Windows 7: How to Downgrade Windows Media Player 12 to WMP 11 on Windows 7

Dear All
I found something interesting topic on google search.

how to change WMP 12 to WMP11

If you are one such user, unconformable with WMP 12 then here is the way to downgrade your Windows 7 WMP 12 to Window Media player 11. Thanks who has made Windows Media Player 11 installer for Windows 7.
How to Downgrade Windows Media Player 12 to Windows Media Player 11 on Windows 7

1. Download Windows Media Player 11 Installer for Windows 7

2. Now Type services.msc on windows 7 search bar

3. Stop Windows Media Player network Sharing Service.



4. Take Ownership of following files
All files in “Program Files\Windows Media Player\” folder
All files starting with “wmp” in System32 folder
wmploc.dll.mui in “Sytem32\en-us\” folder
5. Now Run Windows Media Player 11 Installer
6. Now type Regedit on Start Menu Search bar
7. Delete following Registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Setup\Installed Versions“
(Don’t forget to take Backup of Registry before modifying/editing/deleting any registry key)
8. Reboot your Windows 7
Screenshot of Windows Media Player 11 in Widows 7 (Media Player Gadget)


Please Note :I will not be responsible if you damage your Windows 7 with above information. Do it at your own risk. I have not created or nor host any files for download here. ( not tested by me ).


thank you .


(Note: If you found this stuff is useful or interesting dont forget to give me reputation)

This thing worked for me. Thanks Yogi! Was happy to get rid of the disgusting WMP12.

Only Microsoft can downgrade in the name of upgrade. WMP12 doesn't have many useful features of WMP11. Like increase in playback speed.

I really miss the mini player of WMP11
"Now playing" panel is such a bad idea, and have no sens at all for me.

Maybe will I switch back to WMP11 thanks to you

When I upgraded to 7077 I was severely annoyed WMP 12 decided to *automatically* record everything in my libraries. I don't even use WMP for video files, but need to keep it on hand for viewing DVD's and Windows streaming media files. Anyways, I had to resort to denying write access to CurrentDatabase_372.wmdb in the AppData folder to prevent it from cataloging my files (but not before I had spent an hour dorking around in the settings trying to find an option to manaually manage the library). By the time I had made the change, it had a 900 MB database file and 1.2 gigabytes of cover thumbnails (which I promptly deleted) -- talk about bloat!

Thanks yogi :P I could use this to help a friend. I personally love WMP12 though, and think its leagues better than WMP11.

Huh? Of what do you speak good sir, 12 has everything 11 had and more from my observations. Play speed settings can be easily accessed by right clicking the now playing screen or simply pressing the alt button and navigating the menus towards the enhancements. I use play speed settings all the time.

The miniplayer would be nice to have back, but with aeropeek I find I hardly miss it personally. Still, it would be nice as an option.

The purpose of the now playing panel is that its much lighter than having everything in one window like before. Thats why WMP12 opens much quicker for us folk on slower hardware.

I prefer WMP12 because it is much more minimalist and stuffies. It's just "nicer" to me.

Agreed - CTRL + SHIFT + G is play fast, N is for normal, and (I think) B is for slow, if you don't want to use the slider....

Again, agreed.

Thank you very much, man. WMP12 was good at first, because I didnt have that annoying store button but after some time i realized its ability to find music was horrible and didnt work over network.

hey i have done what u said. and i would like to say thank you. everything that you said worked perfectly.

now that being said. i need to know how to undo it. yes i know but why. well i have recently upgraded another computer on the network, and i would like to start streaming media.
(this option is taken out of the wmp 11 version for windows 7)

so if you can .please let me know how to undo the downgrade. if this is not possible then i will have to reformat.

Didin't work for me. I tried multiple ways of taking control of the files (which i've done before) and it just gave errors when trying to install. Now i don't have 11 or 12. I have no media player

what version of windows 7 are you running.

computer properties should tell you. if not go to

start menu>access ores>system tools>

click the system information button and it will tell you the exact OS that you have please post it.
I would very much like to figure out why its not working for you.