Windows Media Player Can't Skip or Fast Forward [Fix]

Run the dedicated troubleshooter to fix things

Fix » Windows 10

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by Ivan Jenic 

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Key notes

  • When Windows Media Player can't skip forward, it's usually the corrupt files or misconfigured settings to blame.
  • A quick solution is to run the dedicated troubleshooters.
  • For many, re-registering the DLL files helped when Windows Media Player couldn't rewind.
fix windows media player can't skip forward

Windows Media Player is an excellent multimedia player, but many users reported that Windows Media Player can’t skip forward.

This can be a big issue for some users, so today, we will show you how to fix it.

What can I do if Windows Media Player can’t skip forward?

Before we proceed, here are a few quick tricks you can try:

  • Restart the computer.
  • The Forward button is, in reality, a dual-purpose button that, when clicked, will load the next song or video in the playlist. To fast-forward, press and hold on to the button for at least 15 seconds for the forward action to take place.

If none work, move to the solutions listed next.

1. Run Windows Media Player Settings troubleshooter

  1. Press Windows + R to open Run, paste the following command, and hit Enter:msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerConfigurationDiagnostic
  2. On the WMP troubleshooter window, click on Next for the process to begin.
    Troubleshooting WMP settings if windows media player cannot skip forward
  3. Follow on-screen instructions.

2. Run Windows Media Player Library troubleshooter

  1. Press Windows + R, paste the following command, and press Enter:msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerLibraryDiagnostic
  2. Click on Next for the troubleshooting process to begin.
    Try troubleshooting WMP Library if windows media player cannot skip forward
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen.

The built-in troubleshooters often help fix things when Windows Media Player can’t skip forward 10 seconds or jump by 5 seconds.

3. Register DLL files

  1. Press Windows + S to open Search, type Command Prompt, and click on the relevant search result.
  2. Paste all the following commands individually and hit Enter after each:regsvr32 ntdll.dll /s regsvr32 msdxm.ocx /s regsvr32 dxmasf.dll /s regsvr32 wmp.dll /s regsvr32 wmpdxm.dll  /scommand
  3. Once done, restart the PC.

This should be all that you need to do if Windows Media Player can’t skip forward. Besides, if the problem persists, we recommend you switch to a reliable and dedicated media player.

Tell us which fix worked for you in the comments section below.

More about the topics: windows 10 fix, windows media player

Ivan Jenic

Ivan Jenic Shield

Windows Hardware Expert

Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting. When he's not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.