Removing Windows Media Player Plugins

What is a Windows Media Player Plugin?

Plugins are helper programs that enhance the user experience. Some Windows Media Player plugins are skins, or digital overlays for the player. Others are codecs, or helper files that decipher audio and video files, including those with proprietary digital rights management (DRM) security. Plugins, like any other piece of software, can be added or removed at the user's whim.

Removing a WMP Plugin

Open the start menu and choose the "Control Panel" function. Under the Control Panel is the Add/Remove Program tool. Open that and make sure the Remove Program tab is selected. Find the name of the plugin, click it once and click the "Change/Remove" button. Follow the prompts and remove the plugin.

Clean out the Plugin Folder

Go to the Start Menu and choose "Run." Enter the following path into text box: C:\Documents and Settings\[USER]\Application Data\Windows Media Player. In this window, find the plugins folder and check for any remaining traces of the program. If there are any, delete the items and empty the Recycle Bin.