How to Repair a Corrupt WMP Database: Recovering Music

Rebuild the database to recover your precious media library

by
Mark Harris
Writer
Mark Harris is a former writer for Lifewire who wrote about the digital music scene and streaming music services in an easy to understand, no-nonsense manner.
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Mark Harris
Updated on June 15, 2021

What to Know

  • To rebuild: Open Run and enter %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Player.
  • Then, select OK, and delete all files except folders.
  • Alternatively, open Run dialog, then, in the Open box, enter %localappdata%\Microsoft, select OK, delete Media Player folder.

If your Windows Media Player (WMP) no longer allows you to view, add, or delete items in the WMP library, there's a chance that its database has been corrupted. To fix this problem, rebuild the WMP database. This will solve the problem if your media library is corrupted. Instructions apply to Windows 10, 8, and 7.

How to Rebuild the Windows Media Player Database

The steps below will help you rebuild your WMP database for your login only. If several people use your computer, perform the following for each person or follow the instructions in the next section.

  1. Press Win+R to open the Run dialog box.

    The Run dialog box.

  2. Type or copy and paste this path into the text box: ​

    %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Player

    Entering in the filepath for WMP.

  3. Press ​Enter or select OK.

    Selecting OK to complete the entered command.

  4. Delete the files in this folder, excluding folders.

    Selecting files to delete with Delete highlighted.

  5. To rebuild the database, restart Windows Media Player. The relevant database files will be created again.

Alternative Way to Rebuild a WMP Database

If several family members have issues with WMP, follow the steps below to rebuild the Windows Media Player database for all profiles.

  1. Press Win+R to open the Run dialog box.

  2. Type or copy and paste this path into the text box: ​

    %localappdata%\Microsoft

    Entering in a filepath.

  3. Press ​Enter or select OK.

    Selecting OK to complete run command.

  4. Delete the Media Player folder.

    Deleting the Media Player folder.

  5. To rebuild the database, restart Windows Media Player. The relevant database files will be created again.

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