Windows 11 Windows 10 Windows 8.1 N Windows 8 N More…Less
Introduction
This support page provides a central location with information about the Media Feature Pack for Windows N releases. Use this page to find the correct link for your Windows release version to Microsoft Knowledge Base articles about Media Feature Pack.
N editions of Windows include the same functionality as other editions of Windows, except for media-related technologies, Windows Media Player, and certain preinstalled media apps (Groove, Movies & TV, Voice Recorder, and Skype). The Media Feature Pack provides a way for a customer to restore these excluded technologies.
Some features require reinstalling hardware drivers after the Media Feature Pack is installed. For guidance to do this, see the following Knowledge Base article:
Update drivers in Windows
Media Feature Packs by Windows version
The following is a list of the articles detailing Media Feature Packs for each version of Windows N editions from Windows 8 N forward.
Notes:
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Some Media Feature Packs for early versions of Windows 10 are available for download at Media Feature Pack for N versions of Windows 10.
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For Windows 10, version 1909 and later, the Media Feature Pack is only available for download as an Optional Feature. Here’s how to install the Media Feature Pack on Windows 10 N and Windows 11 N:
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Windows 10 N: Select the Start button, then select Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Optional features > Add a feature. Then locate the Media Feature Pack in the list of available optional features.
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Windows 11 N: Select the Start button, then select Settings > Apps > Optional features. Select View features next to Add an optional feature, and then select the Media Feature Pack in the list of available optional features.
Windows 8: Description of the Windows Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of all Windows 8 editions
Windows 8.1: Media Feature Pack for Windows 8.1 N and Windows 8.1 KN Editions: April 2014
Windows 10, version 1508: Media feature pack for Windows 10 N and Windows 10 KN editions
Windows 10, version 1511: Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N and Windows 10 KN editions (November 2015)
Windows 10, version 1607: Media Feature Pack for N editions of Windows 10 Version 1607
Windows 10, version 1703: Media Feature Pack for N edition of Windows 10 Version 1703 (April 2017)
Windows 10, version 1709: Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N (October 2017)
Windows 10, version 1803: Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N (April 2018)
Windows 10, version 1809: Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N (October 2018)
Windows 10, version 1903: Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N (May 2019)
Windows 10, version 1909: Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N (November 2019)
Windows 10, version 2004: Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N (May 2020)
Windows 10, version 20H2: Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N (October 2020)
Windows 10, version 21H1: Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N (May 2021)
Windows 11 / Windows 10 21H2: Media Feature Pack for Windows N
Windows 11 / Windows 10 22H2: Media Feature Pack for Windows 10/11 N (September 2022)
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The Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, N/KN editions do not include Windows Media Player and other Windows Media-related technologies, such as Windows Media Center, Windows DVD Maker, etc. You have to download and install it separately. This Media Feature Pack will install Windows Media Player and various other Media-related software and applications on your Windows systems. The Windows N and KN editions do not include Windows Media Player and other Windows Media-related technologies, such as Windows Media Center, Windows DVD Maker, etc.
Both N & KN versions possess similar functionalities as the usual Windows, except that all media-related software like the Windows Media Player and certain applications like Music, Sound Recorder, Video, Skype, etc. come pre-installed with Windows. But there is no need to worry because the users of N & KN versions can download the Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 8.1, which will enable all the technologies which are originally excluded. Following are some of the apps/technologies/features which have been left out:
- All Windows Media Player features like playing media files, audio CDs, creating a playlist album art, creating an audio CD, etc. It also excludes Windows Media Player Active X control
- The Windows Media Format which supports the Windows Media video and audio codecs, the ability to manage Windows Media digital rights, which ensure the safe transfer of protected content for playback.
- Any kind of Media sharing through a Computer Network, including Music, pictures, and video sharing.
- Media Foundation, which is responsible for content protection, video, and audio quality and managing digital rights (DRM).
- The Infrastructure for Windows Portable Devices, through which media and storage devices communicate with each other, inclusive of those which support the Media Transfer Protocol.
- Audio codecs which enable playing audio formats like WMA, MP3, AAC Audio, MPEG-2, and AC-3 audio.
- The standards-based codecs such as MPEG-4, VC-1 and H. 264 codecs which support in playback and creation of multimedia files
- The Music and Video app which enables playback of digital music and video.
- An app to record sounds called the Sound Recorder
- An app to message and communicate online called Skype.
Read: How to install Media Feature Pack for Windows 11 N and KN
Therefore to carry out any of the functions like playing or creating audio CDs, media files, and video DVDs, organizing content in a media library, creating playlists, converting audio CDs to media files, viewing artist and title information about media files, viewing album art about music files, transferring music to personal music players, recording and playback of TV broadcasts, etc, you will need to install separate media player.
Additionally, to enable many Web sites and software programs to work correctly, you can install the Windows Media Feature Pack for Windows N and for Windows KN.
The Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows will install Media Player and related technologies on a computer running Windows N or Windows KN editions.
- Download Media Feature Pack for N versions of Windows 10 here.
- Download the Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 8.1 here.
- Download the Media Feature Pack for Windows 8 N and KN here.
- Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N and KN from Microsoft.
This post will help you you you can’t install Windows Media Feature Pack.
Anand Khanse is the Admin of TheWindowsClub.com, a 10-year Microsoft MVP (2006-16) & a Windows Insider MVP (2016-2022). Please read the entire post & the comments first, create a System Restore Point before making any changes to your system & be careful about any 3rd-party offers while installing freeware.
Download PC Repair Tool to quickly find & fix Windows errors automatically
The Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, N/KN editions do not include Windows Media Player and other Windows Media-related technologies, such as Windows Media Center, Windows DVD Maker, etc. You have to download and install it separately. This Media Feature Pack will install Windows Media Player and various other Media-related software and applications on your Windows systems. The Windows N and KN editions do not include Windows Media Player and other Windows Media-related technologies, such as Windows Media Center, Windows DVD Maker, etc.
Both N & KN versions possess similar functionalities as the usual Windows, except that all media-related software like the Windows Media Player and certain applications like Music, Sound Recorder, Video, Skype, etc. come pre-installed with Windows. But there is no need to worry because the users of N & KN versions can download the Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 8.1, which will enable all the technologies which are originally excluded. Following are some of the apps/technologies/features which have been left out:
- All Windows Media Player features like playing media files, audio CDs, creating a playlist album art, creating an audio CD, etc. It also excludes Windows Media Player Active X control
- The Windows Media Format which supports the Windows Media video and audio codecs, the ability to manage Windows Media digital rights, which ensure the safe transfer of protected content for playback.
- Any kind of Media sharing through a Computer Network, including Music, pictures, and video sharing.
- Media Foundation, which is responsible for content protection, video, and audio quality and managing digital rights (DRM).
- The Infrastructure for Windows Portable Devices, through which media and storage devices communicate with each other, inclusive of those which support the Media Transfer Protocol.
- Audio codecs which enable playing audio formats like WMA, MP3, AAC Audio, MPEG-2, and AC-3 audio.
- The standards-based codecs such as MPEG-4, VC-1 and H. 264 codecs which support in playback and creation of multimedia files
- The Music and Video app which enables playback of digital music and video.
- An app to record sounds called the Sound Recorder
- An app to message and communicate online called Skype.
Read: How to install Media Feature Pack for Windows 11 N and KN
Therefore to carry out any of the functions like playing or creating audio CDs, media files, and video DVDs, organizing content in a media library, creating playlists, converting audio CDs to media files, viewing artist and title information about media files, viewing album art about music files, transferring music to personal music players, recording and playback of TV broadcasts, etc, you will need to install separate media player.
Additionally, to enable many Web sites and software programs to work correctly, you can install the Windows Media Feature Pack for Windows N and for Windows KN.
The Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows will install Media Player and related technologies on a computer running Windows N or Windows KN editions.
- Download Media Feature Pack for N versions of Windows 10 here.
- Download the Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 8.1 here.
- Download the Media Feature Pack for Windows 8 N and KN here.
- Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N and KN from Microsoft.
This post will help you you you can’t install Windows Media Feature Pack.
Anand Khanse is the Admin of TheWindowsClub.com, a 10-year Microsoft MVP (2006-16) & a Windows Insider MVP (2016-2022). Please read the entire post & the comments first, create a System Restore Point before making any changes to your system & be careful about any 3rd-party offers while installing freeware.
В этой инструкции подробно о том, как скачать и установить Media Feature Pack для Windows 10, 8.1 и Windows 7 x64 и x86, а также о том, что делать, если Media Feature Pack не устанавливается.
Для чего это нужно? — Некоторые игры (например, GTA 5) или программы (iCloud и другие) при установке или запуске могут сообщить о необходимости установить Media Feature Pack и без наличия этих компонентов в Windows не будут работать.
Как скачать установщик Media Feature Pack и почему он не устанавливается
Большинство пользователей, столкнувшись с ошибками и необходимостью установки мультимедийных компонентов Media Feature Pack быстро находят необходимые установщики на стороннем сайте или на официальном сайте Майкрософт. Скачать Media Feature Pack можно здесь (не загружайте, пока не прочитаете дальше):
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/mediafeaturepack — Media Feature Pack для Windows 10
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40744 — для Windows 8.1
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=16546 — для Windows 7
Однако, в большинстве случаев Media Feature Pack не устанавливается на компьютер, а при установке вы получите сообщение о том, что «Обновление неприменимо к вашему компьютеру» или ошибку Автономного установщика обновлений «Установщик обнаружил ошибку 0x80096002» (возможны и другие коды ошибки, например 0x80004005).
Дело в том, что эти установщики предназначены только для редакций Windows N и KN (а у нас мало у кого есть такая система). На обычных же Домашней, Профессиональной или Корпоративной версии Windows 10, 8.1 и Windows 7 Media Feature Pack встроен, просто отключен. И его можно включить без загрузки каких-либо дополнительных файлов.
Как включить Media Feature Pack в Windows 10, 8.1 и Windows 7
Если какая-то программа или игра требует установить Media Feature Pack в обычной редакции Windows, это почти всегда означает, что у вас отключены Мультимедиа компоненты и (или) Проигрыватель Windows Media.
Чтобы включить их, проделайте следующие простые шаги:
- Откройте панель управления (во всех версиях Windows это можно сделать через поиск, или нажав клавиши Win+R, введя control и нажав Enter).
- Откройте пункт «Программы и компоненты».
- Слева выберите пункт «Включение или отключение компонентов Windows».
- Включите «Компоненты для работы с мультимедиа» и «Проигрыватель Windows Media».
- Нажмите кнопку «Ок» и дождитесь завершения установки компонентов.
После этого Media Feature Pack будет установлен на вашем компьютере или ноутбуке и GTA 5, iCloud, другая игра или программа больше его не потребуют.
Redmondians delivered media-related technologies (Windows Media Player) and definite preinstalled applications, for example, Skype, Groove Music, Voice Recorder, and Movies & TV, for Windows 10 v2009 N October 2020 update. You might know that additional software from Microsoft is essential to have this communication functionality.
The aforementioned software will allow you to create or play the audio CDs, and video DVDs, media files in order to broadcast music, or?to capture and accumulate pictures.
The pack is downloadable via Optional Feature settings in the following method –
- Press the – Windows + I.
- Select the – Apps.
- Click the – Apps & features.
- Choose the link saying – Optional Features.
- Next, click the – Add a feature.
- Locate the Media Feature Pack in the list and click on check box.
- Finally, select the – Install.
Once the process of Media Feature Pack installation gets over, you may find various apps to regain further Windows 10 functionality. Such apps include (but are not limited to):
Media codecs for playback of media in apps and in the browser:
- VP9 Video Extensions
- Web Media Extensions
- HEIF Image Extensions
- Skype
- Movies & TV
- Groove Music
- Xbox Game Bar
- Windows Voice Recorder
You must have to reboot your computer to accomplish the installation and these will be installed on ?the Windows 10 N powered device.
Media Feature Pack Windows 10 2009 [20H2] Excluded features
This Windows 10 2009 carries the same functionality as other Win10, except for Windows Media Player and associated technologies. Consumers can restore the features of these technologies by receiving the Pack for N versions of Windows 10. These technologies incorporate, but are not limited to, the underneath features –
- Windows Media Player user experience – This empowers all the features of the player.
- Windows Media Player ActiveX control – Reveals the techniques and properties to manage multimedia playback from a web page or an app.
- The “Windows Media Format” – Bestows support for the ASF file container, Media audio and video codecs, fundamental network streaming capability, and DRM.
- Windows Media DRM – Facilitates the secure delivery of protected content for playback on a machine, portable, or network device.
- Media sharing and Play To – This component empowers pictures, and videos, music on a networked system to be shared with other machines and devices to play on the same network. Furthermore, it enables computers to locate those kinds of files on the network.
- Media Foundation – Gives support for content protection, video and audio quality, plus interoperability for DRM.
- WPD infrastructure – Interacts with attached media and storage devices that comprise systems that support the Media Transfer Protocol.
- MPEG, WMA, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, AMR, and Dolby Digital audio codecs – allow the playback of digital audio content, for instance, WMA, ALAC audio, MPEG-2 audio, AAC audio, MP3, FLAC, and AC-3 audio.
- VC-1, MPEG-4, and H.264, H.265, and H.263 codecs – together recognized as?Standards-based codec components. These permit Windows Media Player to support activities that involve recording and playback of multimedia files that are encoded using standards-based codecs.
- Groove Music –An already installed app that is used to run digital music.
- Video – An already installed app that is used to run digital video.
- Voice Recorder – An already installed application that is used to record sound.
- Skype – An already installed app that is used for messaging and communications.
See – How to Install Windows 10 2009 October 2020 update.
Effects on other features
Some features aren’t eliminated straight from Windows 10 N edition, nevertheless, they are affected by the media technology exclusions. These will no longer work even with the installation of the Media Feature Pack as follows –
- Alarms and clock – Alarm and timer sounds don’t play.
- Application Sync – This feature doesn’t work.
- Cortana Personal Assistant – Cortana with Voice (speech interaction with Cortana) doesn’t work.
- New Microsoft Edge Browser – Particular video streaming websites may have inadequate functionality when accessed through the New Microsoft Edge.
- Group Policy for removable disks – This feature is not available in the N edition of Windows 10 Pro.
- HomeGroup – Incorporated media sharing via streaming features fails to work.
- OneDrive and Photos – These applications cannot play videos.
- PDF Viewing in Edge – This feature doesn’t work.
- Sound Recorder – Recordings are limited to WAV format.
- Webcam – This feature doesn’t work.
- Windows 10 camera devices – Cameras that use the picture transfer protocol (PTP) don’t work.
- The ‘Windows Hello’ – This feature doesn’t work.
- Windows Mixed Reality – Win10 N is doesn’t support with Windows Mixed Reality.
- The “Windows Portable Devices” – No compatibility for media sync, image acquisition, or file browsing is available.
- Windows Store Media Content – Video & audio content that was acquired via the MS Store cannot be run. Moreover, the preview of video or audio content in the Store fails to work.
- Wireless Display – This feature doesn’t work.
- Xbox – Some functionality that’s incorporated with this app,?for example, Game DVR,?doesn’t work.
Source – Microsoft help.
That’s all!!
Are you from Europe or Korea? By default, Windows 10 will come without Windows Media Player and other media capabilities in these regions. These capabilities include playing and recording video and audio, creating audio CDs and video DVDs and manage playlists and music libraries. This is due to the laws of Europe and Korea. They do not permit the multimedia application to be pre-installed so that the competitors have a fair chance of competing against Microsoft’s media center and player. We have already explained the difference between Windows Editions including N and KN editions.
But these users can always install Windows Media Player and other multimedia functions if they don’t want to use third-party multimedia applications. Microsoft provides Media Feature Pack for every version of Windows 10 including the latest 1803 version. Media Feature Pack is the safest option for multimedia management as it’s provided by Microsoft and it can be fully integrated into Windows.
Although there is no big difference between normal Windows 10 and Windows 10 N/KN editions there are a few features that get disabled because they require Windows Media components to be installed to function properly. Microsoft has left these components non-functional in N/KN editions. If you install Media Feature Pack, these non-functional features will also start working. Some of the features that require WMP components include the following:
- OneDrive and Photos app can’t play videos without the media player.
- HomeGroup does not have streaming features in the absence of Windows Media Center and Player.
- Sound Recorder is limited to recording in WAV format only.
- Cortana speech interaction doesn’t work.
- Wireless display feature also gets disabled.
- PDF viewing in Edge browser stops working.
All these features will be enabled once Windows Media components are installed.
If we go to the Media Feature Pack download page from Microsoft, it only lists the download links for supported Windows versions. If you have an older version of Windows 10, you can use the download links below to download the feature pack:
Media feature pack for Windows 10 Version 1508
Media feature pack for Windows 10 Version 1511
Media feature pack for Windows 10 Version 1607
Media feature pack for Windows 10 Version 1703
Media feature pack for Windows 10 Version 1709
Media feature pack for Windows 10 Version 1803
Media feature pack for Windows 10 Version 1809
Media feature pack for Windows 10 Version 1903
Media feature pack for Windows 10 Version 1909
If you want to download the media feature pack for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, you can visit this page.
Also see:
Usman Khurshid is a seasoned IT Pro with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry. He has experience in everything from IT support, helpdesk, sysadmin, network admin, and cloud computing. He is also certified in Microsoft Technologies (MCTS and MCSA) and also Cisco Certified Professional in Routing and Switching.