How to Fix Media Streaming Issues in Windows 10

Media streaming enables users to send their favorite songs, photos, and videos to different devices on the home network. At the same time, it also enables users to receive media from connected devices. However, if you are facing issues with the media streaming on your Windows 10 device, then do not worry. This problem can be resolved easily. Here is what you need to do to fix media streaming issues in Windows 10:

Turn on automatic play

To start with, you must enable autoplay for casting or streaming multimedia files via Windows Media Player. The process is rather straightforward, and it can fix the issue. Follow the steps mentioned below and enable autoplay in Windows Media Player

1. Launch the Windows Media Player on the computer.
2. Next to the Organize option, at the upper left side of the window, you will see the Stream pull-down. Click on it.
3. From the list of options, you need to select the one that automatically allows devices to play your media.
4. Now, simply close the Windows Media Player and open it again.
5. Check if the media streaming issue has been resolved or not.

Enable Windows Search Indexing

Media streaming is linked with search indexing, and therefore, it can get affected because of it. Om case you have turned off the search indexing on your Windows 10 device for any reason, it is best if you enable it again. Hopefully, doing so will fix the media streaming issues on your Windows 10 PC.

If you do not know the process of enabling search indexing, then just follow the steps mentioned here:

1. Go to the Search option and enter the Control Panel.
2. Launch Control Panel.
3. Click on Programs and features.
4. Now, select the option called Turn Windows Features on or off located at the left side.
5. Place a checkmark in the square beside Windows Search Indexing to turn it on.
6. Reboot the device for applying the changes.

Tweak the Local Group Policy

The Local Group Policy might be configured to prevent media sharing. Hence, you need to disable this setting to resolve the media streaming issue.

1. Go to the search option and enter gpedit.msc.
2. Now, click on Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Click on Computer Configuration.
4. Select Administrative Templates.
5. Click on Windows Components.
6. Select Windows Media Player.
7. Find the Prevent Media Sharing option and right-click it.
8. Select the Edit option.
9. Select disable and click Yes in the confirmation window.
10. Reboot the computer.

Restart UPnP host service
UPnP stands for Universal Plug and Play and restarting this local host service may fix media streaming issues in Windows 10. Here are the steps you need to follow to restart the service.

1. Enter services.msc in the search bar.
2. Launch Services.
3. Go to UPnP host service.
4. Right-click on it.
5. Click on Properties.
6. Make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic.
7. Select the Stop option.
8. Now, click on Start for restarting the services.
9. Hit the OK button.

Rename the Windows Media Player folder

As the last step, you need to rename the cache folder of Windows Media Player. Follow the steps given below:

1. First, go to the Windows search option.
2. %userprofile%\appdata\local\microsoft
3. Now, just enter the name Media Player Old in place of Media Player.
4. Reboot the computer and launch the Windows Media Player.

Source: Media Streaming Issues In window 10