# What is the best FREE media player that plays .rm files?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-free-media-player-that-plays-rm-files/357635>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 21, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-free-media-player-that-plays-rm-files/357635 "2006-05-21T15:14:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-free-media-player-that-plays-rm-files/357635/1 "2006-05-21T15:14:48Z")

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The thread title says it all.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-free-media-player-that-plays-rm-files/357635/2 "2006-05-21T15:26:38Z")

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How about [Media Player Classic](http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Video-Players/Media-Player-Classic-for-Win2kXP.shtml)?

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**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-free-media-player-that-plays-rm-files/357635/3 "2006-05-21T16:39:17Z")

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Sadly, the only player I’m aware of that can handle .rm files is Real Media Player. For that reason, I’d suggest avoiding .rm files at all costs. (If it can’t be avoided, you’ll have to bite the bullet)

If someone has a better solution, feel free to correct me.

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**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-free-media-player-that-plays-rm-files/357635/4 "2006-05-21T17:11:39Z")

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What you need to do is to first install Media Player Classic, and then get [Real Alternative](http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm). This is a free codec that will allow you to play RealMedia files (.rm .ram .rmvb .rpx .smi .smil) in Media Player Classic. It works great, and you’ll never have to see that wretched RealPlayer again.

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**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-free-media-player-that-plays-rm-files/357635/5 "2006-05-21T18:32:22Z")

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Yeah, Media Player Classic and the appropriate codecs are the solutions to ALL of your computer video needs. I hate it when something tries to open Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, QuickTime, etc… so inferior.

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**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-free-media-player-that-plays-rm-files/357635/6 "2006-05-22T04:20:14Z")

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That did the trick. Thank you very much.