[UPDATE] How to Get WMP 12 Taskbar Toolbar (Taskband) Back in Windows 7?

If you are using Windows 7 and missing the good old Taskbar Toolbar aka Taskband in Windows Media Player 12 (WMP 12), here is something very interesting for you.

"Justin Buser" @ our friend site WinMatrix has found an excellent way to bring WMP 12 Taskbar Toolbar back in Windows 7.

If you don't know what is WMP Taskbar Toolbar or Taskband, please visit these topics: Topic 1, Topic 2.

Here are step-by-step instructions to enable WMP 12 Taskbar Toolbar in Windows 7:

1. Actually Taskbar Toolbar or Taskband is stored in a DLL file called "wmpband.dll" which is found in "Windows Media Player" directory present in "Program Files" folder. Microsoft removed this DLL file from WMP 12 folder, that's why the toolbar no longer exists in Windows 7.

You can copy this DLL file from WMP 11 folder present in Windows Vista to Windows 7. If you don't have access to a Vista system, you can directly download it from following links:

Download Link (Rapidshare)

Download Link (Mediafire)

2. Once you download the above ZIP file, extract it and you'll get the required DLL file for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows versions. Copy the appropriate DLL file and paste it to "Windows Media Player" directory present in "Program Files" folder. Just type %programfiles%\Windows Media Player in Explorer addressbar and press enter and it'll open the "Windows Media Player" directory.

3. Now right-click on Computer icon on desktop and select Manage, it'll open a new window. Now go to Services & Applications -> Services. You can also open the same from Administrative Tools -> Computer Management. Or you can directly open "Services" list by providing services.msc command in RUN or Startmenu search box.

Now right-click on "Windows Media Player Network Sharing" service and select "Stop". It'll stop the service.

4. Now you'll need to register "WMPBand.dll" file. Type following string in RUN or Startmenu Searchbox and press Enter:

regsvr32 "%programfiles%\Windows Media Player\wmpband.dll"

5. That's it. Now run Windows Media Player. Minimize it and select "Toolbars -> Windows Media Player" option by right-clicking on the Taskbar and you'll be able to enjoy the Taskbar Toolbar aka Taskband in Windows 7:

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This article was posted in Troubleshooting, Windows 7.

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18 Comments

Amit

Sir its not working here, when i tried to register the DLL it showed me this warning

"The module "C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpband.dll" was loaded but the call to DLLRegisterServer failed with error code 0x80020009."
Chad

I'd like to do that but it looks bad.
goldi

Its looks great but before to use it i want to know is there is any way to revert ( Remove it & get origional style ? )
Vic

Thanks!
Daniel

Doesn't work. Furthermore, Media Player doesn't play anything
James

If it didn't work, try opening a cmd prompt window with administrative privileges. This worked for me.

However, now the WMP taskbar band never goes away, even with WMP closed. The only way to get rid of it is to uncheck it from Toolbars -> Windows Media Player. This is annoying enough that I may not use this.
Tangmeister

Great tip!
MAGNUMHEART

vg it gives me an error 0x80070005 after attempting to register the DLL file.

how come?
goldi

@MAGNUMHEART run command prompt with administrator previllage ( Right click on command prompt & run it as administrator )
Someone

Does it remove all the Windows 7 Media Features?