**Windows 11’s Media Player is a Step Backwards**
Imagine opening your favorite video player only to find it’s using more memory and taking longer to load than its predecessor from 17 years ago. Sounds ridiculous, right? Yet, this is exactly what’s happening with Windows 11’s modern Media Player.
The latest Insider Preview update for the app has been met with frustration from users who are finding it uses more RAM (around 377MB) while idle compared to the classic Windows Media Player (about 103.4MB). To make matters worse, opening a local video file takes longer than expected – a basic function that shouldn’t be complicated.
**Why This Matters**
For those who might not care about the specifics of media player performance, consider this: if you’re using Windows 11 as your daily driver, chances are you’ll encounter this app at some point. It’s the default media player, after all! If it can’t even get something as fundamental as video playback right, what does that say about Microsoft’s attention to detail?
This issue also raises questions about the trade-offs made in the name of “modernization.” The new Media Player has some nice features like improved captions and clearer codec errors, but if it comes at the cost of performance, are those benefits worth it? **Source:** Digital Trends’ coverage provides a more detailed comparison of the two apps.
**A Bit of History**
To put this in perspective: the classic Windows Media Player was first released in 2001. That’s right; it’s been around for almost two decades! Despite its age, it managed to provide decent performance and features without breaking the bank (or your RAM usage). Fast-forward to today, and we’re supposed to be blown away by the “modern” equivalent.
**What’s Not Being Addressed**
The fixes in this update are useful, but they don’t tackle the fundamental problems with the new Media Player. Microsoft has improved file recognition, added clearer missing codec messages, and blocked unnamed playlists – all great improvements. However, these tweaks don’t address the RAM usage or performance issues.
It’s almost as if Microsoft is prioritizing flashy features over core functionality. What good are fancy captions or better error messages if your app can’t even play local videos without bogging down your system?
**The Question Remains**
Will Microsoft take users’ concerns seriously and revisit the Media Player’s architecture? Or will we be stuck with a bloated, slow media player that fails to meet user expectations? Only time (and future updates) will tell.
**Source:** [Read more about Windows 11’s Media Player issues on Digital Trends](https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/windows-11-media-player-performance-issue/)
