How to Completely Remove and Reinstall Windows Media Player in Windows

Are you tired of dealing with issues related to Windows Media Player (WMP) on your PC? Maybe the media player is consuming too much space or causing compatibility problems. Whatever reason it may be, this article will guide you through a step-by-step process of completely removing WMP and then reinstalling the latest version.

Why Would You Want to Remove and Reinstall?

Before we dive into the removal steps, let's quickly discuss why someone might want to remove Windows Media Player altogether:

1. Space Management: If your PC is running low on disk space, removing unnecessary applications like WMP can free up valuable storage.

2. Compatibility Issues: Sometimes, older versions of media players may not work well with newer operating systems or software updates.

Removing and Reinstalling Windows Media Player

### Step 1: Uncheck the Windows Media Player Box in Programs & Features (or Apps)

To begin:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

2. In the left-hand menu, click on Apps & features (in older versions, it might be labeled as 'Programs and Features').

3. Scroll down through the list of installed apps until you find Windows Media Player.

### Step 2: Uncheck or Clear the Windows Media Player Box

Once found:

1. Click on the three dots next to WMP's name.

2. If it doesn't automatically expand, click on 'More details' if available in older versions).

3. In both cases, you should now see a box labeled as Uninstall.

### Step 3: Confirm and Reboot

To proceed:

1. Click the Uninstall button to confirm that you want to remove WMP.

2. Your PC will then restart automatically once the removal process is complete.

### Step 4 (Optional): Clear Leftover Files if Necessary

After your PC has finished booting up again, you might still see remnants of Windows Media Player in some places:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type `%appdata%/Microsoft/` and press Enter.

3. Find and delete any directories or files related to WMP.

### Step 5: Reinstall the Latest Version

Now that your PC is fresh without Windows Media Player:

1. Go back to Settings > Apps & features (or Programs and Features in older versions).

2. Search for 'Windows Media Player' again.

3. Click on it when found, then select Install.

### Step 6: Configure WMP as Desired

After the installation process is complete:

1. You may be prompted to restart your PC once more if any changes were made during the reinstall process.

2. Once everything has finished updating and you're back at your desktop:

- Right-click on Start (or press Windows + I again).

- Click on Settings > Apps & features.

### Step 7: Optional: Download Additional Skins for Customization

If you want to give Windows Media Player a fresh new look:

1. Visit The Skins Factory or other reliable skin download sites.

2. Browse through their extensive collection of free skins designed specifically for WMP.

That's it! You've successfully removed and reinstalled the latest version of Windows Media Player on your PC, along with some tips on how to customize its appearance further if you wish. If any issues persist or you encounter problems during these steps, feel free to leave a comment below so we can help troubleshoot together.

Additional Resources:

* Microsoft Support: How to get rid of Windows Media Player in Windows 10

* The Skins Factory: Home

Please note that the information and instructions provided above are accurate at the time of writing but may be subject to change without notice.

Final media player delete