Media streaming not working or turned on in Windows 11/10

We have seen how to turn your Windows computer into a DLNA streaming server, but if Media streaming is not working for you, here are a few things you may want to take a look at.

Media streaming not working in Windows 11/10

When you go on to click the Turn on media streaming button, either nothing happens, or it gets grayed out. If you face this issue, do the following:

1. Clear Media Player cache
2. Allow the device to play media
3. Check Services
4. Check Search Indexing status
5. Check this Group Policy setting
6. Run Hardware Troubleshooter
7. Troubleshoot in Clean Boot State.

1] Clear Media Player cache

Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to the following location:

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

In this folder, delete all the files with file extension .wmdb. You may have to make Explorer show file extensions first. If you cannot delete those files, rename the Media Player folder itself to say, Media Player Old.

If you do not see the files with the .wmdb file extension in that location, see if you find them here, and delete the files or rename the folder as explained above:

%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player

Restart your computer. Once you run Media Player, these deleted files or the renamed folder will be automatically created.

2] Allow the device to play media

Open Windows Media Player and from the Stream drop-down menu, select Automatically allow devices to play my media.

In the next box which opens, select Automatically allow all computers and media devices. Now try and see.

3] Check Services

Run services.msc to open the Services Manager and ensure that the status of the following Services is as follows:

• Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service – Automatic (Delayed Start)
• Computer Browser – Manual (Trigger Start)
• UPNP Device Host – Manual
• Workstation – Automatic
• SSDP discovery Sevices – Manual

Having done this, right-click on all of these and select Start to start these Services. Now go back and try to turn on media streaming and see if it works.

4] Check Search Indexing status

If Windows Search Indexing is turned off, you might not be able to activate media streaming. So ensure that Search Indexing is enabled.

5] Check this Group Policy setting

Run gpedit.msc to open the Local Group Policy Editor and navigate to the following setting:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Media Player.

Here ensure that the Prevent Media Sharing setting is Not configured or Disabled.

6] Run Hardware Troubleshooter

Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter and see if it helps.

7] Troubleshoot in Clean Boot State

If nothing helps, you may need to perform a Clean Boot and then try to troubleshoot the problem manually.

Hope something helps!