Audio Playback in Windows Media Player
Fix sound device and other audio-playback problems, and learn how to crossfade and queue up songs and play CDs automatically in Windows Media Player.
Answers refer to Windows Media Player 10, unless otherwise noted.
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How do I fix sound problems?
If you can't hear sound while playing audio files in the Windows Media Player, the Player may be having a problem with your sound device (either your sound card or your sound controller). Do the following to try to fix this error:
To troubleshoot your sound device
1. | Make sure that a sound device is installed on your computer; if not, just install one. In most cases, Windows will automatically detect the new hardware and install the necessary software drivers. If Windows does not automatically install the software drivers, run the Add Hardware Wizard to install them yourself (in Control Panel, open Add Hardware). |
2. | Another program may be using the sound device, preventing the Player from accessing it. Close all other programs so that the Player is the only program running, and then try to play the file again. |
3. | The software drivers for your sound device may be missing or corrupted. Try reinstalling the most recent software drivers for your sound device by scanning for updates on Microsoft Update or by going to your sound device manufacturer's Web site. |
4. | The Player may be using a version of Microsoft DirectX that is incompatible with the hardware features on your sound device. (This may explain why you can hear sound when you use some software programs, but not when you use the Player.) Install the most current version of DirectX by going to the DirectX Home page. |
5. | If the problem occurs when you are trying to play CDs or DVDs, get the latest driver updates available for your computer's CD or DVD drive by scanning for updates on the Microsoft Update or by visiting the hardware manufacturer's Web site. |
If none of the previous suggestions work, refer to your sound device manufacturer's documentation or run the Sound Device Troubleshooter to see if the device is functioning properly.
To run the Sound Device Troubleshooter
1. | In Control Panel, open Sounds and Audio Devices. |
2. | On the Hardware tab, double-click your sound device in the list of hardware devices and then view its properties, or click the Troubleshoot button to help you pinpoint any problems the device might be having. |
Note that in some cases, this error can be caused by improperly configured speaker or sound device properties. If you determine that your sound device is functioning correctly, try changing basic properties for your speakers and sound devices by doing the following:
To change basic speaker and sound device properties
1. | In the Player, on the Tools menu, click Options. | ||||
2. | On the Devices tab, in the list of devices, click Speakers, and then click the Properties button. | ||||
3. | On the Speakers tab, try changing the following properties:
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If adjusting the basic properties doesn't solve your problem, then try configuring the advanced speaker and sound device properties by doing the following:
To change advanced speaker and sound device properties
1. | In Control Panel, open Sounds and Audio Devices. | ||||||||||
2. | Try changing the following Sounds and Audio Devices properties:
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Why does the Seek bar adjust the volume?
This can happen if your sound card is a Creative Soundblaster Audigy card for which the drivers have not been updated. You can update drivers by looking for hardware updates on the Microsoft Update. To ensure you get the very latest drivers, we recommend that you download them directly from the Creative Web site.
How do I crossfade between songs?
When crossfading is turned on, the end of one song gradually overlaps the beginning of the next song. This results in a smooth transition between songs.
To crossfade between songs
1. | In Windows Media Player, click the View menu, and make sure that Full Mode is selected. |
2. | On the View menu, point to Enhancements, and then click Crossfading and Auto Volume Leveling. |
3. | In the Enhancements pane (near the bottom of the Player), click the Turn on Crossfading link. If the link text says Turn off Crossfading, then that means crossfading is already turned on. |
4. | Move the slider to set the length of the overlap. |
NoteIt is not possible to crossfade songs if you are playing a CD that was burned by using Windows Media Player. For more information about crossfading issues in Windows Media Player, see Why can't I crossfade my music?
How can I queue up songs?
While you are playing a playlist in the Player, you can temporarily add a song to the playlist by doing the following:
To queue up songs
1. | In Windows Media Player, click Library. |
2. | Right-click the song you want to queue up, and then click Add to Now Playing List. |
How can I get the Player to automatically play a CD when I insert it into my CD drive?
Configure the AutoPlay settings in Windows to play CDs automatically in Windows Media Player by doing the following:
To configure AutoPlay for your CD drive
1. | Click Start, and then click My Computer. |
2. | Under Devices with Removable Storage, right-click the CD drive, and then click Properties. |
3. | On the AutoPlay tab, select Music files in the dropdown list box. |
4. | In the Actions area, click Select an action to perform, click Play using Windows Media Player, and then click OK. |
If you don't find the answer to your question in this column, be sure to check the Archive. Media Advice is not an official Microsoft Support channel. If you need immediate help for an urgent problem, we recommend that you visit Microsoft Help and Support.