The history of Media Player is a fascinating journey. It’s essential to clarify that Media Player is distinct from Windows Media Player, now known as Windows Media Player Legacy. The latter, a stalwart of Microsoft’s media ecosystem, has been around since before Windows 11, capable of making playlists, showing videos, and ripping CDs. Though it still bears the aesthetic of the Vista era, it remains functional and familiar.
Media Player, on the other hand, emerged from the remnants of Groove Music, Microsoft’s erstwhile music app. When Groove Music was discontinued, it was rebranded as Media Player and expanded to support video alongside audio. Initially lacking features like CD ripping, Media Player has since incorporated many functionalities of its predecessor, becoming a comprehensive solution for both audio and video needs.
It’s understandable if you’re skeptical about Media Player’s capabilities. Groove Music had a less-than-stellar reputation in Windows 10 and early Windows 11 days, prompting many users to switch to alternatives like VLC Player. However, Media Player has made significant strides since its introduction two years ago.
What’s Right
The most notable advantage of Media Player is its user-friendliness. Typically, ease of use comes at the expense of features, but Media Player manages to strike a balance. It supports almost every codec you might need for video playback, with one notable exception that we’ll discuss later.
Compared to VLC, Media Player offers essential controls within easy reach. You can adjust playback speed, tweak audio with an equalizer, and crop videos to eliminate black bars. Additionally, it provides basic image settings for brightness, contrast, and saturation adjustments. While VLC offers more advanced features like sharpening, an audio compressor, and custom overlays, Media Player covers the basics effectively for most users.
Two standout features elevate Media Player beyond the basics: subtitles and audio tracks, and casting. In the old Windows Media Player, adding subtitles required a manual process through File Explorer. The new Media Player simplifies this by allowing you to add subtitle files directly via the Caption button within the app. This small change significantly enhances usability.
For those who watch local videos with multiple audio tracks or subtitles, such as anime enthusiasts dealing with licensing issues, Media Player makes it easy to switch between tracks. However, this assumes you have high-quality audio and subtitle files. VLC still excels in syncing these elements if needed.
Casting is another valuable addition. Media Player integrates with Windows 11’s casting features, enabling you to stream your screen to any compatible device. The only drawback is that it streams your entire screen, requiring you to stop casting once your video finishes.
Two Major Problems
Despite its strengths, Media Player has two significant issues that undermine its advantages for video playback. For most users, these problems could be deal-breakers.
