Windows Components › Windows Media Player
Prevent Music File Media Information Retrieval
Supported on Windows Media Player 9 Series and later.
What it does
This policy setting allows you to prevent media information for music files from being retrieved from the Internet. If you enable this policy setting, the Player is prevented from automatically obtaining media information for music files such as Windows Media Audio (WMA) and MP3 files from the Internet. In addition, the Update my music files (WMA and MP3 files) by retrieving missing media information from the Internet check box in the first use dialog box and on the Privacy and Media Library tabs in the Player are not selected and are not available. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, users can change the setting of the Update my music files (WMA and MP3 files) by retrieving missing media information from the Internet check box.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer- Value name
PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval- When enabled
- DWORD 1
- When disabled
- DWORD 0
In Intune
Native Intune setting: Yes — Policy CSP
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_WindowsMediaPlayer/PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrievalADMX_WindowsMediaPlayer on Microsoft LearnADMX-backed: Windows ships this template, so it is set with the template's own values, without an import.Windows builds listed: 10.0.22000, 10.0.19043.1202, 10.0.19042.1202, 10.0.19041.1202.
From Microsoft's Policy CSP DDF files (DDF v2 Files, February 2026), read 18 Oct 2026.
Configure and deploy
Choose a state; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.
Enabled · User · template defaults
Registry file (.reg)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer]
"PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval"=dword:00000001
PowerShell
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
function Set-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}
function Remove-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return
}
foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Prevent Music File Media Information Retrieval
# Name: PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: windowsmediaplayer.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
These deployment candidates come from the ADMX template; they are separate from the native CSP mapping above.
- The OMA-URI is an inferred ADMX-backed Policy CSP candidate derived from the source ADMX file name and policy name.
- Some Microsoft policies use built-in Policy CSP pages whose area names don't match the ADMX file name, so verify the candidate against Microsoft Learn before deployment.
ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_windowsmediaplayer/PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrievalADMX SyncML candidate
<SyncML xmlns="SYNCML:SYNCML1.2">
<SyncBody>
<Replace>
<CmdID>1</CmdID>
<Item>
<Meta>
<Format>chr</Format>
<Type>text/plain</Type>
</Meta>
<Target>
<LocURI>./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_windowsmediaplayer/PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval</LocURI>
</Target>
<Data><enabled/></Data>
</Item>
</Replace>
<Final/>
</SyncBody>
</SyncML>Intune remediation scripts
Detection
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
$reasons = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new()
function Test-RegistryValueExists {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return $false
}
return $null -ne (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
}
function Test-RegistryValueEquals {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Kind,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Expected
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return $false
}
$valueObject = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
if ($null -eq $valueObject) {
return $false
}
$actual = $valueObject.$Name
switch ($Kind) {
'String' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
'ExpandString' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
'DWord' { return [uint32]$actual -eq [uint32]$Expected }
'QWord' { return [uint64]$actual -eq [uint64]$Expected }
'MultiString' {
$actualArray = @($actual)
$expectedArray = @($Expected)
if ($actualArray.Count -ne $expectedArray.Count) { return $false }
for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Count; $index++) {
if ([string]$actualArray[$index] -cne [string]$expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
'Binary' {
$actualArray = [byte[]]$actual
$expectedArray = [byte[]]$Expected
if ($actualArray.Length -ne $expectedArray.Length) { return $false }
for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Length; $index++) {
if ($actualArray[$index] -ne $expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
default { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
}
}
# Policy: Prevent Music File Media Information Retrieval
# Name: PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: windowsmediaplayer.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer\PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval') | Out-Null
}
if ($reasons.Count -eq 0) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
$reasons | ForEach-Object { Write-Output $_ }
exit 1
Remediation
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
function Set-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}
function Remove-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return
}
foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Prevent Music File Media Information Retrieval
# Name: PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: windowsmediaplayer.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
History 5 retained releases
- 24H2 · 1.030 Sep 2024
- Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
- 22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
3 later releases left it unchanged.
Template
- Internal name
PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval- Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer- Template file
windowsmediaplayer.admx- Release
- Windows 11 25H2 · 1.0 · file set
de4e49983ebd651f…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="User" displayName="$(string.PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval)" explainText="$(string.PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrievalExplain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer" name="PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval" valueName="PreventMusicFileMetadataRetrieval" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:WMPCat" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:SUPPORTED_WMP9" />
<enabledValue>
<decimal value="1" />
</enabledValue>
<disabledValue>
<decimal value="0" />
</disabledValue>
</policy>Editor controls
Supported platforms and category
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:category:WMPCat
<category displayName="$(string.WMPCat)" name="WMPCat" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:definition:SUPPORTED_WMP9
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WMP9)" name="SUPPORTED_WMP9" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="9" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer" />
</or>
</definition>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:WindowsMediaPlayer
sha256:d3dc4d88cb8b8862bc6a34e76f531ff2c831cbda36ab2518e615cfd90227a6be
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:category:WMPCat
<category displayName="$(string.WMPCat)" name="WMPCat" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:WMPCat">Windows Media Player</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:definition:SUPPORTED_WMP9
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WMP9)" name="SUPPORTED_WMP9" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="9" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer" />
</or>
</definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:SUPPORTED_WMP9">Windows Media Player 9 Series and later.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:WindowsMediaPlayer
<product displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer8)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer8" versionIndex="8" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer9)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer9" versionIndex="9" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer10)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer10" versionIndex="10" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer11)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer11" versionIndex="11" />
</product>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer">Windows Media Player</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer10">Windows Media Player 10</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer11">Windows Media Player 11</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer8">Windows Media Player 8</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer9">Windows Media Player 9</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents">Windows Components</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents_Help">Contains settings for operating system components.</string></strings>