media player issues

Nigel Thomson 0 Reputation points
2026-09-12T17:05:08.7933333+00:00

when I download a cd the recording is marked as unknown - why won't media player transfer cd information, such as artist name, recording title, track title etc?

Windows for home | Other | Music, photos, and video
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  1. Paulo GM 72,225 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-12T18:10:09.15+00:00

    Hi,

    This happens because the app no longer supports automatic album information lookup for CDs. Microsoft ended its license with their metadata service provider last December, and with that service discontinued, the app can no longer retrieve the album information online. As a result, the album and track details may now appear as Unknown.

    That said, you can try an alternative like this one, which based on other users who suggested it, has a feature that can automatically retrieve album and track information.

    Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft site. The information seems reliable, but be careful with ads. Research any product before downloading.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-12T17:05:20.22+00:00

    Windows Media Player gets CD metadata such as artist, album, and track names from an online service. When that lookup does not work, ripped CDs can appear as Unknown Album, Unknown Artist, or untitled tracks.

    Check these settings first in Windows Media Player:

    1. Open Windows Media Player.
    2. Go to Tools > Options > Privacy.
    3. Make sure Retrieve media details from the Internet is enabled.
    4. Confirm the PC has an active internet connection.

    If that setting is already enabled and the CD still shows as unknown, the practical cause is that Windows Media Player may no longer be able to retrieve CD track titles automatically on newer Windows versions because the online metadata lookup it relied on has been retired. In that case, there is no supported fix in Windows Media Player to restore automatic CD information lookup, and the metadata must be entered manually or handled with another ripping tool.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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