Windows Media Player 12 - Enable Taskbar Toolbar

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    Windows Media Player 12 - Enable Taskbar Toolbar

    Windows Media Player 12 - Enable Taskbar Toolbar

    How to Add Windows Media Player Taskbar Toolbar in Windows 7 and Windows 8
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Add Windows Media Player Taskbar Toolbar in Windows 7 and Windows 8

       Information
    This tutorial will show you how to add back the old taskbar toolbar from Windows Media Player 11 (WMP 11) to use with Windows Media Player 12 (WMP 12) in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

    This will not work in Windows 8.1.

    You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

       Note
    The N and KN editions of Windows 7 and Windows 8 have all the features that normally come with each individual Windows edition, except for Windows Media Player 12 and related programs, such as Windows Media Center or Windows DVD Maker.

    The N editions of Windows allow you to choose your own media player and software required to manage and play CDs, DVDs, and other digital media files. If you choose to use Windows Media Player 12, downloading it, along with related software, is free.

    (Windows 7 N/KN)
    Download Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N with Service Pack 1 and Windows 7 KN with Service Pack 1 (KB968211) from Official Microsoft Download Center

    (Windows 8 N/KN)
    Download Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 8 from Official Microsoft Download Center





    Here's How:
    1. Click on the Download button below to download the same 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) version of the zipped wmpband.dll file as your 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) version of Windows that you have installed, and save it to your desktop.
    32-bit (x86) wmpband.dll

    Download



    64-bit (x64) wmpband.dll

    Download

    2. Open the downloaded ZIP, extract (drag and drop) the wmpband.dll file to the desktop, and unblock the wmpband.dll file.

    3. Copy the extracted and unblocked wmpband.dll file into the folder below. If prompted, click on Continue and Yes to approve the copy.
    C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player
    4. Open an elevated command prompt (run as administrator).



    5. In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the commands below one at a time and press Enter after each one. (see screenshot below)
    • net stop WMPNetworkSvc
    • regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmpband.dll"
    • net start WMPNetworkSvc
    Windows Media Player 12 - Enable Taskbar Toolbar-cmd-1.jpg
    6. When finished, click/tap on OK, and close the elevated command prompt. (see screenshot below and above)
    Windows Media Player 12 - Enable Taskbar Toolbar-cmd-2.jpg
    7. Open Windows Media Player 12 (wmplayer.exe) and minimize it. (see screenshot below)
    Windows Media Player 12 - Enable Taskbar Toolbar-wmp12.jpg
    8. Right click on the taskbar, select Toolbars, and click/tap on Windows Media Player to check it. (see screenshot below)
    Windows Media Player 12 - Enable Taskbar Toolbar-taskbar.jpg
    9. If you like, you could unlock the taskbar, drag the Windows Media Player toolbar to where you like on the taskbar, and lock the taskbar.
       Tip
    If the Windows Media Player toolbar disappears on you, say on reboot, then right click on the taskbar, select Toolbars, and click on Windows Media Player to uncheck it. Next repeat steps 7 and 8 to have it back.




    That's it,
    Shawn











  1. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #1

    Tutorial has been updated and refreshed. :)
      My Computer


  2. NoN
    Posts : 4,166
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 - x64 [Non-UEFI Boot]
       #2

    Might be that fresh wmpband.dll that had makes it work again on mine! Thanks Shawn!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows Media Player 12 - Enable Taskbar Toolbar-capture.png  
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3,302
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1
       #3

    Ive been using this for a while now but could never get the visualizations to show in the mini window
    Any tips Shawn

    Danny

    Its also disappearing on re-boot and I have to uncheck it from the toolbars re-open media player and check it again.
    Last edited by xxxdannyxxx; 02 Sep 2011 at 10:14.
      My Computer


  4. NoN
    Posts : 4,166
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 - x64 [Non-UEFI Boot]
       #4

    I do have only Artists names & Titles displayed when i hover the WMP taskband.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    xxxdannyxxx said:
    Ive been using this for a while now but could never get the visualizations to show in the mini window
    Any tips Shawn

    Danny

    Its also disappearing on re-boot and I have to uncheck it from the toolbars re-open media player and check it again.

    Hello Danny,

    Yeah, it's not a perfect WMP 12 toolbar workaround unfortunately. There doesn't seem to be anyway to avoid this on reboot.

    The "Show Video and Visualization" window option does not work for it. It will only be solid black instead.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3,302
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1
       #6

    Brink said:
    xxxdannyxxx said:
    Ive been using this for a while now but could never get the visualizations to show in the mini window
    Any tips Shawn

    Danny

    Its also disappearing on re-boot and I have to uncheck it from the toolbars re-open media player and check it again.

    Hello Danny,

    Yeah, it's not a perfect WMP 12 toolbar workaround unfortunately. There doesn't seem to be anyway to avoid this on reboot.

    The "Show Video and Visualization" window option does not work for it. It will only be solid black instead.
    Hi Shawn

    Don't know if theres anything in this but -
    I put the .dll into program files(x86) instead because if I right click any media player shorcut and open file location that's where it opens. (Not sure if this is right but I remember reading somewhere x64 media player is off by default and had to be turned on)Anyway I checked in services and the WMPNetworkSvc is set to manual and wasn't running so I missed that part out and just registered the .dll in the program files (x86).Then set the WMPNetworkSvc to automatic delayed start.
    Now it stays on the taskbar even after re-boot.Or has done up to now 4 restarts later.
    Still no visualisation but its getting better

    Danny

    EDIT - No its gone again. Great while it lasted
    Last edited by xxxdannyxxx; 02 Sep 2011 at 12:48.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 4,566
    Windows 10 Pro
       #7

    OH MY GOSH! THANK YOU BRINK!!!!

    I have been looking for this forever. Thank you!!!!

    EDIT: Hey brink, You might want to add (that for me anyway) 64 bit systems need both downloads and need them in both windows media player folder for this to work. Both x86 programs files and the regular program files. You then must register both dll's in the respective places.

    I had a weird issue with it being there on the toolbar, but it was opening 2 windows media players and wasn't working correctly.

    As soon as I downloaded both dlls for (32bit and 64bit) and added them both to their respective folders, and registered both dlls; everything worked correctly. It stays on the toolbar after a restart as well. This might have been the issue.
    Last edited by andrew129260; 30 Sep 2013 at 23:11.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hello Andrew,

    I tested this again in 64-bit Windows 7, and it made no difference for me to use and have both .dll files registered. After I logged out or restarted, the WMP toolbar was gone. I had to repeat steps 7 and 8 to get it to return.

    Not sure about the 2 WMPs opening. I have not had that happen.

    Good news is that this works in Windows 8/8.1 as well.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2
    Win 7 Home Premium x64 SP1
       #9

    I tried this for Win 7 x64 Home Premium SP1 and nothing happened. Furthermore I get this error message when I attempt to call Microsoft's server for album information:
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows Media Player 12 - Enable Taskbar Toolbar-ashampoo_snap_2014.12.30_01h27m33s_001_.jpg  
      My Computer


 
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