How to Pin Windows Media Player to Taskbar
This is an update to my original Windows Media Mini-Player on Windows 7, 8 , 8.1 32-bit and 64-bit script.
Getting back Windows Media Mini-Player on Windows (64-bit) 10 and Creators Update, with a one click installer. Confirmed working on Falls Creators Update.
Windows Media Player 12+ version was missing the one of the best features of older Windows Media Players (WMP) and that was the mini-player that appeared when you minimized it.
The WMP Mini-Player allows you to access the media player right from the Taskbar or system tray area.
Moreover, it displays the currently playing album, artist and provides next song pop-ups. This was a innovative feature, that oddly got removed? Well, this installer will get it back for you.
Features:
- Windows Media Player Mini-Player
- 1 click install and and proper uninstall - no registry files required
- Installer works for Windows 7, 8, 8.1,10, 10 Creators Update - 64 bit only
What does it install?
The WMPTaskbarInstaller64.inf file is old style (Win95) installer file that installs task-bar Windows Media Mini-Player dll (wmpband.dll) for your computer. The source of the wmpband.dll comes from Windows 7.
 |
| unadulterated file |
Install Instructions
Prerequisites:
You must set-up Windows Media Player first and played at least 1 audio file.
Your user account must be part Administrators group or you know Administrator password to install for this install to work.
- Download zip and unzip into a directory
Windows 7,8,8.1,10+ (64-bit) and unzip WMPTaskbarInstaller64.zip,
For (32-bit) version see original post.
To check what version 32-bit or 64-bit of Windows you are running, run this in Command line (CMD.exe) windows;
1
wmic os get osarchitecture
- Right-click on WMPTaskbarInstaller64.inf and click Install
- ClickYes to User Account Control pop-up.
- Run Windows Media Player and minimize it.
- Right-click on TaskBar, hover Toolbars and select Windows Media Player .
Make sure to Uncheck "Lock the taskbar".
You may not see it appear at first, since explorer process (that contains taskbar process) has to be refreshed. You may try to select another toolbar like
Links and activate it and deactivate it, repeat, repeat, repeat until Windows Media Payer shows up.If that does not work, you'll have to refresh the explorer process, see my post
here on doing that. - When you select Windows Media Player toolbar the mini-player appears then you have voila, you have it working! Have fun.
There are two versions of Windows Media Player installed in Windows 10, 32 and 64 bit. The default on my Win10, is 32-bit version player (see task manager image below).
Therefore,
this install mini-player dll (wmpband.dll) for both, same name but they are different file. The 32-bit (C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpband.dll - 97.0 KB) version and 64-bit (C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpband.dll - 267.0 KB) version .
- Potential install issues, if this install fails try this.
Before installing again, check if the "Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service" service is Stopped. Type services.msc and find "Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service", right-click and chhoose Stop.
- Update Mar 25 2018 - You have to reinstall this now with every named release of Windows, like Fall Creators Update, Spring Creators Update, etc
Uninstall
The great thing about this WMPTaskbarInstaller64.inf , is it creates a uninstall option.
Goto Programs and Features, and double-click "Windows Media Player Taskbar mini-Player..." to uninstall.
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How to Pin Windows Media Player to Taskbar
Source: http://metadataconsulting.blogspot.com/2017/06/1-Click-Install-for-Windows-Media-Taskbar-MiniPlayer-for-Windows-10-and-Creators-Update-64-bit.html
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