Add a plug-in to Windows Media Player

You can add functionality to Windows Media Player with plug-ins such as audio effects, video effects, visualizations, or codecs that support new file formats. The Player includes a number of visualization plug-ins, but you can download additional plug-ins from the Internet. To add a plug-in, you must be logged on as an administrator.

The following table lists the types of plug-ins that the Player supports:

This type of plug-in
Does this

Visualization
Displays splashes of color and geometric shapes that change with the beat of the audio that is playing.

Now Playing
Adds new functionality to Now Playing mode.

Window
Adds new functionality in a window other than the Player window.

Background
Adds new functionality behind the scenes. It doesn't include a user interface.

Video DSP
Performs a video effect, such as changing the color saturation. Digital signal processing (DSP) is a method of analyzing signals (such as audio or video) and changing them to produce a desired effect.

Audio DSP
Performs an audio effect, such as changing the audio output level.

Other DSP
Performs an effect other than a traditional video or audio effect.

Renderer
Plays a content format that isn't native to the Player.


Show contentHide content To view information about the plug-ins on your computer
Click the Start button Picture of the Start button, click All Programs, and then click Windows Media Player.

If the Player is currently open and you’re in Now Playing mode, click the Switch to Library button Picture of the Switch to Library button in the upper-right corner of the Player.

In the Player Library, click Organize , click Options, and then click the Plug-ins tab.

In the Category list, click a category.

To view or modify plug-in settings, in the list of plug-ins, click a plug-in, and then click Properties. Some plug-ins don't have settings that can be modified in the Player.

For more information about a plug-in, you can also check the website that you downloaded the plug-in from. For more information about the Player Library, see Getting started with Windows Media Player.

Show contentHide content To download a plug-in from the Internet
You can add plug-ins to the Player by downloading them from the Internet. Here's how:

Click the Start button Picture of the Start button, click All Programs, and then click Windows Media Player.

If the Player is currently open and you’re in Now Playing mode, click the Switch to Library button Picture of the Switch to Library button in the upper-right corner of the Player.

On the menu bar in the Player Library, click Tools, point to Download, and then click Plug-ins.

If the menu bar is hidden, click Organize, point to Layout, and then select Show menu bar.

For more information about the menu bar, see Show or hide the menu bar in Windows Media Player. For more information about the Player Library, see Getting started with Windows Media Player.

Note
If the Player is open when you download a plug-in, you might need to close and restart the Player to make the plug-in available.

Show contentHide content To enable or disable a plug-in
You can enable or disable some plug-ins, which allows you to turn an effect on or off. Being able to turn effects on or off is also useful when troubleshooting a non-Microsoft plug-in that isn't working as expected. Some plug-ins, such as visualizations and renderer plug-ins, are automatically enabled when added and will remain enabled as long as they are installed on your computer.

Click the Start button Picture of the Start button, click All Programs, and then click Windows Media Player.

If the Player is currently open and you’re in Now Playing mode, click the Switch to Library button Picture of the Switch to Library button in the upper-right corner of the Player.

In the Player Library, click Organize, click Options, and then click the Plug-ins tab.

In the Category list, click a category.

In the list of plug-ins, do one of the following:

To disable a plug-in, clear the check box next to the plug-in.

If a check box isn't displayed, the plug-in can't be disabled.

To enable a plug-in, select the check box next to a plug-in.