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Having been a user of Windows ever since the days of Windows XP, I have been able to observe the remarkable development of Windows over the course of its existence. Initially, I was not always eager to upgrade, in part because of the financial aspect; however, each new version of the Operating System brought improvements that were superior to those of its predecessor.
However, the most difficult aspect of these upgrades was not the cost; rather, it was the process of saying goodbye to cherished features that had become an essential part of my computing experience. Regardless of this, I was able to find it within myself to forgive Microsoft again and again. Nevertheless, my patience was put to the test when I was forced to give up my most treasured hobby in order to upgrade from Windows 2007 to Windows 8.
The unthinkable had indeed taken place: the card games of Spider Solitaire, Chess and Hearts were exterminated without mercy. How was I supposed to pass the time in the office now, waiting for the clock to strike the end of the day? I was supposed to find something to do with my time. However, the announcement that Windows Media Centre would no longer be supported was the source of the most profound disappointment. I had the impression that a portion of my digital life was being taken away from me, and as a result, I was struggling with a sense of grieving.
Best Windows Media Center Alternatives
Are you interested in finding the best alternatives to Windows Media Centre that will allow you to manage and play your media files on the most recent version of Windows? You have arrived at the correct page. An attempt will be made in this post to provide you with a list of the top best Windows media centre replacements. Please continue reading for further information.
| Platform | Media Support | User Interface | Streaming | Live TV | Recording | Server | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kodi | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Raspberry Pi, and more | Videos, music, podcasts, photos, and more | Highly customizable, supports skins/themes | Limited streaming capabilities without additional plugins | Limited, requires additional plugins and backend setup | Limited, requires additional plugins and backend setup | No dedicated server, can be used as a standalone media player or with network sharing |
| Emby | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, web browser | Videos, music, photos, live TV, podcasts | User-friendly interface, customizable | Yes, with Emby Premiere subscription | Yes, with Emby Premiere subscription | Yes, with Emby Premiere subscription | Emby Server manages media and provides streaming capabilities |
| MythTV | Linux, macOS, Windows | Live TV, recordings, videos, music, photos | Customizable, primarily for TV viewing | No built-in streaming capabilities | Yes, supports TV tuner cards and backend setup | Yes, supports TV tuner cards and backend setup | MythTV Backend manages TV recordings, frontend for playback |
| Plex | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, web browser, streaming devices | Videos, music, photos, live TV, recordings, podcasts | User-friendly interface, customizable | Yes, with Plex Pass subscription | Yes, with Plex Pass subscription | Yes, with Plex Pass subscription | Plex Media Server manages media and provides streaming capabilities |
| MediaPortal | Windows | Videos, music, photos, live TV, recordings, podcasts, radio | User-friendly interface, customizable | No built-in streaming capabilities | No built-in live TV support | No built-in recording support | No dedicated server, standalone application |
Best Windows Media Center Alternatives
It is possible that this post will be of interest to you if you are looking for the Windows Media Centre functionality in Windows 11 or Windows 10. Windows Media Centre may have always been the first choice of Windows users or their home entertainment setups; however, there are a number of other free alternatives that are of high quality that users can choose from.
Kodi
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Customization | Highly customizable interface and themes. |
| Add-ons | Vast library of add-ons for extending functionality. |
| Media Support | Wide range of media file compatibility. |
| Cross-Platform | Available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. |
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For a long time now, Kodi has been my favorite media player. Free and open-source software like this is great for keeping my films, music, TV shows, and other things in order and enjoying them.
The great thing is that it doesn’t stop there—it also works with live TV and radio, and you can add on extras to access streaming services and online content. You can use Kodi to watch movies and TV shows on your PC, Mac, phone, tablet, smart TV, or streaming device.
The Good
- Extensive customization options.
- Large community and add-on support.
- Cross-platform compatibility.
The Bad
- Initial setup can be complex for beginners.
- Requires manual organization of media libraries.
Emby
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Media Server | Acts as a powerful media server for streaming content. |
| Client Apps | Offers client applications for various devices. |
| Live TV | Support for live TV streaming and DVR capabilities. |
| Syncing | Ability to sync media across multiple devices. |
Emby has saved my life when it comes to streaming my own media library. It’s an app that lets me host my own media server and access my media from anywhere, on any device. It is very convenient because it has an easy-to-use interface and works with many devices and platforms.
It also has parental controls, the ability to record live TV, and DVR features that make it more appealing. Emby has a free tier, but I think the extra features make the premium subscription worth it.
The Good
- Robust media server capabilities.
- User-friendly interface.
- Live TV and DVR functionality.
The Bad
- Some features locked behind premium subscription.
- Requires setting up and maintaining a server.
MythTV
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| DVR | Comprehensive DVR functionality for recording TV shows. |
| Plugin System | Support for plugins to extend features. |
| Customization | Highly customizable interface and workflows. |
| Open Source | Entirely open-source with active community support. |
For me, MythTV has been an interesting exploration. This is a free and open-source home theatre PC (HTPC) app that turns my computer into a media centre and DVR. MythTV lets me watch and record live TV, keep track of my recordings, and enjoy other digital media files.
It takes a little more work to set up than other options, but the large number of features and customisation options make it worth it for people who want to get more out of their media.
The Good
- Extensive DVR capabilities.
- Highly customizable and open-source.
- Active community and plugin ecosystem.
The Bad
- Steeper learning curve for setup and configuration.
- Limited official support compared to commercial alternatives.
Plex
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Streaming | Stream media from a server to various devices. |
| Organizing | Automatically organizes media into libraries. |
| Remote Access | Access media library from anywhere with internet. |
| Transcoding | Transcodes media for optimal streaming quality. |
One of my other favorite ways to stream my media library is with Plex. Like Emby, it lets you stream without any problems to any device, anywhere. It’s fun to use because it has an easy-to-understand interface, mobile apps, and works with a lot of devices.
And Plex has everything you need, with features like recording live TV, DVR, and parental controls. Even though there is a free tier, I chose the premium subscription so that I can use all of the features.
The Good
- Intuitive interface for managing media.
- Seamless streaming experience across devices.
- Automatic organization and metadata retrieval.
The Bad
- Some features require a premium subscription.
- Dependency on Plex servers for remote access.
MediaPortal
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Media Center | Acts as a comprehensive media center solution. |
| TV Recording | Support for recording and scheduling TV shows. |
| Plugins | Extensible with various plugins for added features. |
| Skinnable UI | Customize the interface with different skins. |
MediaPortal is the last of the media center apps I’ve chosen. It’s a free and open-source HTPC app that turns my computer into a media hub, just like MythTV. MediaPortal makes it easy for me to watch and record live TV, keep track of my recordings, and enjoy my digital media files. It’s a good choice for anyone who wants to improve their home media experience because it’s easy to use and works with a lot of devices.
The Good
- Comprehensive media center features.
- TV recording and scheduling capabilities.
- Extensible through plugins.
The Bad
- UI customization may require technical expertise.
- Limited official support compared to mainstream solutions.
Factors to Consider in Choosing Windows Media Center Alternatives
When looking for alternatives to Windows Media Centre, think about these things to get the best one for your needs:
- Playing media and making it work: Look for alternatives that work with many types of media files, such as audio, video, and picture files. Make sure it works with the devices and media library you already have, like TVs, streaming devices, and external storage.
- Help for TV tuners and DVRs: If you use Windows Media Centre to record and play back live TV, look for other programmes that have similar features. Check to see if it works with TV tuners, digital video recorders (DVRs), electronic programme guides (EPGs) and managing channels.
- User Interface and How Easy It Is to Use: Check out each option’s user interface and how easy it is to use. Look for an interface that is clean and easy to use. The menus should be able to be customised, and the controls for playing media, settings, and library management should be easy to get to.
- Adding streaming and online services: You might want to look at alternatives that work with well-known media platforms, streaming services, and online content providers. You should look for things like built-in support for streaming apps, access to online content libraries, and the ability to work with streaming devices and protocols.
- Organising and running a library: Look for alternatives that offer powerful library management and organisation tools to keep your media collection in order. You can better organise and find your media files with features like metadata tagging, album art retrieval, automatic library scanning, and playlists that you can change.
- Ability to change and add on: Pick alternatives that let you change the software to fit your needs and preferences through customisation and expansion features. Check to see if it works with plugins, extensions, themes, and changing settings that let you make the user interface your own and make it more useful.
- Control from a distance and mobile access: If you use Windows Media Centre with a remote control or a mobile device, make sure that the alternative lets you use a remote control or a mobile device in the same way. Look for apps that let you control things from afar, stream from your phone, and access media libraries from afar.
- Compatibility with Platforms: Think about how each option will work with the devices and operating systems you already have. Look for options that work on a lot of different platforms, like Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile operating systems like iOS and Android. This will make sure that they work on all of these and fit in perfectly with your ecosystem.
Questions and Answers
The user experience provided by the player is exceptional, and it does not contain any spyware, advertisements, or tracking of the user’s activity. In addition to supporting streaming media over the system network and transcoding multimedia files, the player makes use of a variety of techniques for compressing both audio and video.
Please be aware that Windows Media Centre is not a part of Windows 10 and will be removed from your computer when you upgrade to Windows 10. Following the completion of the upgrade, Windows DVD Player will be downloaded to your personal computer automatically.