Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 10

The Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 10 is a free Microsoft add-on that restores Windows Media Player, the built-in audio and video codecs and the media technologies that N editions ship without. On Windows 10 version 1909 and later, and on Windows 11 N, you no longer download it: you install it from Settings as an optional feature, then restart the PC.

This guide explains what N and KN editions are missing, how to install the pack on current and older versions, why the camera and other features break without it, and what to check if the pack does not appear.

What are the N and KN versions of Windows 10?

N and KN editions of Windows 10 are versions sold without Windows Media Player and related media technologies, created to meet legal requirements in Europe (N) and Korea (KN). Apart from the missing media components they offer the same functionality as the regular editions, and Microsoft offers N variants of Home, Pro, Education and Enterprise.

Microsoft's own Media Feature Pack documentation lists what an N edition leaves out:

• Windows Media Player, Windows Media Format and Windows Media DRM
• Media Foundation, media sharing and Play To
• Windows Portable Devices support, used by phones, cameras and MTP media players
• Audio codecs such as MPEG, WMA, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, AMR and Dolby Digital
• Video codecs such as VC-1, MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 and H.263
• Preinstalled apps: Groove Music, Movies & TV, Voice Recorder and Skype

KN editions only appear by name in the very first pack for Windows 10 version 1508, titled "Media feature pack for Windows 10 N and Windows 10 KN editions". Later packs in Microsoft's list are published for N editions only.

How to install the Media Feature Pack on Windows 10 N

On Windows 10 N version 1909 and later, the Media Feature Pack is installed only as an optional feature in Settings; there is no separate installer to download. You need an internet connection, because Windows downloads the package from Microsoft's servers.

1. Open Start and select Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Apps & features > Optional features.
3. Select Add a feature.
4. Find Media Feature Pack in the list, check it and select Install.
5. Restart the PC when the installation finishes.

The restart is not optional. Microsoft notes that Windows does not prompt for it, but the installation is not complete until the computer has rebooted.

Administrators can add the same capability from an elevated Command Prompt with DISM:

DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Media.MediaFeaturePack~~~~0.0.1.0

How to install the Media Feature Pack on Windows 11 N

Windows 11 N uses the same optional feature, reached through a slightly different Settings path.

1. Open Start > Settings > Apps > Optional features.
2. Select View features next to Add an optional feature.
3. Search for Media Feature Pack, select it and install it.
4. Restart the PC to finish the installation.

If you are moving from Windows 10 N to Windows 11 N, plan to install the pack again on the new system. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, so Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows 11 or enrolling in the Extended Security Updates program. Our guide to the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool covers creating installation media.

Media Feature Pack download for older Windows 10 versions

A standalone Media Feature Pack download exists only for Windows 10 versions older than 1909, and each pack matches one specific version. Installing a pack built for a different version fails, so check your version first with winver (press Windows-R, type winver, press Enter).

Microsoft's Media Feature Pack download page offers packs for versions 1903, 1809, 1803 and 1709, for Home N, Pro N, Education N and Enterprise N. Choose a language that matches the installed Windows language; download links stay valid for 24 hours.

For every other version, including 1508, 1511, 1607 and 1703, the Media Feature Pack list for Windows N editions links to the matching article. The original 2015 pack for version 1508 came as separate 32-bit and 64-bit installers; on version 1511 it was superseded by a newer release.

Running any of these old versions online is a security risk, as none of them receives updates. Upgrading to a supported release and adding the pack through Settings is the better route.

Camera not working on Windows 10 N: why the pack matters

Webcams do not work on Windows 10 N without the Media Feature Pack, because the camera pipeline depends on Media Foundation and the Windows Portable Devices components that N editions omit. This is why "camera" searches for the pack are so common.

According to Microsoft, these features fail or are limited on an N edition until the pack is installed:

• Webcams, Windows Hello face sign-in and cameras that use the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP)
• Audio and video calls in Microsoft Teams
• Xbox Game DVR, Cortana voice interaction, voice typing and live captions
• Video playback in Photos and OneDrive, and media bought in the Microsoft Store
• Alarm and timer sounds, Wireless Display and some video streaming sites in Microsoft Edge

If the camera still fails after installing the pack and restarting, reinstall the camera driver. Microsoft notes that some features need their hardware drivers reinstalled once the pack is in place.

Microsoft Store apps and codecs to add after the pack

The Media Feature Pack restores the core media platform, but some formats and apps come separately from the Microsoft Store. Microsoft lists these as additional installs for N editions:

• VP9 Video Extensions, Web Media Extensions and HEIF Image Extensions for playback in apps and browsers
• Movies & TV, Groove Music, Windows Voice Recorder and Skype
• Xbox Game Bar for game recording

A third-party player such as VLC handles most formats with its own codecs, which is a practical fallback if you only need playback. It cannot restore system features such as the webcam pipeline or Windows Hello, though; for those, the Media Feature Pack is the only fix. If colors look off in VLC on an N system, see our VLC washed-out colors fix.

FAQ

Related: Apps and Features versus Programs and Features in Windows 10, make VLC remember the playback position, the fastest ways to take a screenshot on Windows 10