Fix: WMP Album Art Not Showing In Now Playing View

by Sebastian Müller 53 views

Hey guys! Ever had that super annoying issue where your Windows Media Player stubbornly refuses to display album art in the "Now Playing" view, even though it shows up perfectly fine everywhere else? You've meticulously edited the metadata, embedded the artwork using Mp3tag (or a similar tool), and it looks great on your phone, but WMP just won't cooperate. Frustrating, right? You're not alone! This is a pretty common problem, and thankfully, there are several solutions you can try. Let's dive into the troubleshooting steps and get your music looking as good as it sounds.

Understanding the Album Art Puzzle

Before we jump into the fixes, it's helpful to understand why this issue occurs in the first place. Windows Media Player, while a classic, can be a bit finicky when it comes to album art. Several factors can contribute to this problem, including:

  • Caching Issues: WMP uses a cache to store album art, and sometimes this cache can get corrupted or outdated, leading to display problems.
  • File Format Incompatibilities: While WMP generally supports common image formats like JPG and PNG, it might struggle with certain variations or embedded art that doesn't adhere strictly to standards.
  • Metadata Conflicts: Conflicting or incomplete metadata can confuse WMP and prevent it from displaying the correct album art.
  • Software Glitches: Occasionally, a bug or glitch within WMP itself can be the culprit.

Knowing these potential causes will help you better understand the solutions we're about to explore.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Album Art Issues

Alright, let's get down to business and tackle this album art problem head-on. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

1. Verify the Embedded Album Art

First things first, let's double-check that the album art is actually embedded correctly within your music files. Even though it shows up on your phone, it's worth verifying using a different program on your computer. This ensures that the issue isn't with the files themselves.

  • Using Mp3tag: Open Mp3tag, load the affected files, and inspect the tag panel. You should see the album art displayed prominently. If it's not there, or if it looks distorted, you'll need to re-embed it.
  • Alternative Tag Editors: There are other excellent tag editors available, such as MusicBrainz Picard or Kid3. Feel free to use whichever tool you're most comfortable with.

If the album art isn't embedded, simply add it using your tag editor of choice. Make sure to save the changes to the files. It's generally recommended to use JPG images for album art, as they're widely compatible. Aim for a resolution of at least 500x500 pixels for good quality, but avoid going too large (e.g., over 1000x1000 pixels) as this can increase file sizes unnecessarily.

If the album art is embedded correctly, move on to the next step.

2. Clear the Windows Media Player Cache

As mentioned earlier, a corrupted or outdated cache can often be the reason why album art isn't displaying correctly. Clearing the cache forces WMP to rebuild it, which can resolve many display issues. Here's how to clear the WMP cache:

  • Close Windows Media Player: Make sure WMP is completely closed before proceeding.
  • Open the Run Dialog: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type the Command: Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows Media and press Enter. This will open the Windows Media folder in File Explorer.
  • Delete the Cache Files: Inside this folder, you'll find several files and folders related to WMP. Locate and delete the following:
    • AlbumArtSmall.sdf
    • AlbumArt_{######}.sdf (where ###### is a series of numbers)
    • Cache folder (you can delete the entire folder)

Note: You might need to show hidden files and folders in File Explorer to see these files. To do this, go to the "View" tab in File Explorer and check the "Hidden items" box.

  • Restart Windows Media Player: After deleting the cache files, restart WMP and see if the album art now displays correctly.

Clearing the cache is a safe and effective troubleshooting step, and it often resolves album art issues. If it doesn't, don't worry, we have more tricks up our sleeves!

3. Disable and Re-enable Media Streaming

Sometimes, issues with media streaming settings can interfere with album art display. Disabling and then re-enabling media streaming can help reset these settings and potentially fix the problem. Here's how:

  • Open the Control Panel: Search for "Control Panel" in the Start menu and open it.
  • Navigate to Network and Sharing Center: Click on "Network and Internet" and then "Network and Sharing Center."
  • Go to Media Streaming Options: In the left-hand pane, click on "Media streaming options."
  • Disable Media Streaming: Click the "Turn off media streaming" button.
  • Restart Your Computer: It's important to restart your computer after disabling media streaming.
  • Re-enable Media Streaming: After the restart, go back to the "Media streaming options" in the Control Panel and click the "Turn on media streaming" button.

Note: You may be prompted to give your media library a name. This is just a friendly name for your library and doesn't affect the functionality.

  • Restart Windows Media Player: Launch WMP and check if the album art is now showing correctly.

Disabling and re-enabling media streaming can often resolve underlying issues that might be preventing album art from displaying. If this doesn't work, let's move on to the next solution.

4. Tweak Folder Options

Windows has a setting that prevents it from displaying album art stored within folders. This setting might be enabled, causing WMP to not show the artwork. Here's how to tweak the folder options:

  • Open File Explorer: Open any folder on your computer.
  • Go to Folder Options: Click on the "View" tab in the File Explorer ribbon and then click on "Options" (or "Folder Options" depending on your Windows version).
  • Navigate to the View Tab: In the Folder Options window, click on the "View" tab.
  • Uncheck "Display file icon on thumbnails": Locate the option labeled "Display file icon on thumbnails" and make sure it's unchecked.
  • Check “Show preview handlers”: Ensure the option “Show preview handlers” is checked.
  • Apply the Changes: Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes.
  • Restart Your Computer: Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
  • Restart Windows Media Player: Open WMP and check for the album art.

By unchecking "Display file icon on thumbnails", you're allowing Windows to prioritize displaying the actual album art rather than a generic file icon. This simple tweak can often make a big difference.

5. Check for Windows Media Player Updates

An outdated version of Windows Media Player might have bugs or compatibility issues that prevent album art from displaying correctly. Make sure you're running the latest version of WMP. While Windows Media Player updates are typically delivered through Windows Updates, it's worth checking to be sure.

  • Check Windows Update: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click "Check for updates."

If there are any updates available for Windows Media Player (or Windows in general), install them and restart your computer. After the restart, open WMP and see if the album art issue is resolved. Keeping your software up-to-date is always a good practice, as it often includes bug fixes and performance improvements.

6. Run the Windows Media Player Troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically detect and fix problems with Windows Media Player. Running the troubleshooter is a quick and easy way to potentially resolve the album art issue.

  • Open the Troubleshooting Settings: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
  • Find the Windows Media Player Troubleshooter: Look for "Windows Media Player Settings" and "Windows Media Player Library" and click on them one by one, then click "Run the troubleshooter."
  • Follow the On-Screen Instructions: The troubleshooter will guide you through the process of detecting and fixing problems. Follow the on-screen instructions and allow the troubleshooter to apply any recommended fixes.

After the troubleshooter has finished, restart your computer and open WMP to see if the album art is now displaying correctly. The troubleshooter can often identify and resolve common issues without requiring manual intervention.

7. Rebuild the Windows Media Player Library

If the Windows Media Player library database has become corrupted, it can cause various issues, including album art not displaying correctly. Rebuilding the library forces WMP to rescan your music files and create a new database, which can often resolve these problems. Here's how to rebuild the WMP library:

  • Close Windows Media Player: Make sure WMP is completely closed.
  • Stop the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service:
    • Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
    • Type services.msc and press Enter. This will open the Services window.
    • Scroll down and find the "Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service."
    • Right-click on it and select "Stop."
  • Delete the WMP Library Database Files:
    • Open File Explorer and navigate to %localappdata%\Microsoft\Media Player
    • Delete all the files in this folder.
    • Next, navigate to %localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows Media
    • Delete all the files in this folder as well.
  • Restart the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service:
    • Go back to the Services window (if you closed it, open it again using services.msc).
    • Right-click on "Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service" and select "Start."
  • Restart Windows Media Player: Launch WMP. It will start rebuilding the library, which may take some time depending on the size of your music collection.

After the library rebuild is complete, check if the album art is now displaying correctly. Rebuilding the library is a more drastic step, but it can be effective in resolving persistent issues.

8. Consider Third-Party Media Players

If you've tried all the above steps and Windows Media Player still refuses to cooperate, it might be time to consider using a third-party media player. There are many excellent alternatives available, such as:

  • VLC Media Player: A free, open-source player known for its wide format support and reliability.
  • MusicBee: A feature-rich player with excellent library management capabilities and customizable interface.
  • foobar2000: A highly customizable and lightweight player favored by audiophiles.
  • AIMP: Another free player with a clean interface and good performance.

Switching to a different media player can be a simple solution if WMP is the root of the problem. These players often have better support for various file formats and metadata standards, which can prevent album art issues from occurring in the first place.

Conclusion: Getting Your Album Art to Shine

So, there you have it – a comprehensive guide to troubleshooting album art issues in Windows Media Player. We've covered a range of solutions, from simple cache clearing to more advanced library rebuilding. Hopefully, one of these steps has helped you get your album art displaying correctly in the "Now Playing" view.

Remember, persistent troubleshooting is key. Don't give up after trying just one or two solutions. Work your way through the list, and you'll likely find the fix that works for you. And if all else fails, exploring third-party media players can be a great alternative.

Now go forth and enjoy your music with the beautiful album art it deserves! Let me know in the comments if you have any other tips or tricks for fixing this issue. Happy listening!