How to Enable or Disable Automatic Updates in Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player (WMP) is updated from time to time with new features and performance enhancements. You can let the Player check for updates automatically or you can check for updates manually.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Windows Media Player from automatically checking for updates periodically and the "Automatic updates" options for all users.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Windows Media Player from automatically checking for updates periodically and the "Automatic updates" options for all users.

It is recommend that you let Windows Media Player periodically check for updates. Even if you do not use Windows Media Player, some components that run Windows Media Player are used by other programs on your computer. If you disable automatic updates in WMP and do not manually check for updates periodically, you may miss important updates that can make your computer run better or that can help prevent malicious software, such as viruses, from attacking your computer.
EXAMPLE: Windows Media Player "Automatic updates" Options Disabled

OPTION ONE
Enable or Disable Automatic Updates in WMP using a REG File

The .reg files below are for the registry key and value below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer
DisableAutoUpdate DWORD
0 = Enable
1 = Disabled
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer
DisableAutoUpdate DWORD
0 = Enable
1 = Disabled
1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.
2. To Enable Automatic Updates in Windows Media Player
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_Automatic_Update_Windows_Media_Player.reg
3. To Disable Automatic Updates in Windows Media Player
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_Automatic_Update_Windows_Media_Player.reg
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC Vista), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION TWO
Enable or Disable Automatic Updates in WMP using Group Policy
1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes (Windows 7/8) or Continue (Vista).
3. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and open Windows Media Player. (see screenshot below)
4. In the right pane of Windows Media Player, double click/tap on Prevent Automatic Updates to edit it. (see screenshot above)
5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.
6. To Enable Automatic Updates in Windows Media Player
A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 7A)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
7. To Disable Automatic Updates in Windows Media Player
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
8. You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor window if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
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