How to Install Windows Media Center on Windows 10

3 min. read

Updated on October 4, 2023

updated on October 4, 2023

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Windows 10 Technical Preview comes with a lot of new features, but besides that, some features from the previous versions of Windows have been removed, and Windows Media Center is one of them. Eventually, you can install this feature in Windows 10, but it is not recommendable.

[DISCONTINUED] Microsoft confirmed in 2015 that Media Center, with its TV receiver and PVR functionality, would not be updated for or included with Windows 10, thus the product would be discontinued.

As a replacement, the paid Windows DVD Player app was received for free to all those upgradings to Windows 10 from a version of Windows that included the Media Center application.

You can find the best media software alternative to Windows Media Center in these articles:

5 best media center software for Windows PC users
7 best media software for PC to enjoy crystal clear videos
You can add Windows Media Center by using your key for Windows 8 Media Center Park, but if you want to continue with testing Windows 10, you probably wouldn’t want to do that. This is because your system will be recognized as Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center after you apply the key and you won’t get any further updates and build for your current Windows 10 Technical Preview.

“We do not recommend adding Media Center to Windows 10 Technical Preview as using a purchased product key will also prevent you from getting updates and future builds for Windows 10 Technical Preview,” says Winston M, a Microsoft Support Engineer.

On the other hand, if you just can’t use your system without Windows Media Center, you can add it to the system, but think about the facts you’ve read above. Here’s how to add Windows Media Center to Windows 10 Technical Preview using Windows 8 Media Center key:

Go to Search box, type add features and go to Add Features to Windows Technical Preview
After that, you will be asked whether you have a product key or you want to purchase one. Since you can’t purchase the product key, for now, you should use the Windows 8 Media Center key. Click on I already have a product key and enter your product key
To add Windows Media Center just go to Add Features and you’re good to go

Now you have Windows Media Center in your Windows 10 Technical Preview. But I personally don’t see the point in doing this, because the main purpose of Windows 10 Technical Preview is testing, and you won’t be able to do that anymore after you install Windows Media Center. So I think that it is a much better idea to use regular Windows 8/8.1 if you want this feature.

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