Windows Media Player: How do I Play Ogg and FLAC Files in WMP?

Contributor Icon Contributed by davak Date Icon May 30, 2005  
Tag Icon Tagged: Windows

Ogg and FLAC are two popular formats that are being used more and more. If you like WMP but need to listen to this file type, then you just need to convert the files or install the codecs.


Ogg is an mp3-like compression audio format except that it is open-source and patent free. Many audio users like this format over mp3s; however, WMP doesn’t play these files by default.

FLAC is a lossless audio format. This means that the audio is compressed (not as much as mp3 or ogg) but there is no loss in quality. WMP doesn’t play these files by default either.

To get WMP to work you have two options…

1. Install the codecs

    You can download and install the codecs from here:
    http://www.illiminable.com/ogg/

    This should allow you to open either of these two formats in WMP just as you would any other audio formats. As ogg and FLAC formats have changed, however, you may not be able to play every file.

2. Convert the formats

    Encoders like dBpowerAMP can convert ogg and FLAC files to more well known formats like mp3 or wma. Just remember by converting to these file types, you lose the advantages of the other file types.
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  • Help Us All
  • hans
    That's a rediculous advice you're given.
    Who in his right mind would want to transcode a lossless file to lossy.
    Best advice would be to install a better player than WMP, something like foobar2000.
  • boattown
    You Can Decode Flac files to wave files using flac frontend or TLH(traders little helper). Wave files are decompressed and lossless.
  • Thanks man - THIS WORKS just fine. Easy quick install, job done. Good work!
  • IT Guy
    Well I must be out of my mind. I cant stand flamers and that is a ridiculous comment!

    "Who in his right mind would want to transcode a lossless file to lossy.
    Best advice would be to install a better player than WMP, something like foobar2000."

    Your MP3 player decodes FLAC? And WMP is an excellent player.
  • Andrew
    Both of my MP3 players decode FLAC and OGG (which sounds better at similar bitrates.) His comment was not ridiculous at all. There is no excuse for having a mp3 on your home machine when you could have a FLAC (even if you convert elsewhere), or for WMP for not supporting it.
  • shawnz
    WMA has a lossless mode.
  • but WMA is proprietary and nobody uses it
  • Minnor
    foobar2000!!!
    why waste time converting to another format to play it on windows media player? i switched from WMP to foobar months ago, little tweeks here and there, works like a charm!
    once you get used to it, you NEVER ever want to go back to WMP!
  • hdb
    What 'little tweaks'. Sounds like hour wasted to me ....
  • Will
    Codec works a treat!
  • VideoGeek
    There are reasons to use Windows Media, flawed as it may be. For example, my (now broken) mp3 player synced with WMP so I had to use it to put music on there. And if I have to have music on WMP for my mp3, what's the point in having another program entirely wasting space on my hard drive?
  • WMP is awesome software - it is well laid out and syncs to almost all mediaplayers with the exception of iPods because they suck
  • wosscoe
    Installed the codecs as in first option and it all works well. had to change the file association so WMP was default player, but it decodes and plays great. thank mate, good advise.

    dont worry about hans, he sounds abit different,,,, you advise worked......

    seeya
  • kevin
    use mediamonkey, it plays al formats and is free too!!!!
  • Marc Gibson
    zoom player is also free and plays flac files effortlessly (and every other file too)
  • Matt
    Thanks!
  • chrisgrech21
    Thanks works GR8, easy to install and does what it says on the tin.
  • unnamed
    Why waste time with windows media player when VLC media player can play all file formats and DVDs for free?

    Download here: www.videolan.org/vlc/
  • I use VLC all the time for my video files because I don't have TOO many video files, and because I use playlist, but it doesn't support libraries and WMP has a nice layout and ways to find and enjoy your music more.
  • Shah
    vlc sux when it comes to audio quality, and the whole point of lookin for flac i assume is wanting higher quality.
  • hdb
    I downloaded vlc to play flac it worked for a while but no plays with no sound even though the volume level is up.

    I have done a google search and I am not the only one with this problem although nobody offers a solution.
  • yoyo
    My mp4 player can't handle FLAC-files, so I wanna convert them. But that dBpowerAMP doesn't work, I can only convert .cda, mpg, mpeg, mpa, mpga, mpx, mp1, mp2, m2a, mp3 and wav. Could someone pleas help me :$ ?
  • Aleksandra
    Thank you, WMP with codecs you gave link to, opens .flac files now! Good advice.
  • thomasz
    when i have a rest, I always enjoy listening to music. Thanks for two guidings. I try to do that. Any suggestions. Give us. Nice days
  • arthur2020
    It worked for me. I can now play ogg & FLAC files with WMP. Many thanks!
  • agimbits
    Thank you very much!
    I was looking for this for some time=)

    regards,
    Anna
  • Name
    Thanks for the easy & quick instructions! Works great now in WMP.
  • Scrampy
    Thanks ! worked like a charm. (codecs that is)
  • Jason
    If you are using windows 7 64-bit or vista 64-bit you need the updated codecs from here: http://www.xiph.org/dshow/pmwiki.php/Main/Downl...
  • Dex Luther
    The sad truth is that FLAC is a needless waste of space. Most people can't even hear the difference between a FLAC and MP3 yet they insist on using bloated FLAC files just because people say it's better.

    Nothing but sheep.

    I keep two files on my MP3 player just to prove this point whenever someone brings up the FLAC topic. Two copies of the same song. One FLAC the other MP3. I play them both for the 'FLACists', and most of them can't even tell the difference. The ones that do just get lucky guessing.

    The truth is that even with an expensive sound system (I have JM Labs speakers just to give you a little idea) there's no real audible difference. If there is it's because you're an idiot listening to 192kbit MP3's.

    I only get FLAC when there's no other choice. Otherwise it's all 320kbit MP3 and there's absolutely no audible difference at all.
  • baxterch
    I'm sorry Dex,

    But you are obviously frustrated by something, either youth or a lack of disk space, but I ask you this? Why would you even bother to bother what other people do? It is not your disk space, and not your time... True, most wont tell the difference, but many can and do... I am an audiophile and have audiophile quality equipment and I can hear the difference clear as day...

    I'm not a sheep (remember, baa-aa-aa means no), I just like to hear the music, and ALL the music, not sound that mimics the music because of the lopped off highs and flooded lows...
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