Playing music, videos and listening to a lot of radio streaming services through Windows Media Player eats up a significant portion of your hard disk space. Gradually, you realize the need to reclaim lost space as your computer tends to run slow, displays low disk space notifications and the situation worsens.
In this workaround you’ll learn how to clean up recently played list, recently opened local and over-the-network URLs, application cache contents, transcoded files, and so on.
Download the Diagnostic
There are certain situations when missing entries in your registry and registry corruption causes this problem. Try running a registry scan to identify if there are any such issues.
- Click the button below to download and install the Diagnostic
- Perform a Registry scan and fix any problems detected.
- Restart your computer.
Estimated Download Time: 10 Seconds
Remove Transcoded Files Cache
Windows Media Player encodes and converts media files and stores this information into temporary directories. This information is not useful after successful completion.
1. Open Windows Media Player. (Click Start > All Apps > Windows Accessories > Windows Media Player)
2. Press Alt key to show menu bar.
3. Click the Tools menu, and then Options.
4. Click Devices tab, and then Advanced button.
5. Click Delete Files button.
Lower the Storage Limit for Transcoded Files
You may be surprised to know that WMP has more than 10 GB of storage limit just for storing transcoded files cache. It is critical to lowering the amount of space used for storing transcoded files to save your disk space and get rid of junk data.
1. Open the File Conversion Options dialog. (Refer Steps # 1-4 under Remove Transcoded Files Cache section)
2. Lower the “Amount of disk space to use.” Make sure the amount is not too small to cause sync issues.
3. Click OK twice.
Clear Playlist History
The music, video player, keeps track of everything that you played, listened and watched. Every time you play media, it adds corresponding file path/ Internet URL to MRUs — list of recently played files. It can compromise your privacy as it is accessible to anyone who is logged into your laptop/ computer. It is recommended to remove list items and protect your privacy.
1. Open Options dialog.
2. Click Privacy tab, and then Clear History button.
Clear Program Cache
Clear caches for CDs, DVDs, and other devices connected to your PC.
1. Open Options dialog.
2. Click Clear Cache button under Privacy tab.
Prevent Downloading Media Info
Windows Media Player automatically downloads media information during playback. Disable the retrieving of media information from the Internet and eating up your storage space.
1. Open Options dialog.
2. Click the Library tab.
3. Uncheck the box named “Retrieve additional information from the Internet.”
4. Click Apply, and then OK.
