In certain situations, when you attempt to play a video using Windows Media Player, you might notice that the tool plays only the audio and does not display the video. If you’re dealing with this problem, do you know how to resolve it? In this article, MiniTool Software will provide you with some practical solutions.

Windows Media Player Fails to Play Videos!

Windows Media Player is a built-in media playback tool for Windows. It is typically the default media player on your computer unless you've set another application as the default. Some users have reported that their Windows Media Player plays only sound without showing the video.

Sometimes, this issue may come with specific error messages such as:

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

OR

Windows Media Player cannot play, burn, rip, or sync the file due to the absence of a necessary audio codec on your computer.

OR

A codec is needed to play this file. To see if this codec can be downloaded from the web, click Web Help.

OR

Invalid File Format.

This issue is generally linked to the codec. You can use the methods outlined in this article to address it. Let's proceed.

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Steps to Resolve Windows Media Player Not Displaying Video?

1. Update your Windows Media Player
2. Enable Now Playing window
3. Reinstall Windows Media Player
4. Use an alternative
5. Convert the video format

Solution 1: Update Your Windows Media Player

If Windows Media Player is only producing sound without displaying the video, you can try updating the program. This action can help resolve the codec issue (which is often the root cause of the problem). As Windows Media Player is a built-in tool, updating your Windows 10 will also update Windows Media Player. Additionally, you can click Help on the menu bar and select Check for updates. This will direct you to the Windows Update page.

Next, you can click the View all optional updates link to select the relevant updates for the Windows Media Player update.

Solution 2: Enable Now Playing Window

Occasionally, the problem arises simply because the Now Playing window is disabled. Enabling it might resolve the issue:

You can check the bottom right corner for an icon similar to the one shown below. If present, click it to switch to the Now Playing window.

Solution 3: Reinstall Windows Media Player

The player itself may have encountered issues, leading to Windows Media Player not playing videos only sound. Reinstalling it can solve the problem:

1. Use Windows search to look for features and select Turn Windows features on or off from the search results.

2. Scroll down to the Media Features section and expand it.

3. Uncheck Windows Media Player.

4. A small window will appear. You need to click the Yes button to continue.

5. The system will begin applying the changes. Wait until the process finishes and then click Close.

6. Click OK on the Windows Features interface.

7. Restart your computer and Windows Media Player should be uninstalled from your computer.

8. Open Windows Features using the same method.

9. Expand Media Features and check Windows Media Player this time.

10. Click OK.

11. The system will also start executing the changes. You need to wait again.

12. Restart your device and Windows Media Player should be reinstalled on your computer.

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Solution 4: Use an Alternative

If your Windows Media Player still cannot function properly, you can consider using an alternative to play videos. There are many options available, such as VLC, KMPlayer, Kodi, and more. This article provides additional suggestions: 10 Best Media Player for Windows 10 That You Should Have.

Solution 5: Convert the Video Format

If your media player can only play sound in a video, the video format may not be supported. You can try converting the video format. You can use MiniTool Video Converter to do so. It is a free video converter and supports over 1000 conversions between video and audio formats.

You can press the following button to access this software.

Here is a user manual on how to use this software to convert video format: How to Convert/Download/Record with MiniTool Video Converter?

Conclusion

Windows Media Player not playing video only sound on your computer? Why not try the methods mentioned in this article to help resolve the issue? You can always find a suitable solution here. If you have any other related problems that need fixing, feel free to let us know in the comments.

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