Windows 11's Modern Media Player: Bloated RAM Usage and Paid Codecs

By Devesh Beri | June 18, 2026

Microsoft's latest Media Player for Windows 11 is currently under fire. Recent benchmarks indicate that the application is significantly more resource-heavy than its predecessor, the classic Windows Media Player. Furthermore, users are discovering that essential video codecs are now hidden behind paywalls.

Screenshot of the new Media Player

Performance Degradation

The transition to the modern interface has come at a cost to efficiency. When sitting idle, the new player consumes roughly 377MB of RAM, whereas the legacy version only required about 103MB.

Using LaTeX to express the increase: $\text{RAM Increase} \approx \frac{377\text{MB}}{103\text{MB}} \approx 3.66\times$

The article notes this is approximately 3.5x more memory used while the program is doing absolutely nothing. Additionally, the speed of accessing local files has slowed down.

Comparison Metrics

Metric	Legacy Player	New Media Player	Change
Idle RAM Usage	103 MB	377 MB	$\approx +274\text{MB}$
Startup Time	$\approx 2\text{ seconds}$	$\approx 3\text{ seconds}$	$+50\%$ slower

The Codec Controversy

Beyond performance, Microsoft has changed how it handles media decoding. The new player no longer provides all necessary codecs for free.

HEVC (H.265): Playback is now paywalled via the HEVC Video Extensions app available in the Microsoft Store.
AC-3 (Dolby Digital): Microsoft confirmed that in Windows 11 version 24H2, the built-in AC-3 codec has been removed.

Consequently, users on 24H2 cannot natively play AC-3 audio tracks.

Software Transition Map

Alternatives and Availability

While the new software replaces ~~Groove Music~~ and the classic player across Windows 11, the legacy version remains available as an optional component. However, Microsoft is clearly steering the user base toward the new default.

Pro Tip: For those seeking a more robust experience, third-party alternatives like VLC are recommended. VLC ships with its own internal codecs, meaning users don't have to rely on Microsoft's paid extensions.

User Checklist for Media Playback

Check if 24H2 is installed (AC-3 support removed).
Verify if HEVC content requires a paid extension.
Consider installing a third-party player.

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