wmpnetwk.exe, So you have been going through Task Manager trying to figure out why so many services are running. When you notice that there are two items for Windows Media Player on the list. It’s not like the process takes a lot of memory. Emm I just get irritated when there’ a process that restarts for no good reason. You disable it and somehow it’s back again. Annoying, isn’t it?
However, this process is taking up precious system resources, so for those of us who don’t need it, why not shut it down? Let’s take a closer look and examine wmpnetwk.exe so you can decide if you need it or if it’s just a waste of resources.
Contents
- 1 What exactly wmpnetwk.exe?
- 1.1 How to Disable wmpnetwk.exe:
- 1.2 If you use Windows Media Player for media sharing. Then this process is essential and must keep running. On the other hand, if you don’t use Windows Media Player for sharing your media. Then let’s get rid of this sucker!
- 1.3 Step 1:
- 1.4 Step 2:
- 1.5 Step 3:
- 1.6 Disable wmpnetwk.exe in the Windows Registry:
- 1.7 One last Place to Check wmpnetwk.exe:
- 1.8 Furthermore:
What exactly wmpnetwk.exe?
When Microsoft introduced Windows Media Player 10. They also introduced network media sharing. The process then lingered on and is included with Windows Media Center as well. This feature includes sharing videos and music to your Xbox 360, other computers, and some mobile devices as well. But, none of the network sharing will work without something to host it. This where wmpnetwk.exe comes in. It literally is the service that “Shares Windows Media Player libraries to other network players and media devices using Universal Plug and Play.” The only downside is that the process runs 24/7. Regardless of if you are actually using it.
How to Disable wmpnetwk.exe:
If you use Windows Media Player for media sharing. Then this process is essential and must keep running. On the other hand, if you don’t use Windows Media Player for sharing your media. Then let’s get rid of this sucker!
Step 1:
The way to get rid of wmpnetwk.exe is to disable it from the system services list.
From the Windows Start Menu, open up services.msc.
Step 2:
Now, scroll down the local services menu and Right-Click Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service. Then from the context menu, select Properties.
Step 3:
From the General tab in the properties window, set the Startup type to Disabled. And then click OK to save changes.
You are all set now! Wmpnetwk.exe should now be disabled. But if you want to be sure then there is one last step you can take.
Disable wmpnetwk.exe in the Windows Registry:
When all the above-mentioned steps fail. Or if you just want to be sure that you have got rid of this. We can fully get rid of it using the Windows registry.
From the Windows Start Menu. Open up regedit.exe and browse to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Preferences\HME
You will find a DWORD called Disable Discovery, in this key. If not you can create it. Now you just need to set the value of the DWORD to 1 and then you’re good to go.
One last Place to Check wmpnetwk.exe:
Still, there is one more place on your computer that might be telling wmpnscfg.exe to start, to see if you can browse down to the following key in the registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Now there may or may not be a key here related to Windows Media Sharing. But if you see one. Then just go ahead and Delete it.
Furthermore:
I hope you like this article and get your solution from it. Also, if you have any further queries related to this article you can ask it in the comment section below. Have a Great Day!
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