- Having the best media player for Windows 11 will help you enjoy multimedia properly.
- For maximum video quality, look for those apps that support 4K or even 8K playback.
- If you’re an advanced user, you might be interested in software that can be enhanced with various plug-ins.
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You probably consume all types of multimedia on your PC, and to experience it properly, you need suitable software.
Windows 11 has a built-in media player, and while it’s capable of basic needs, it lacks certain features that some users might need.
Since the default software is nothing extraordinary, it’s no wonder that many are going for third-party solutions.
If you’re one of those users, you’re in the right place, since today we’re going to show you the best media players for Windows 11.
What is the default media player in Windows 11?
The Movies & TV app serves as a default player in Windows 11. While the software lets you play video and audio files, it mostly works as an entertainment center.
You can use it to discover, buy, and watch all sorts of movies. And while it will surely come in handy, this isn’t the feature that too many users will enjoy.
While the application is perfectly capable of video playback, it does miss certain features that other players have, and it seems that the main focus of the app is content discovery and not playback.
Why can’t I play certain videos?
This is most likely because you don’t have the necessary components installed on your PC. To fix that, do not hesitate to learn how to install codecs.
In case you have everything properly installed, the file you’re trying to open may be damaged, so you should download it again or check if the source file is damaged before trying to play it.
What is the best media player for Windows 11?
If you want to enjoy multimedia, you should try CyberLink PowerDVD software. With it, you can experience 4K and 8K content in any format.
Support for Blu-ray, ISO, and Ultra HD is also present, and you can even play online content from both YouTube and Vimeo right from the app.
The software supports casting, allowing you to stream content wirelessly, and it’s fully compatible with Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Apple TV.
Speaking of which, you can also get this app for both Apple or Fire TV, and you can even share content across your network with ease.
You can also experience 360 videos as well as VR and immerse yourself with spatial audio support. Lastly, there’s compatibility with Dolby Digital Surround, DTS, and Hi-Res Audio.
Cyberlink Power DVD is an extensive multimedia player, and it’s a perfect solution if you want to stream content across your network and enjoy high-quality videos on your PC.
Cyberlink Power DVD
For the ultimate multimedia experience, with both 4K and 8K support, use Cyberlink Power DVD.
This app can play 20+ different video formats out of the box, and it also has great support for various audio types.
There’s an online library available as well, allowing you to easily download the subtitles for any movie or show that you’re watching.
The software is compatible with 360-degree videos, which isn’t an essential feature, but it’s more than welcome.
Regarding playback, you can play UHD and 4K videos out of the box, and if needed, you can customize your picture or audio settings easily.
The interface is also minimalistic, allowing you to experience multimedia without any distractions. Regarding the availability, you can get this software for Windows, Mac, and Android.
Overall, the GOM player is a solid multimedia player, and with a simple interface and online library of subtitles, it’s a great way to enjoy your favorite movies or shows.
GOM Player
Simple to use, and able to handle any video format, GOM Player is a perfect choice for all Windows 11 users.
If you’re looking for an extremely powerful, simple, and open-source media player, then VLC might be the right choice for you.
What separates this app from others is the number of supported formats, and with it, you can play almost any file type that you want.
It’s worth mentioning that there’s extensive support for input media and the software can handle DVD videos, DVB, as well as online video playing using HTTP or FTP.
There’s also support for fast hardware decoding, so you’ll enjoy high-quality videos without any stuttering or issues.
The user interface is simplistic, but it gets the job done, and if you don’t like it, there is plenty of skins available to choose from.
VLC offers amazing features, and it can be enhanced even further with plug-ins, so if you’re in a need of a media player, this might be the right pick for you.
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The first that you’ll notice when you start this application is its sleek and simple user interface, so you won’t feel overwhelmed with options.
Thanks to the built-in codecs, you should be able to play any file type without having to change your settings or install anything.
Speaking of video support, the software can handle 3D, 4K, 8K, and UHD content at 60fps without any issues. Hardware acceleration is also available, thus ensuring low CPU usage during playback.
With this app, you can also play Blu-ray and DVDs, and there’s also extensive support for different subtitle formats.
Lastly, we have to mention the option to download online content, as well as the GIF creation feature that might come in handy to some users.
Overall, KMPlayer 64X offers a simple user interface and support for various formats, so it might be worth checking out.
Another software that is worth mentioning is PotPlayer, and just like previous entries, it supports a wide array of formats, and it doesn’t require installing any additional codecs for playback, in most cases.
Speaking of which, there’s OpenCodec support, allowing you to install additional codecs, in case you stumble upon a video that you can’t play.
Support for subtitles is also there, and the app can handle almost any subtitle format. We have to mention that you can customize the font size, position, and even the synchronization settings right from the settings menu.
Hardware acceleration is also present, and it can utilize DXVA, CUDA, and QuickSync to deliver lag-free playback at all times.
Navigation is simple thanks to the snapshot support, allowing you to easily find the scene that you need. There’s also a useful bookmark feature that will surely come in handy.
PotPlayer is a solid media player, it doesn’t require any additional codecs, it’s simple to use, and it supports hardware acceleration, so you might want to consider it.
Is Windows Media Player still available in Windows 11?
Yes, you can still use Windows Media Player in Windows 11. To access it, just follow these steps:
- Click the Search icon in the Taskbar.
- Type media and select Windows Media Player from the list of results.
- The Windows Media Player window should now appear.
How to change my default media player?
- Click the Start button in the Taskbar.
- Now select Settings from the menu.
- In the left pane, select Apps. Now choose Default apps in the right pane.
- Select the app that you want to use as the default player.
- Now choose the desired file format.
- Pick the application that you want to use to open that file type and click OK.
- Repeat the steps from above for all file types that you want to open with your new media player.
For more information, we suggest learning how to change default apps in Windows 11.
Having the best media player is important, especially if want to experience high-quality videos without any issues.
All of our entries should be able to handle almost any file type, video or audio, so you won’t have to worry about compatibility.
What multimedia player do you use on your Windows 11 PC? Share your recommendations with us in the comments section below.
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