windows media player 11 how to get album information

Question

windows media player 11 how to get album information

Lisa D 30

How do I get album information for the cds I rip in Windows 11 Media player?

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8 answers

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Answer 1

Quinn.HP 9,780 Independent Advisor

Hello, I'm Quinn and here to help!

In Windows 11, Media Player no longer supports automatic album information lookup for CDs. Microsoft has removed the “Find album info” feature. To add metadata, you’ll need to manually edit track details or use third-party tagging tools like Mp3tag or EAC (Exact Audio Copy).

Source:

https://windowsforum.com/threads/windows-media-player-cd-metadata-lookup-goes-offline-how-to-tag-ripped-discs.396292/

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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M. Wells 0 Reputation points

2026-11-06T23:25:36.5566667+00:00

it absolutely will not do that any more.yall need to update this info.

Answer 2

To get album information for the CDs you rip in Windows Media Player 11, you can enable the option to retrieve media information from the Internet. This feature allows Windows Media Player to automatically obtain metadata such as album name, artist, and track details for the CDs you are ripping.

If you want to configure this setting, you can do so in the Privacy Options tab in the first use dialog box or on the Privacy tab in the Player. Make sure that the option for retrieving media information from the Internet is selected.

Additionally, if you want to prevent Windows Media Player from retrieving this information, you can enable the policy setting "Prevent CD and DVD Media Information Retrieval" which will stop the player from automatically obtaining media information for CDs and DVDs played by users.

For more detailed instructions on managing these settings, you may refer to the documentation on Windows Media Player policies.

Answer 3

Lisa D 30

The windows media setting to retrieve media information is ON. But it says I am not connected to the server.

Sara García 0 Reputation points

2026-03-08T09:11:45.74+00:00

I have the same problem.

Answer 4

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To get album information for the CDs you rip in Windows Media Player 11, you can enable the option to retrieve media information from the Internet. This feature allows Windows Media Player to automatically obtain metadata such as album name, artist, and track details for the CDs you are ripping.

If you want to configure this setting, you can do so in the Privacy Options tab in the first use dialog box or on the Privacy tab in the Player. Make sure that the option for retrieving media information from the Internet is selected.

Additionally, if you want to prevent Windows Media Player from retrieving this information, you can enable the policy setting "Prevent CD and DVD Media Information Retrieval" which will stop the player from automatically obtaining media information for CDs and DVDs played by users.

For more detailed instructions on managing these settings, you may refer to the documentation on Windows Media Player policies.

Can someone please explain exactly how you do this without referring to other documentation which I am finding difficulty in finding?

Please, make it simple!

We're not all IT experts!

Answer 5

Horace Wiggins 625

Are you talking about the Media Player for OS11 or the Windows Media Player Legacy?

I have and use Windows Media Player Legacy, Version 12. See example image below.

User's image

It will search for and retrieve the information for a CD if it is still available. I recently bought a couple of very old CD albums and had to enter the information for them myself.

Brian Springthorpe 110 Reputation points

2026-03-07T17:39:56.3366667+00:00

I have the same version that you are saying.

I have ripped a widely available album of the Drifters & Ben E. King Greatest Hits (2CDs) and Ben E. King Greatest Hits. Neither of the gave up any information.

The other problem is synching.

On Sony MP3 players, of which I have two, I understand that the synching allows the albums to be transferred seamlessly to the player with all the categorised information. This option is no longer available on WMPL. The only workaround I've found so far is to open up the files on my computer and my Sony MP3 players with Windows Explorer and transfer them that way.

It's nowhere near as tidy!
Brian Springthorpe 110 Reputation points

2026-03-07T17:58:22.7233333+00:00

Hi Horace,

Just checked another CD (Black Sabbath - my tastes are eclectic!)

This one actually came up with the information. So it appears some work and some don't. Pity really, that Drifters one was a double album and I had to input 24 titles and information. A pain in the neck!

So it seems the other problem is the one to really overcome.

How do you use WMPL to transfer tracks to a player now the synching option has been removed?
Horace Wiggins 625 Reputation points

2026-03-09T12:46:57.6566667+00:00

I don't transfer to a player. My music is saved on a WDMYCLOUD that I can use to play my music on my cell phone. For my other devices TV, New Speaker/Alarm and my vehicles I have the music on USB that is plugged in to each device.
Brian Springthorpe 110 Reputation points

2026-03-14T11:24:59.71+00:00

I've contacted Which? Tech Support.

They don't have much experience with WMP but what they have said is that MS are saving on license fees by shutting down the metadata servers for the Legacy version. They claim that because the dinosaurs still using CDs are getting fewer they have viewed us as expendable. Which leaves collectors, like me, in the lurch.

A few alternatives have been mentioned and I have briefly tried two of them. These are:

MusicBee

Music Centre for PC

Exact Audio Copy

MusicBee is so far the most promising but it is much more detailed and complex than WMP. It has CD ripping and Sony Walkman Synch, but getting to them is more onerous.

Music Centre for PC is designed specifically for the Walkman but if you have anything older than 2013, (Walkman that is), you have to make complicated setting changes.

I haven't tried the Exact Audio Copy as yet.

I just wish MS would leave things alone and stop being so tight and mean.