How To Fix the Server Execution Failed Error in Windows Media Player

The Windows Media Player allows you to stream media with ease. It comes pre-installed on all recent Windows systems, allowing immediate access to videos, movies, and audio files even on a fresh install. However, users have been running into an error that reads “Server execution failed” when trying to open files in Windows Media Player.

In this article, you can learn how to fix the “Server execution failed” error when viewing files in Windows Media Player. We’ll be using Windows 10 for the purposes of demonstrating the proper fixes.

Jump to Solutions

• Method 1. Start your computer in clean boot
• Method 2. Terminate the “wmplayer” process
• Method 3. Use the Windows store apps troubleshooter
• Method 4. Re-register DLL files with the Command Prompt
• Method 5. Temporarily disable your antivirus
• Method 6. Give your local user full access to the user folder
• Method 7. Add the Administrator group to the Local Service
• Method 8. Disable the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service
• Method 9. Reinstall Windows Media Player

Solved: “Server execution failed” in Windows Media Player

Method 1. Start your computer in clean boot

Starting your computer in a clean boot will ensure that no applications clash with each other and no third-party conflicts cause errors on your system. With non-Microsoft apps and services disabled, you can see if the Windows Media Player is able to function.

This is how you can perform a clean boot on your Windows 10 system:

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. This is going to bring up the Run utility.
2. Type in “msconfig” without the quotation marks and press the Enter key on your keyboard. This will launch the System Configuration window.
   
   
3. Switch over to the Services tab. Make sure that you check the “Hide all Microsoft services” box. This is going to ensure that you only see third-party services.
   
   
4. After hiding all system services, click the Disable all button to temporarily disable every third-party service on your device.
   
   
5. Click the Apply button and restart your computer. Now you'll be in a clean boot state with only official Microsoft services running.
6. See if you’re able to use Windows Media Player without issues. If so, one of your third-party services is interfering with the software — find out which, and disable it.

Method 2. Terminate the “wmplayer” process

By default, your computer shouldn’t be able to launch multiple instances of an app. In some rare cases, this is bypassed and duplicate processes may appear running simultaneously on the system. Exiting all Windows Media Player processes and then reopening the application may fix your error.

1. Right-click on an empty space in your taskbar and choose Task Manager.
   
   
2. If the Task Manager launched in compact mode, make sure to expand details by clicking on the “Mode details” button.
   
   
3. Switch to the Details tab using the header menu in the Task Manager. Here, look for the process named “wmplayer.exe” and select it, then click End task.
   
4. Look for multiple “wmplayer.exe” processes, and terminate all of them. After ensuring that there’s no active Windows Media Player process, relaunch the app and check if the error still comes up.

Method 3. Use the Windows store apps troubleshooter

Windows 10 comes with built-in troubleshooters to help you quickly identify and fix errors. It’s possible that by running the Windows store apps troubleshooter, your error in Windows Media Player will be automatically fixed.

1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of your screen to bring up the Start menu. Choose Settings, or alternatively use the Windows + I shortcut.
   
   
2. Click on the Update & Security tile.
   
   
3. Switch to the Troubleshoot tab using the left-side pane. Here, you should be able to see a troubleshooter titled Windows Store Apps.
   
   
4. If you don’t share full diagnostic data to Microsoft, click on the Additional troubleshooters link and locate the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter there.
   
   
5. Click on the Run the troubleshooter button.
6. Wait for the troubleshooter to identify the issue and apply any possible fixes. Please note that your device may shut down and restart during this process. When it’s finished, see if you’re able to use the Windows Media Player.

Method 4. Re-register DLL files with the Command Prompt

You can use the Command Prompt to run two specific commands in order to fix the Windows Media Player. These commands re-register key DLL files that are often the very source of the “Server execution failed” error.

1. Open the Search function in your taskbar, or alternatively use the Ctrl + S keyboard shortcut to bring up the search bar and look up “Command Prompt”. 
2. Right-click on it from the results, and then choose Run as Administrator. 
   
   
3. When prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow the app to launch with administrative permissions.
   
   Need help? Check out our How to make a local user an administrator in Windows 10 guide.
   
   
4. Input the following commands. Press Enter on your keyboard after each line to execute the command:
   regsvr32.exe jscript.dll
   regsvr32.exe vbscript.dll
   
   
5. Restart your computer and check if the error in Windows Media Player is still happening.

Method 5. Temporarily disable your antivirus

Antivirus applications are known to cause issues on computers by interfering with your Internet connection or blocking apps and services from running properly. You can test if the antivirus you’re using at the moment is causing the error by temporarily disabling it.

Note: This method is not recommended as it is unsafe to use your computer without protection. Only proceed if you’re aware of the possible risks and have a backup of your system to revert any damage that may happen.

1. Right-click on an empty space in your taskbar and choose Task Manager.
2. If the Task Manager launched in compact mode, make sure to expand details by clicking on the “Mode details” button.
   
   
3. Switch to the Start-up tab using the header menu located at the top of the window.
4. Find your antivirus application from the list and select it by clicking on it once.
   
   
5. Click on the Disable button now visible in the bottom-right of the window. This will disable the application from launching when you start your device.
6. Restart your computer.

Method 6. Give your local user full access to the user folder

Some recent system modifications may have affected your permissions as a local user. This could result in you losing full access to your user folder, causing the Windows Media Player to have an error.

1. Open the File Explorer. This can be done by clicking on the Explorer icon in your taskbar, or by pressing the Windows + E keys on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to This PC → C: drive → Users. Look for a folder with your local account’s username.
3. Right-click on your user folder, and then select Properties.
   
   
4. Switch to the Security tab, and then click on the Advanced button. This should open the Advanced Security Settings window.
   
   
5. Click on the Change link next to the current owner of the folder. You’ll need administrative permissions to be able to do this.
   
   
6. Type in your user account’s name in the Enter the object name to select field, then click on the Check Names button. The system should automatically input your full account name. When done, click the OK button.
   
   
7. Next, click on the Add button.
   
   
8. Click on the Select a principal link next to the Principal section. Select your user account using the same method(s) as described above and click the OK button.
   
   
9. Place a checkmark in the Full control box under the Basic permissions section.
   
   
10. Exit all of the Properties windows and restart your computer. Check if you’re still experiencing issues with the Windows Media Player afterward.

Method 7. Add the Administrator group to the Local Service

Another way of fixing permission-related issues is by adding the entire Administrator group to the Local Service. You can do this with the Command Prompt.

1. Open the Search function in your taskbar, or alternatively use the Ctrl + S keyboard shortcut to bring up the search bar and look up “Command Prompt”. 
2. Right-click on it from the results, and then choose Run as Administrator.
   
   
3. When prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow the app to launch with administrative permissions.
4. Input the following command, and then press Enter on your keyboard after each line to execute it: net localgroup “Administrators” “NT Authority\Local Service” /add
   
   
5. Reboot your device and check if you’re able to use the Windows Media Player after performing these steps.

Method 8. Disable the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service

Some users have reported that going into the Service manager and disabling this specific Windows Media Player service fixed their issues.

1. Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also bring it up with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
2. Type in Services and click on the first search result.
   
   
3. Scroll down and locate the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service. Right-click on it, and then choose Properties.
   
   
4. Set the Startup type to Disabled, and then click the Apply button. This will completely take the service out of your system until you manually re-enable it.
   
   
5. Restart your computer and see if you’re able to use Windows Media Player without the “Server execution failed” error.

Method 9. Reinstall Windows Media Player

If nothing has worked so far, you might have to reinstall the Windows Media Player. As it is a system app, the process is slightly different from regular app uninstalls.

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. This is going to bring up the Run utility.
2. Type in “control” without the quotation marks and press the Enter key on your keyboard. This will launch the Control Panel application.
   
   
3. Click on the Programs header. If you don’t see this, change your view mode to Category in the upper right corner.
   
   
4. Click on the Turn Windows features on or off-link. You’ll need administrative permissions to complete this action.
   
   
5. Scroll down and expand the Media features category, and then remove the checkmark from the Windows Media Player checkbox.
   
   
6. Click OK and restart your computer. After the reboot is complete, navigate back to the same window and re-select the Windows Media Player.

Final thoughts

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