# How can I make Windows Media Player my default player?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-windows-media-player-my-default-player/163633
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 23, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-windows-media-player-my-default-player/163633 "2003-03-23T22:31:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-windows-media-player-my-default-player/163633/1 "2003-03-23T22:31:05Z")
I’ve been trying to figure it out on my own and it’s starting to drive me nuts. I have Windows XP if that helps. Thanks in advance.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-windows-media-player-my-default-player/163633/2 "2003-03-23T22:44:02Z")
Tools \> Options \> File Types tab. Select the file types you want WMP to be the default player for.
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### Author:  [@High\_Priestess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/High_Priestess)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-windows-media-player-my-default-player/163633/3 "2003-03-23T22:50:33Z")
In a bit more detail…
Open up “My Computer” or Explorer.
Under “Tools” go to “Folder Options.” Go to it.
From there, click the “File Types” tab. Find whichever file type you want WMP to be the default for, select it, and then go to “Advanced.”
From there, click “Edit” and under “Application used,” replace whatever’s there with the command line for WMP, which should be
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe
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### Author:  [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-windows-media-player-my-default-player/163633/4 "2003-03-23T22:59:55Z")
Thanks. Now that I changed my settings I should be able to watch url=http://www.ropewarrior.com/html/trick801.html]this, but I’m not. Anyone know why?
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### Author:  [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-windows-media-player-my-default-player/163633/5 "2003-03-23T23:02:52Z")
let me try [that link](http://www.ropewarrior.com/html/trick801.html) again.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-windows-media-player-my-default-player/163633/6 "2003-03-23T23:33:43Z")
That’s because it’s a QuickTime movie, not a Windows Media video. Whoever did that site goofed up. You can download the Quicktime for Windows viewer [here](http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/) for free.
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### Author:  [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-windows-media-player-my-default-player/163633/7 "2003-03-23T23:42:24Z")
I already have QuickTime. Why didn’t my computer know just to use it? Do I have to make it my default player just to watch that stupid video?
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-windows-media-player-my-default-player/163633/8 "2003-03-24T00:04:27Z")
Got me there. I clicked on it and QT started automatically. FWIW, it’s nothing terribly interesting: about 3 seconds worth of a guy jumping rope with his arms crossed in front of him.
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### Author:  [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-windows-media-player-my-default-player/163633/9 "2003-03-24T02:00:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by x-ray vision \*
> \*\*I already have QuickTime. Why didn’t my computer know just to use it? Do I have to make it my default player just to watch that stupid video? \*\*
No. You just use it to play it. Every time I use something that is not my default, my computer tells me that this is not my default and do I want to make it my default.