Do you live in Europe or South Korea? By default, Windows 10 will come without Windows Media Player and other media capabilities in these two regions. The features include video and audio playback, audio and video CD creation, and management of playlists and music libraries. In this guide, you will learn how to install the Media Feature Pack in Windows 10 (KN/N) 2004 version.
However, In Windows 10 KN/N editions you’ll need to install Media Feature Pack to enable all multimedia capabilities. The N/KN versions of Windows do not include features like the Windows Media Player, Music, Video, Voice Recorder, etc.
Meanwhile, due to European legislation. N means No Media. European competition authorities forbid companies from selling media goods inside Windows to ensure that other media firms can compete on the Windows platform against Microsoft. For the Windows 10 KN Version, the story is identical. Microsoft complies with the laws of Korea and not by default in Windows adding multimedia features.
Who Needs the Media Feature Pack in Windows 10 Pack and Why?
If anyone is using Windows 10 N/KN, the media features are missing. There are other issues. Without the media features that are missing from Windows 10 N and KN:
- Apps with media playback features (Groove Music, Video app, etc.) will not work.
- New features such as Windows Mixed Reality, Cortana, Windows Hello, and a PDF display in the new Windows Media-based Edge browser are not included in Windows 10 N and KN.
- Connecting smartphones, cameras, and mobile devices via USB cable fail because the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) and Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) are not allowed for data transfer.
What is an N or KN edition of Windows?
N versions of Windows are available in Europe, and a few media-related features are missing. They don’t include Windows Media Player, Groove Music, Movies & TV, Skype, or Voice Recorder on Windows 10.
Meanwhile, Windows KN editions are available in Korea. They remove Windows Media Player and related multimedia features, just like Windows N. When KN versions of Windows are created, they also remove Windows Messenger. However, this application has since been discontinued by Microsoft.
How Do I Check If I have N/KN Edition of Windows 10?
To know which edition of Windows 10 you are using then follow the below steps:
- Press Windows + R to open Run.
- Type winver and click OK.
How to Install Media Feature Pack in Windows 10 (N/KN Edition) 2004 Version
Step 1. Press Win key+ I to open Windows Settings.
Step 2. Click the Apps option.
Step 3. Click on the Optional Features link under Apps & Features heading in the right-hand pane.
Step 4. Click on the Add a feature button.
Step 5. Search for media in the search field. This will show two components: Media Feature Pack and Windows Media Player. Check the box next to Media Feature Pack and then click Install.
Step 6. The installation process will begin.
Step 7. When the Windows Media Feature Pack is installed, Restart the PC.
You can see Media Feature Pack and Windows Media Player in the list of optional features in the Apps as soon as the installation is complete. You can download media codecs from the Microsoft Store after the Media Feature Pack is enabled so that you can take advantage of your multimedia experience.
However, if the installation failed then read the link below to fix installed failed on Optional features:
Final Words
These were the steps to install the Windows Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 KN and N edition for the 2004 version within the Settings app and there’s no need to visit Microsoft’s official website to download MFP for the 2004 versions. However, if you’re using 1903 (May 2019) or before, you can download MFP from Microsoft’s official website.
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