Windows 11 Codec Pack

Windows 8 guide

Change file associations in Windows 8 and 8.1

Choose Windows Media Player or another compatible player as the default app for video and music files on Windows 8 or Windows 8.1.

Windows 8 / 8.1DefaultsMedia playback

Before you start

Windows 8 keeps default app choices in PC Settings. Installing codecs can add playback support, but Windows may still use a different app until the video or music default is changed manually.

This page is kept as a legacy support guide for older systems. The steps are intended for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, not current Windows 11 Settings screens.

Step 1

Open PC Settings

From the tiled Start screen, open PC Settings.

Windows 8 PC Settings tile
Windows 8 PC Settings tile

Step 2

Open Search and apps

In PC Settings, choose Search and apps.

Windows 8 Search and apps settings
Windows 8 Search and apps settings

Step 3

Choose Defaults

Select Defaults from the Search and apps section.

Windows 8 Defaults settings
Windows 8 Defaults settings

Step 4

Change the video default

Under Choose default applications, select the current app shown for Video.

Windows 8 choose default video app
Windows 8 choose default video app

Step 5

Select Windows Media Player

Choose Windows Media Player to make it the default app for supported video files.

Windows 8 choose Windows Media Player
Windows 8 choose Windows Media Player

Audio defaults

To change music playback instead, choose Music rather than Video in the Defaults screen, then select Windows Media Player or your preferred audio player.