Windows 11’s modern Media Player is somehow worse than the version of 17 years ago
Microsoft has released a new Insider preview update for Windows 11 Media Player. However, the app is facing criticism after it was revealed that it uses more memory and opens local video files slower than the 17-year-old Windows Media Player.
The update adds some useful fixes, including better captions, clearer codec errors, and improved file visualization. But the biggest complaints are always high RAM usage and paid codec support for some common video formats. The update is not available to everyone yet. Media Player version 11.2605.14.0 only arrived in Experimental Insider builds as part of Microsoft’s June 12 Insider preview release.
What’s new in Media Player?
The update brings several small but effective changes. The caption style now follows the Windows system caption settings, so users can adjust the font size, color, and background from the operating system. Media Player also displays an index banner when scanning for a new media library, which should make it clearer why some songs or videos aren’t showing yet.
Microsoft has also improved file recognition to reduce playback errors, added clearer codec messages, blocked unnamed playlists, fixed glitches related to line-editing playback, and fixed some visual issues. This is a useful fix, especially for an app that ships as the default media player in Windows 11.
Why are users unhappy?
The problem is that these amendments do not address serious complaints. According to Windows Latest, modern Media Player used about 377MB of RAM while idle, compared to 103.4MB for legacy Windows Media Player. The new app also took longer to open a local video file in the test.
For a modern piece of software, this is a bad look. Opening and playing local video should be one of the easiest things a media player does. If Microsoft’s new system is slower than the version that shipped with Windows 7 nearly 17 years ago, something has clearly gone wrong.
The codec situation is another frustration. HEVC, also known as H.265, is now common on phones, including iPhones and many Android devices. But Windows users may need Microsoft’s HEVC video extension app paid for in the Store to play those files in Media Player. The extension costs $0.99.
There is context here. HEVC is tied to patent licensing, and Microsoft must account for the benefits. However, the user experience is not good. Someone can shoot a video on a modern phone, transfer it to a Windows machine, and be asked to pay extra just to play it in a Microsoft media application. Fortunately, Windows users aren’t stuck with that setup. Free alternatives like VLC Media Player and MPV can play HEVC videos without needing Microsoft’s paid codec extension.
Windows 11 version 24H2 also removed built-in AC-3 support, which can affect Dolby Digital audio playback. For now, the update shows that Microsoft is improving Media Player, but the app needs to be faster, simpler, and less of paid codec add-ons to win over users.
