How to unlink WMP library from Windows Libraries

After messing up with Windows Media Player 12 and the Windows Libraries I finally found the way to unlink Windows Libraries from Windows Media Player Library.

As you remember it has been commented to disable the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service but I realized that isn't enough to stop the issue since WMP kept reading through the Windows Libraries and indexing them on its own library inside the player.

At first I just put in read only mode the media player database file but that was giving me a few problems since sometimes I closed the player but it won't close, the wmplayer.exe process would remain in the task manager so I had to put it back without the read only attribute.

Anyhow, checking the security tab on the folders My Pictures, My Videos and My Music, I noticed that between the authorized users to access those folders was one called WMPNetworkSvc. Yes, the very familiar Windows Media Player Networking Sharing Service.

And it remained there even with the service disabled.

So the solution is simple. after disabling the Windows Media Player Networking Sharing Service, go to %USERPROFILE% (copy and paste it just like I put it here, it will take you straight to the user folder of the account you're logged in), and right click on the folders My Pictures, My Music and My Videos and on the security tab click on edit and then click on WMPNetworkSvc and then click on remove and apply the changes. After that run Windows Media Player and to test it delete from the library the files already indexed on Music, Pictures or Videos (only delete from library, you don't want to permanently delete your files of course), and you will see that Media Player won't try to add them again to the library.

I don't know if this solution got already posted but if not there you have it, no more Media Player hogging Windows Libraries and you can work with Media Player library at your own will ^^

Edit 16/04/2011: forgot to mention, disable the WMPNetworkSvc on the security tab on the public movies, music and pictures folder too.

Edit 03/07/2011: Found another part where the WMPNetworkSvc process gets permission to access and it is on this folder: C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player (where username you change it by your windows username). If you right click on the media player folder and then click on properties to go to the security tab, you will find that the WMPNetworkSvc appears listed there with permissions to access. You can remove it from there and apply the changes and after that no files will be added to the library anymore.

With this you use the library manually by adding the folders on your own by going to the media player library and right clicking on the music, pictures or videos and then on manage and there you add the folders you want to have on the library and the media player will search for media files on them.

It was the best solution I could find by experimenting myself with my Windows 7 Media Player 12, So use it at your own risk :)

Edit 04/07/2011: I did it! I had the solution in front of me all the time!

It is as easy as remove the folders from the libraries, but wait! you still can use the Windows 7 Libraries without having media player messing up.

Here is how:

Open the Windows explorer and on libraries remove the folders from the libraries that you don't want media player to keep updating.

From there simply right click the libraries icon and move down to new to create a new library. Put that library the name you want and to it add the folders you want it to hold.

Since it is a personalized library, Media Player won't have access to it. You even can rename say the default pictures to Media Player and it will be still linked to media player and the new library you created you simply name it pictures.

You even can hide the default libraries from showing on the navigation pane on windows explorer and only remain with your libraries you created.

That way you use Windows Libraries without Media player messing up

You even can use the following tutorial to customize your libraries icons:

Libraries Icons - Change

You get to use the Windows Libraries without Media Player hogging your CPU :)

This is awesome. I've been trying to find the SAME solution for the longest time.

Yeah, you, me and a lot of other people too

Who would said it was something as easy as removing WMPNetworkSvc from the authorized users in the folders' security tab?

As a suggestion, better keep the library empty, it is better to handle your media with the old .m3u playlist rather than use the full library feature on media player.

Also disable the options Add local media files to library when playing so no files will be added to your library when you play them.

This suggestion mostly for whoever still has a one core processor like myself, but hey, it may be a one core processor but it is a 3.2 Ghz one with Hyper Threading technology XD

But I rather keep my library clean and just use the player for what it is meant to be, to play media :)

WMP library only becomes a problem on my laptop when I attach external drives to my laptops. I have certain folders in the Library associated with specific external drives.

Sorry for the double post. I just added more info to my solution to my first post, so take a look at it, the new info is at the bottom of the post.

Edit: I did it! I had the solution in front of me all the time!

It is as easy as remove the folders from the libraries, but wait! you still can use the Windows 7 Libraries without having media player messing up.

Here is how:

Open the Windows explorer and on libraries remove the folders from the libraries that you don't want media player to keep updating.

From there simply right click the libraries icon and move down to new to create a new library. Put that library the name you want and to it add the folders you want it to hold.

Since it is a personalized library, Media Player won't have access to it. You even can rename say the default pictures to Media Player and it will be still linked to media player and the new library you created you simply name it pictures.

You even can hide the default libraries from showing on the navigation pane on windows explorer and only remain with your libraries you created.

That way you use Windows Libraries without Media player messing up

You even can use the following tutorial to customize your libraries icons:

Libraries Icons - Change

You get to use the Windows Libraries without Media Player hogging your CPU :)