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Windows Media Player does not contain the video file you see in its library. The library is an index of videos that are already stored somewhere on your PC, such as Videos, Downloads, a camera folder, or an external drive.
To save or copy a video, first locate the original file in File Explorer. You can then copy it to a USB drive, another folder, OneDrive, a network location, or a data CD/DVD. The exact steps depend on whether you are using Windows Media Player Legacy or the newer Media Player app.
Copy a video from Windows Media Player to another folder or drive
This is the correct method for copying a video to a USB flash drive, external hard drive, another Windows folder, OneDrive, Dropbox, or a network location.
- Open Windows Media Player or the newer Media Player app.
- Find the individual video in the library. Do not select an album, folder grouping, or other collection heading.
- Right-click the video and select Properties.
- Select Open file location.
- File Explorer opens to the folder containing the real video file.
- Right-click the video file and select Copy. You can also select it and press Ctrl+C.
- Open the destination folder or drive.
- Right-click an empty area and select Paste, or press Ctrl+V.
For a USB drive, open This PC in File Explorer, double-click the USB drive, and paste the file there. Wait for the copy to finish before ejecting the drive.
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Windows Media Player does not generally offer a Save video as… command for an item in its library. Opening the file location and copying the underlying file is more reliable than dragging an item directly out of the player.
Use Windows Media Player Legacy if the option is missing
The newer Media Player app has a different interface. In particular, an album or grouped selection may not show Properties, while an individual video can show different commands. Select the actual video item before looking for its properties.
To open the classic application directly:
- Press Win+R.
- Type
wmplayer.exe. - Press Enter.
If Windows search shows both applications, choose Windows Media Player Legacy, not the newer Media Player app. In Legacy, right-click the individual video, choose Properties > Open file location, and copy the file from the File Explorer window.
Windows Media Player Legacy remains an optional Windows feature and retains the classic library and burning workflow. If it is not installed, search Start for Windows features and open Turn Windows features on or off. On Windows versions that list it, expand Media Features and enable Windows Media Player, then restart if Windows requests it.
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If by “save” you mean putting videos on an optical disc, use Windows Media Player Legacy. The newer Media Player app no longer has the classic Play, Burn, and Sync tab layout. That is expected in recent versions, including build 11.2601.11.0; it does not mean that your videos were deleted or that the library is empty.
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Choose Data CD or Data DVD
Video files must be burned as data. An Audio CD is intended for music and is not the correct mode for ordinary video files.
- Open Windows Media Player Legacy by searching Start for it, or run
wmplayer.exe. - Open Player Library.
- Select Burn.
- Open Burn options and select Data CD or DVD.
- Insert a blank disc.
- Drag the individual videos from the library to the burn list on the right.
- Select Start burn.
A data CD holds approximately 700 MB. A data DVD holds approximately 4.7 GB. The device used to play the disc must support the video file type—for example, a player may support WMV but not every format that Windows can play.
A data disc stores the video as a file. It is not automatically converted into a movie disc that every television, DVD player, or game console can play. Check the playback device’s supported formats before choosing the disc type.
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Remove a video from the burn list
If you add the wrong item, right-click it in the burn list and choose Remove from list. This removes the entry only from the current burn list. It does not delete the original video from your computer.
Find the video manually when the player cannot open it
A library entry can stop working if the original file was moved, renamed, or deleted. Windows Media Player may report that it cannot find the file and that the library item points to a moved, renamed, or deleted file.
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Check the usual locations in File Explorer:
C:\Users\YourName\VideosC:\Users\YourName\DownloadsC:\Users\YourName\Pictures- The folder used by your camera, phone, or video-editing program
- An external hard drive, USB drive, or network folder that may not currently be connected
In File Explorer, search This PC for common video extensions such as *.mp4, *.wmv, *.avi, *.mov, or *.m2ts. Compare the file’s name, size, and date with the library entry. Once you find the real file, copy it normally with File Explorer.
Do not confuse camera sidecar files with the video
Some camera-created collections contain an .m2ts video alongside .modd and .moff files. The .m2ts file is the video in that type of collection. The .modd and .moff files are sidecar or metadata files, not alternate video files.
Do not rename a .modd or .moff file to .mp4. Changing the extension does not convert the file and will not create a playable copy. Copy the actual playable video file, such as the .m2ts file, instead.
What “rip” means in Windows Media Player
In Microsoft’s terminology, burn means copying media from the PC to a blank CD or DVD. Rip means copying media from a CD or DVD to the PC.
The current Windows Media Player ripping instructions concern tracks from an audio CD. They are not a general way to save a video that is already playing in the library.
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For an audio CD in Windows Media Player Legacy, insert the disc, select Rip CD, and use Rip settings > Format or Rip settings > Audio Quality for future rips. New tracks normally go to the Music folder, although the location can be changed in the rip settings.
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Why copying may fail
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Properties is not visible | An album or grouped selection is selected, or the newer app has different commands. | Select the individual video. If necessary, run wmplayer.exe to use Windows Media Player Legacy. |
| Open file location leads nowhere | The file was moved, renamed, deleted, or its drive is disconnected. | Reconnect the drive and search This PC for the original filename or video extension. |
| The copied file will not play on another device | The device does not support that video format or codec. | Check the device’s supported formats. A data disc or USB copy does not automatically convert the video. |
| The video will not fit on a disc | The file is larger than the disc’s data capacity. | Use a data DVD for files up to roughly 4.7 GB, use a larger supported medium, or copy it to USB or cloud storage. |
| Burn is missing | The newer Media Player app is open. | Open Windows Media Player Legacy and select Burn there. |
Quick answer
Right-click the individual video in Windows Media Player, choose Properties > Open file location, then copy the file from File Explorer. To burn it, use Windows Media Player Legacy, choose Burn > Burn options > Data CD or DVD, add the video, and select Start burn. Do not use Audio CD mode or the Rip settings for an ordinary video file.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Does Windows Media Player store my videos?
No. Its library normally displays files that remain in folders on your computer or connected storage. Use Properties > Open file location to find and copy the original file.
How do I copy a video from Windows Media Player to a USB drive?
Select the individual video, choose Properties > Open file location, copy the file in File Explorer, open the USB drive under This PC, and paste it there.
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Why can’t I see the Burn tab?
You are probably using the newer Media Player app. It no longer uses the classic Play/Burn/Sync layout. Open Windows Media Player Legacy by searching for it or running wmplayer.exe.
Can I burn a video as an Audio CD?
No. Audio CD mode is for music. Choose Burn options > Data CD or DVD for video files.
Will deleting a video from the burn list delete it from my PC?
No. Right-clicking an item and choosing Remove from list removes it only from the burn list; the source file remains on the computer.
Where are ripped audio files saved?
They normally go to the Music folder. The location can be changed in Windows Media Player’s rip settings. Rip format and quality changes affect new tracks only.
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The Bottom Line
Media Player is a library and playback tool, not a container for your video. Locate the underlying file through Properties > Open file location, then copy it with File Explorer. Use a USB drive or cloud folder for ordinary file transfers; use Legacy Windows Media Player’s Data CD or DVD burn mode for optical media.
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