How to play FLAC file with Windows Media Player 12

Anonymous
2009-12-30T20:15:31+00:00

Is there any way to play Flac files with Windows Media Player 12?  A hefty percentage of my music library is FLAC. 

Thanks!

Lloyd

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

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Anonymous
2010-01-05T15:56:49+00:00

Hello L Goldfine,

Thank you for your inquiry.

The Flac extension is not a supported file type of Windows Media Player. You may however user your favorite search engine to search for a solution that may convert the file to a Windows Media Player supported file type.

For more information on Windows Media Player supported file types you may also view the following link: 

Information about the Multimedia file types that Windows Media Player supports

I hope this information is helpful.

Thank you,

Mary

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-06-09T13:30:50+00:00

    Is this REALLY the official Microsoft word. Flac works in WMP very easily. Why don't Microsoft either put Flac support into WMP by default as the codec is free and industry standard, or at least have proper instructions how to make it work for users. Why be obstructive... be helpfull.

    Given that a tiny proportion of 1% of music files is in this format, putting support for it in the box would be characterised by 99.9999% of Windows users as "bloat" (and BTW it's not supported by iTunes either). Generally the sort of people who want FLAC can follow the instructions for adding support.

    It should be noted (and I've pointed this out earlier on the thread) that an "open license" may have a lot of fine print, with huge consequences for companies who implement it directly. With patent sharks patrolling the CODEC waters there is even less incentive for Microsoft or Apple to support them directly.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-06-09T13:09:52+00:00

    Is this REALLY the official Microsoft word. Flac works in WMP very easily. Why don't Microsoft either put Flac support into WMP by default as the codec is free and industry standard, or at least have proper instructions how to make it work for users. Why be obstructive... be helpfull.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-06-03T07:45:28+00:00

    You're missing the fact that Microsoft doesn't make other players as part of Windows. Apple doesn't ship multiple media players with iOS ( and iTunes plays even less formats than WMP). Nokia doesn't ship multiple players as part of Symbian, etc.

    You have complete freedom to install one of these other players, just as you would any other program.

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-06-03T06:29:29+00:00

    Can Someone please tell, Why is WMP12 the only choice of player. There are many free format options available too. and are certainly more effective and efficient than these cracks and created backdoors, simply because these applications are developed to be distriuted free and play all these files.

    Please correct me if I am missing something.

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