How to make Windows Media Player your default in Windows 8

Both Windows 8 and the updated version 8.1 are available with Xbox Music / Video set as the default media players. Do not go by the rumor that Windows Media Player is not included in the new OS. If you haven’t seen it yet, this is where you will be able to find it and get it set up. If you want to use WMP as your default desktop music manager and video player, setting it up is very easy.

I will discuss in here how to make WMP your default in Windows 8.1. The process is quite similar to Windows 8 with slight differences in the interface.

Setting Windows Media Player as Default in Windows 8 / 8.1

Go to the Start screen and type: default programs and select it from the results.

The Default Programs window will open on your desktop. From the menu click the “Set your default programs” link.

In the screen that will follow, scroll down your list of installed programs in the left pane and select Windows Media Player. Then on the right, click “Set this program as default” or, select the second option if you want to specify which media file types are opened by WMP by default.

Now when you open your Videos or Music folders, you’ll see Windows Media Player is set to play them by default.

Simply double click the file you want to play and enjoy.

If you just want to occasionally use WMP to play a media, right click the file. Select Open With and then the media player you want to use from the list of installed programs or apps.

Though Window8 has received negative feedback in the media, it is not that bad after all. Check it out for yourself.