MIME Type Settings for Windows Media Services (288102)

SUMMARY

Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) types allow for the exchange of different kinds of files on the Internet. For Microsoft Windows Media files and live broadcasts to stream properly, both Web browsers and servers must have their MIME types configured to recognize Windows Media file types. Although browsers usually have their MIME types set automatically, in some cases you may have to set them manually. MIME types almost always have to be configured manually on a Web server.

MORE INFORMATION

Web Server MIME Type Considerations

Consult the product documentation for the correct method of associating MIME types with the following file name extensions:

File extension	MIME type
.asf	video/x-ms-asf
.asx	video/x-ms-asf
.wma	audio/x-ms-wma
.wax	audio/x-ms-wax
.wmv	audio/x-ms-wmv
.wvx	video/x-ms-wvx
.wm	video/x-ms-wm
.wmx	video/x-ms-wmx
.wmz	application/x-ms-wmz
.wmd	application/x-ms-wmd

Browser MIME Type Considerations

Browser MIME types should be set automatically when Windows Media Player is installed. If you have Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 or later or Netscape Navigator 3.0 or later, the MIME type is set automatically. This is true even when you install Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator after installing the Windows Media Player. If you are having MIME type problems, reinstall Windows Media Player.

If you are using a browser other than Microsoft Internet Explorer, AOL, Opera, or Netscape Navigator (or if you have installed a browser after installing Windows Media Player), you may have to set the MIME types. The best way to do this is to reinstall Windows Media Player. To change these settings manually, refer to your browser documentation to determine how to add the following settings:

Extension	MIME Type
ASX	video/x-ms-asf
WMA	audio/x-ms-wma
WAX	audio/x-ms-wax
WMV	video/x-ms-wmv
WVX	video/x-ms-wvx
WM	video/x-ms-wm
WMX	video/x-ms-wmx
WMZ	application/x-ms-wmz
WMD	application/x-ms-wmd

For the helper application, specify Wmplayer.exe (Windows Media Player 7 and 7.1) or Mplayer2.exe (versions earlier than Windows Media Player 7).

Reinstalling Windows Media Player typically sets the MIME types for newly installed browsers. To change the settings in Windows Media Player version 6.4, click Options on the View menu, click the Formats tab, and then click to select the check boxes of the file types that you want to associate with Windows Media Player. Windows Media Player will register all selected file types in the Web browsers.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.