at the setting menu, but I could not find the option of installing new plug-ins or codec packs.

Thus I tried running a .alm file directly with the Media Player: the procedure should be the usual right-click->open with and selecting Media Player from the list of suggested apps. But Media Player is not among the recommended apps, thus my only option is the choice of selecting the app manually and specify its localtion. I could not find the location of the files of Windows Media Player: do you know the path?

In the end I tried running the video files with Windows Media Player Legacy (which is the usual Windows Media Player of Windows 7,8 and 10 from what I understand): this program was included among the suggested apps no problem and when I tried to run the first .alm file I was prompted to the Microsoft Store to install the plug-in "Video extension MPEG-2". After doing that the Legacy Player ran the .alm format flawlessly.

Therefore, I changed the default app to run all possible video and audio extensions recognized by my pc to be the Legacy Player. However, this did not fix the problem: each time I play the game the cutscenes are not rendered just like before. It is as if the default video player is hard coded to be Media Player and until I can make it recognize the .alm format I cannot play the videos.

Do you have any idea how to fix the issue?