Why Doesn't Making iTunes Your Default Media Player Always Work?

I bought a new hard drive on my desktop PC and I installed Windows 7 Pro on it. I just installed iTunes version 10.6.1.7. Everything that's in my itunes music folder seems to be playing fine.
When I inserted an mp3 audio file (from Dropbox)into my iTunes folder and double-clicked to play it, Windows Media Player opened and played it. So I opened the Auto Play window in Windows Control Panel to make iTunes my default audio player.
I was able to set iTunes as my default player when I insert an audio CD into my PC. iTues also plays songs that I download from the internet. But when I attempted to select iTunes as my default player for audio files that I copied and pasted into the iTunes folder, it wasn't listed on the pulldown menu. The only choices listed on the pulldown menu are:
Windows Media Player
Input Pictures & Video Using Dropbox
Open folder to view files using Windows Explorer
Take No Action and
Ask Me Every Time
How can I make iTunes my default media player for any audio file that I wish to play?

Right click mp3 file and select "Open with", then "Choose Default Program....."

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How do you make itunes your default media player?

On itunes 7, I have been looking everywhere for the setting that changes itunes to your default media player but I cannot find it. Can anyone please assist me since I do not know what I am doing. Sorry if i'm reposting.

this document might be of some help with that:
iTunes for Windows: How to make iTunes the default application for music and audio files

Can not set up iTunes as default media player in windows

Using Start,Programs,set programs access and defaults,Custom, select iTunes as default media player will not work. Using iTune, Edit, Preferences,Advanced, General will do work either, Get error message "You do not have enough access privileges for this operation."
Can anyone help solve this problem?

I used your suggestion and the system would not let me change. I am the administrator. Thanks for your help.

Unset iTunes as default media player...

I remember when initially setting up my iTunes it asked if iTunes should be the default player for everything, as well as a streaming radio and other things online player. So now when I open up say an RSS feed it auto plays in itunes (and thus imports itself). I want to undo this feature and have quicktime be the default, such that when I just play a segment online in my browser or soemthing, it doesn't import into my iTunes library when I do not care to permanetly have it. How do I do this though? I am sorry I am being vague, I don't remember exactly what it is called OR where I can undo it...
When I dug around for the feature to disable in iTunes i found under preferences -> advance. I see a tab called "Use iTunes for Internet music playback: set" but it only enables one to set itunes as default, but how do I unset, or set quicktime?
Thank you

Select the file in Finder that is being opened in iTunes but you really don't want it to be.
Do a Get Info on it (Apple+I).
Go to the Open With section.
Change to drop down selection to what you want to use instead of iTunes (Quicktime?) and then use the Change All... button.
That should do the trick.
Regards,
Colin R.

How do you make iTunes the default media player again?

thanx

ok that almost worked lol. when i get to configuration and click on microsoft windows, there is no way for me to change it. however if i go to custom and switch it back to iTunes, i don't think it saves. because when i open iTunes this pop up comes up saying "windows can perform the same action each time you connect this device. what do you want windows to do?" and then it has real player or take no action as my only options.

Lacking sufficent privilges to make ITUNES the default Audio player.

Never had any problems until updating to this latest version of ITUNES but it now gives me the "you lack sufficent privilages" message whenever I try to set ITUNES as the default player for audio files in preferances.
I've set my permissions on MY DOCUMENTS/MY MUSIC and all sub-folders/files to full control for everyone and yet this problem persists.
I have went into program access control and set ITUNES as default and it acts like it is setting it as default but when I open ITUNES it asks me if I want to set it to default player I check yes and it promply tells me I lack sufficent privilages to do so.
I am of coure running as an ADMIN account.
I am running XP PRO with all latest updates and patches
SPYBOT S&D
SpywareBlaster
AVG anti-virus
AD-AWARE SE
COMODO Firewall
I have tried changing things with all of the above security items turned off on 2 differant ADMIN level accounts and the result is the same...no joy
My computer has Two ADMIN level accounts on it and a VISITOR account with limited privilages...could the limited Privilage account be causing a problem as it was added after my original install of ITUNEs (version 6.whatever) and was already installed on the computer when I installed the current upgraded version.
Since ITUNES installs it's startup ICON in the ALL/USERS folder could the fact that the one account has limited privilages prevent allowing the change to be made on all accounts??
If anyone has the solution please respond...this version should be called LOONEYTUNES cause that is where it is driving me!!

It makes and keeps all the changes I make in preferances with the exception of making ITUNES the default audio player. The only solution or work around has been to go and right click on say a MP3 file select file/open with/select ITUNES check the box always open with this program box and then it will open the Mp3 files with ITUNES.
It kinda gets what I want done I suppose, but I, like the Dyson vacuum guy on TV believe things "should work as they as supposed to".
As yet ITUNES Ver.7 has been a disappointment, as long as windows XP has been around and as widspread as the usage of ITUNES is on windows platrom machines, IMHO there is no excuse for these kind of compatability issues.

Why does my iTunes window freeze and wont close until i shut my computer down, when the "iTunes is not the default media player" message appears? and how do i fix this? i just want to fix my music, but it freezes and i can't use my computer correctly.

when i plug my iPod into my computer, iTunes opens as normal, but for a while it's been giving me a message that says "iTunes is not the default media player" and after i 'tried' to do that, i'll close the settings window and my iTunes window will freeze and not close, reload, or anything. and if i "open drvice to view files" that window will freeze too, the internal storage window. i can't get iTunes to close with ALT+F4, or right clicking the tab on the bottom of the screen to close it, or clicking the 'X' button. the only way it closes is when i shut down my computer. please help me fix this. Its getting Really Really tiring having to restart my computer over and over.

What Windows version?

Itunes not working as default media player for mp3's in firefox

In Firefox (and I tried Safari with same results), clicking a link that is supposed to play an mp3, itunes is not completing the operation. itunes is set as the default media player. The mp3 file is actually loaded into user.AppData.Local.Temp, but it is not imported into itunes (nor played). I can move the file to the desktop and then move into itunes. Trying to move from .Temp directly into itunes doesn't work. What am I missing???

Check out this thread for a possible resolution to your problem: http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6825681

Why doesn't my itunes recognize my ipod nano 6th gen anymore?

I recently purchased a lot of new songs and downloaded the newest version of itunes. Now when i plug my ipod (6th gen) into the USB to sync with itunes it shows that it is charging ("connected - eject before disconnecting") then it ejects itself and the whole time itunes never registers my ipod. So frustrating!! I've restarted my computer many times, i've uninstalled and reinstalled Itunes many times. I've tried holding the sleep/on/off button with the volume down button to restore it then i get a message from itunes saying that it can't restore my ipod because of an error..... What can I do??? Please Help!!!!

burtontexjap wrote:
Why doesn't my iTunes recognize my "Songs for Japan" CD,
iTunes gets information about all CDs from a database called Gracenote (which has nothing to do with iTunes/Apple), but if no one has entered the information about that CD into Gracenote, that's why your iTunes cannot fill in the track names. You could send that information to Gracenote yourself by completing the track names and artists and then clicking on Advanced/Submit CD track names. That would help everyone else in the future.
However, you then go on to say;
burtontexjap wrote:Recently my computer's iTunes doesn't recognize any artists, even the ones I've uploaded before.
If your iTunes cannot get any track information for any CD, then either your iTunes isn't connected to the internet, or your iTunes setting have changed. To check your iTunes settings, go into Edit/Preferences/General and look at the tick-box (check-box) named Automatically retrieve CD track names from the internet. There should be a tick (check-mark) in the box.

¿What I have to do to avoid or prevent iTunes to auto configurate or autoselect as default media player each time I open it or connect my iPod?.

Hello,
For years I use in my computer Windows Media Player and/or Media Player Classic to play my music and video files and I know quite well all their operation options. My problem is that since I install the iTunes program, mainly for servicing my iPod Touch, every time I connect my iPod to the PC or open iTunes, the iTunes program without any warning or authorization auto configurate as default media player overriding my Windows and Classic Media players, so each time I have to open iTunes and go to the Advanced Preferences Menu and unselect the option " Use iTunes as the default audio application" so to be able to use my favorite media players.
My question is: ¿What I have to do to avoid or prevent iTunes to auto configurate or autoselect as default media player or override my favorite media players, each time I open it or connect my iPod?
Plese your help,
Regards,
Pabl

Hello BPeery,
I would go through ALL the steps here:
iPod not recognized in 'My Computer' and in iTunes for Windows
Let us know how it goes.
Hope this helps.
~Julian

Why doesn't my iTunes Radio give me the option to customize stations using "play more like this" and "never play this" in the star menu?

Why doesn't my iTunes Radio give me the option to customize stations using "play more like this" and "never play this" in the star menu?

You can only "play more like this" on your custom stations. The pre-programmed ones cannot be altered, at least to my understanding

Why doesn't my itunes on my windows pc load on my apple tv? Home sharing is turned on and my ipad can see it!

why doesn't my itunes on my windows pc load on my apple tv?
Home sharing is turned on and my ipad can see it!

Welcome to the Apple Community.
Intermittent problems
Intermittent problems are often a result of interference. Interference can be caused by other networks in the neighbourhood or from household electrical items.
You can download and install iStumbler (NetStumbler for windows users) to help you see which channels are used by neighbouring networks so that you can avoid them, but iStumbler will not see household items.
Refer to your router manual for instructions on changing your wifi channel or adjusting your multicast rate.
There are other types of problems that can affect networks, but this is by far the most common, hence worth mentioning first. Networks that have inherent issues can be seen to work differently with different versions of the same software. You might also try moving the Apple TV away from other electrical equipment.
Consistent Problems
A frequent cause of consistent failure to enable AirPlay or HomeSharing at all, is the service being blocked on the network. Make sure your network isn't hidden, has a unique name, that MAC address authentication is disabled, security is set to use WPA 2 Personal and that there is only one router/device acting as a DHCP server and providing NAT services.
Make sure your router/computer allows access over the following ports
Port
Type
Protocol
Used By
80
TCP
HTTP
AirPlay
443
TCP
HTTPS
AirPlay
554
TCP/UDP
RTSP
AirPlay
3689
TCP
DAAP
iTunes/AirPlay
5297
TCP
Bonjour
5289
TCP/UDP
Bonjour
5353
TCP/UDP
MDNS
Bonjour/AirPlay
49159
UDP
MDNS (Win)
Bonjour/AirPlay
49163
UDP
MDNS (Win)
Bonjour/AirPlay
Refer to your router manual/manufacturer for any settings that are specific to that model.
Another frequent cause of consistent failure to enable AirPlay or HomeSharing at all, is security software, in many cases configuring it correctly, disabling it or even uninstalling it can help, but in some cases the security software can cause problems that simply reconfiguring, disabling or uninstalling cannot reverse.
If you are consistently unable to activate AirPlay, have tried all the steps in this article and have security software installed on your system, you might benefit from contacting its provider or participating in any online forums they run to discuss the matter with them.

HT1473 why doesn't my itunes have the cd burning option in 'preferences' ?

Why doesn't my itunes have the cd burning option in 'preferences' ?

Welcome to Apple Communities
You can burn a playlist only. Right click in one, press Burn and wait

How to change default media player setting in Mountain Lion

I right click on the desired media player, then I click on "get info" and another pop up appears,
but there is no "open with" selection! See pic below:
I open the application folder in the Finder window, I highlight the desired media player, I go to the top and
click on File and in the drop down menu, the "open with" is grayed out. Why?
How do I change the default media player setting or better yet, where do I find what is the default player? Help Please!

CheeMiss8
you need to find the file you are trying to have open with a specific application.
for example, I'm going to use an MP4 file titled cat_adventure video.
here it is in finder
I right click (secondary click) it in finder, and then hold down the option key on my keyboard.
the Open With dialogue should change to "Always Open With" and then you choose your application from the pull out menu when you hover that.
You can make it so all MP4 or whichever file you are using (AVI, MKV, etc) to open with a specific app by right clicking the file choosing get info
The difference here is I'm not selecting the application but a file with the extension of the video format I always want to be opened with a specific application
once in the get info menu I can then select to have the video always open with a certain app.
1.click the open with accordion menu arrow if it is pointing to the left. it should be pointing down.
2.select the application you want to always be associated with that file format
3.select Change All to have that file format always be opened with that Application.
Where this isn't working for you is because you are doing this to the Application itself. you don't do it like that. You need to find the type of file you are trying to open with itunes and then go through these steps.
selecting the application (itunes) instead of the file (mp4, avi, mkv, flv) will not allow you to set what the file format lets you use to play your video.
having said that, itunes is very limited in what it can and can't play. Mainly .mov and mp4's (apples proprietary extensions)

How do I switch my default media player

Seeing as how VLC plays way more types of files than does Quicktime, I can avoid many headaches by having my video media files opened by VLC automatically, by default, instead of by Quicktime. I can't seem to find how to make VLC my default player. I've figured out how to make VLC always play individual, specific files but I want to give VLC default status. help.

Hi, Seanski.
There doesn't appear to be a way to make VLC the default media player other than on the filetype-by-filetype basis you've described, i.e. "Mac OS X 10.4 Help: Changing the application that opens a document."
There's no preference for this in VLC itself, nor is there anything related in VLC's Help.
Frankly, I would not make it my default player even if it were possible since there are still plenty of files that it does not play or does not play well, usually AVI files that use a Windows-only CODEC. I only use it occasionally when I have a video file that QuickTime won't play.
Unfortunately, the free Flip4Mac WMV player, which adds support for playing Windows Media files in QuickTime (except those protected with WMA-DRM), is not yet available in a Universal Binary that will work on your MacBook. They plan to release a Universal Binary at some point.
Fellow Discussions contributor "CMYK Design Studio" posted a workaround for using Flip4Mac on Intel-based Macs. The post has expired from the Discussions, but there is currently an archive of it here at Google.
However, I've read here that Popwire WMV-9 Component can play Windows Media files under QuickTime. I've not tried it, but you may want to give it a whirl.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

Why Doesn't Making iTunes Your Default Media Player Always Work?

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