Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system isn’t all flashy upgrades. Some of the changes Microsoft made with the update were issues to watch out for. Finally pulling Windows Media Center and hiding Windows Media Player were two things to do for Windows users everywhere. Unfortunately, doing so has left many people looking for ways to listen to music on Windows 10.
Over the years, Microsoft has made three media programs, each considering a different user group. Windows Media Player was the default media application of Windows for years. Over time, it has become the most feature-packed of all of Microsoft’s media solutions. Microsoft has chosen to create a custom piece of software for the Zune MP3 and video players. Windows Media Center preceded Zune. It focused on allowing users to create media center computers to connect to their own television sets. It is designed to be used with a remote control, not a mouse and keyboard.
To read: How to Watch Videos, YouTube and More on Windows 10
Today, Microsoft’s roster is pretty thin. Windows Media Player will no longer receive software updates of any kind. DVD playback capabilities were taken away. It is still installed on Windows 10; you just need to know exactly where to find it. Windows Media Center is gone, but there are things you can do to bring it back.
To read: 12 Microsoft Groove Music Tips and Tricks
Here are 5 great ways to listen to music in Windows 10, Microsoft’s latest OS upgrade.
How to Listen to Music on Windows 10: Groove Music
Groove Music is technically Microsoft’s fourth attempt at creating a music player that people love.
It replaced the much-hated Xbox Music when Microsoft released Windows 10 in 2015. The app supports all types of playback, including files you own. It also has its own dedicated music subscription service called Groove Music Pass. For $9.99 per month, users can download their own songs from Microsoft’s catalog to supplement. Groove supports AVI, WAV, MP3 and FLAC audio.
Any music stored in one’s OneDrive cloud storage can be streamed from the Groove Music app.
How to Listen to Music in Windows 10: Windows Media Player
Look closely and you can still find Windows Media Player, the most feature-packed audio player Microsoft has ever created. The company has hidden access to it. Then made Groove the default. It still needs to stick around for backward compatibility.
Windows Media Player can handle many different file types. This includes the world’s three most popular formats, AVI, WAV and MP3. Cloud services can automatically download song and album information. It’s also the only application from Microsoft that still supports burning true compact discs.
Look for Windows Media Player in the list of installed applications and programs in the Windows Accessories folder.
How to Listen to Music on Windows 10: iTunes
The companion to the world’s most profitable smartphone empire and once the world’s most popular music player, iTunes is still a juggernaut in the music industry. Probably the most fully featured music player ever. It certainly has access to the world’s largest MP3 store and possibly the world’s most popular internet-only radio station. This station is Beats 1. Apple Music has the second largest paying subscriber group of any music subscription service.
iTunes supports every major media type, including MP3. You can turn on the crossover and have your pieces blend together for a smooth transition. You need iTunes to sync media to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, but you don’t need any of them to get hold of iTunes. Apple offers this download online free.
How to Listen to Music on Windows 10: Kodi
Kodi is a different type of media player than most people are used to. It is not a replacement for Groove Music or Windows Music Player. It has replaced Windows Media Center.
Kodi is television friendly and designed so users can see it from across the room without squinting. Like more traditional media players, it can download album metadata online.
This app is available for free in the Windows Store.
[ Download Kodi from the Windows Store for Free ]
How to Listen to Music on Windows 10: VideoLan (VLC)
VideoLan, VLC for short, is one of the popular media players of all time. Versions are available in every app store and on every device worth your money.
The Windows Store version of VLC supports video and audio in a single interface. It also includes support for Flac audio files. A built-in equalizer ensures users get the sound just the way they want it. If you want, notifications pop up at the beginning of each song it plays.
VLC is also available for free in the Windows Store.
[ Download VLC from the Windows Store for Free ]
Good luck finding an app or program to listen to music on your Windows 10 PC.
