This article explains how to play .TS files in Windows Media Player when you have acquired from the web. TS files are MPEG-2 video files (TS == Transport Stream), recordings of television broadcasts (in high definition). This article will cover some of the options you have for getting WMP to playback of these type of files.
What are TS files?
The TS file extension is a common one for video files that have been copied from an HDTV broadcast and then posted on the Internet. As an MPEG format, there are a variety of players and methods to play back TS files or to "convert" them to more compliant MPEG-2 files for authoring as DVD/HD DVD. MPEG-2 is the format used in the DVD-Video format and is also part of the HD DVD specification, although it has trouble competing with more compressible formats such as VC-1 and H.264/AVC (VC-1 vs. AVC).
Windows Media Player Can’t Play TS Files
Q1: How do I get WMP 11 to play .ts files?
I want to play .ts files through WMP 11 on my XP & Vista platforms but there seems to be a problem. It may be missing the codec for these files? WMP 12 on Windows 7 plays .ts without problems.
Q2: Not able to add Audio_TS and Video_TS files to the Windows Media Player library
Windows media player videos not being added to library. I have windows 8.1 and cannot add certain video files to my video library. The videos files are in the format of Audio_TS and Video_TS files. The video files can be played on WMP but for some reason cannot be added to the library or playlist.
Q3: I cannot get windows media player in windows to play .ts files, yet the same program in Vista can play then ok
WMP seems to be loading the .ts file but stays in that condition with nothing actually happening
Q4: .ts file does not play in wmp without renaming to other extensions
i have some tv shows with .ts extensions. i have installed required codecs. but when i try to play these files directly in wmp, it gives an error saying file is not supported. However if play it from now playing list of WMP it plays fine. also if i rename it to some WMP supported format it plays fine. How can i make WMP play .ts file without renaming it?
You have 3 options to solve .ts to WMP issues. But before the solutions, you have to refer to some information about the multimedia file types that Windows Media Player supports here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316992 I have extracted the important part below:
File types supported by Windows Media Player
| File extension | WMP 12 | WMP 11 | WMP 10 | WMP 9 Series | WMP for XP | WMP 7 |
| Windows Media formats (.asf, .wma, .wmv, .wm) |
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| Windows Media Metafiles (.asx, .wax, .wvx, .wmx) |
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| Windows Media Metafiles (.wpl) |
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| Microsoft Digital Video Recording (.dvr-ms) |
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| Windows Media Download Package (.wmd) |
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| Audio Visual Interleave (.avi) |
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| Moving Pictures Experts Group (.mpg, .mpeg, .m1v, .mp2, .mp3, .mpa, .mpe, .m3u) |
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| Musical Instrument Digital Interface (.mid, .midi, .rmi) |
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| Audio Interchange File Format (.aif, .aifc, .aiff) |
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| Sun Microsystems and NeXT (.au, .snd) |
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| Audio for Windows (.wav) |
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| CD Audio Track (.cda) |
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| Indeo Video Technology (.ivf) |
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| Windows Media Player Skins (.wmz, .wms) |
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| QuickTime Movie file (.mov) |
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| MP4 Audio file (.m4a) |
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| MP4 Video file (.mp4, .m4v, .mp4v, .3g2, .3gp2, .3gp, .3gpp) |
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| Windows audio file (.aac, .adt, .adts) |
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| MPEG-2 TS Video file (.m2ts) |
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Note Additional file formats might be supported if you install new codecs in Windows. For more information, see Codecs: frequently asked questions.
Now, you can choose any one method below to solve your "Windows Media Player Can’t Play .ts" issues.
3 Methods to Solve "not able to get WMP to play .ts files" Problems
Get WMP AlternativesYou can get some Windows Media Player similar players on Windows that allow you to play TS files.
Top 1: VLC Media Player
The VLC package already includes software to play MPEG-2 video content and supports opening and playing .TS files directly. If you have high definition (HD) video content in .TS format, there are some reasons why you would experience choppy playback with VLC media player. One reported issue is possible video problems when High Quality Audio Resampling is set in VLC’s settings.
To disable it, navigate to Settings –> Preferences in VLC. The Audio settings should be selected by default, however, you will have to select Advanced Settings in the lower right hand corner in order to see all the settings. Once you have done that, you will see that"High Quality Audio Resampling" is selected by default. This has been known to cause issues with playback particularly in older hardware, and at least with disabling it, it should take less processing power.
Top 2: DirectShow players
All Windows Operating Systems come loaded with the DirectShow-based Windows Media Player. Whether or not .TS files will open directly with software such as Windows Media Player or Media Player Classic depends on whether appropriate DirectShow filters are installed.
One of those options is the Haali Media Splitter.
Top 3: MPC-HC
Media Player Classic Home Cinema(MPC-HC) is a free audio and video player for Windows. The new Media Player Classic Home Cinema has Anti tearing option, Subtitle synchronisation, Support Vista 64bits and more, Additional video decoders and in particular H.264 and VC-1 with DXVA support (see specific section for details), Better support for Windows Vista, including a release for 64 bits platform, Support for EVR renderer, Bugs and vulnerability fixes.
You can add "codecs" which are files which are capable of encoding and decoding a stream or data signal which allow you to watch the TS file in all its HDTV glory on Windows Media Player.
Step 1. Download a codec pack which will allow you to play the TS file. The K-Lite Codec Pack, XP Codec Pack or Windows Essential Codecs Pack (see resources) are all examples of packs of codecs which will allow Windows Media Player to successfully play TS files.
Step 2. Install your codec pack by clicking "Download" on the codecs website and following the instructions to install it on your system. Click "Run" as the installation process ends to launch the program.
Step 3. Obey the instructions which appear on screen, clicking "Next" when prompted to. This will install the codecs onto your Windows Media Player and allow you to play your TS file.
Step 4. Double-click on the Windows Media Player icon to launch the media player. Click "File" then "Open." Find your TS file and double-click it. The TS file will now play successfully in Windows Media Player.
Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate is a efficient TS to WMV Converter that can easily convert TS to WMV Windows Media Video files and to other video/audio H.265 AVI MPEG MP4 FLV MOV MKV MP3, etc files in one click in good quality and fast speed with amazing Video editing features, fully compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.
Why recommend this paid software? Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate not only can convert TS to WMV for WMP, but also can transcode M2TS, AVCHD, MXF, ISO, VOB, PS, MOV, FLV, AVI, etc in 4K, 2K, HD, SD to Windows Media Player playable video format with right A/V codec. What’s more, it even can rip commercial Blu-ray to WMP and convert protected DVD to WMP.
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Step 1: Add Source TS Files
Install and run Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate, then Click on "File" to add source TS file(s) you are going to convert. Or go to "File" in menu list. You can add multiple files to the conversion task at one time. Then you can preview the select video in the right panel.
Step 2. Choose WMV format
Click the “Profile” drop down list to select a proper video foramt as you want. Here you just need to hit the “Profile” box and select “HD Video” > “WMV HD” on the dropdown menu as output format.
Note: Video Converter provides smart Video editing features that you can trim the black edge of your movie, clip your favorite part of Video to convert, etc, just click "Edit" and "Clip" to DIY Video files
Step 3: Start TS to WMV Conversion
When everything is OK, hit “Convert” button at the bottom of the main interface to transcode .ts files to WMV for Windows Media Player.
How to Add items to the Windows Media Player Library?
There are several methods you can use to add files to your Player Library:
Monitoring folders: When you start the Player for the first time, it automatically searches certain default folders included in the Music, Pictures, Videos, and Recorded TV libraries on your computer. If you ever add or remove files from these media libraries, the Player will automatically update its available media files. You can also include new folders in your Windows libraries from other locations on your computer or from removable storage devices.
Add media files that you play: When you play a media file on your computer or from a removable storage device, the file is automatically included in your Player Library so you can access it directly from the Player. And if you have access to remote media files stored on other computers on your network, you can change the Player’s settings to add these remote files to your Player Library when you play them.
Related Articles:
- Rip Blu-ray to HD MPEG-TS with Subtitle for Apple TV
- Top TS Video Converter for macOS Sierra
- Top 5 TS Video Converter for Windows (Windows 10 included)
- How to backup Blu-ray to TS with Subtitles?
- Roku 3 can’t stream Video_TS folders on PC hard drive? Solved
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