How to enable or disable DLNA on Windows 11

DLNA streaming has been around for a long time and is considered one of the more user-friendly options. Given its compatibility with a variety of devices and systems, you shouldn’t have problems connecting to one. So, let’s learn how to enable DLNA in Windows 11.

There are two methods, use the built-in Windows DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) feature or install a third-party application. While the former works well and provides the best experience, you can try the app with its enhanced feature set. We will list both options.

What are the benefits of using DLNA?

DLNA allows media streaming across devices on a network, provided the streaming device is compliant with the standard. Once set up on your smart TV or other system, you can view the list of devices and select the input you want. All this done in minutes!

Additionally, DLNA allows media sharing. You can transfer music, picture, and video files from dedicated folders in your user account to other users on the same computer, another computer, and DLNA-compatible devices.

How to enable DLNA server on Windows 11?

1. Using Control Panel

1. Press to open the Search menu, type "Control Panel" in the search bar, and then click on the relevant results. WindowsS
2. Click "Network and Internet".
3. Click "Network and Sharing Center".
4. Now, select Media Streaming Options from the navigation pane.
5. Click the Open Media Stream button.
6. After turning on media streaming in Windows 11, change the name of the DLNA media server in the text field if needed.
7. Click to select Default Settings You can configure these settings for local and public networks.
8. When finished, click "OK" to save the changes.

That's it! While Windows doesn't have a DLNA client of the same name, the media streaming is the same and allows for DLNA-compatible streaming across devices on the network.

To stream content from a Windows PC, move the relevant files to the current library folder. For example, if it's a picture, move it to the Picture Library, a video to the Video Library, and a music file to the Music Library. Once completed, the files will be visible to connected devices.

Keep in mind that you will also need to use a DLNA-compatible media player on another device, whether it's VLC, Roku Media Player, Xbox One Media Player, or PS4 Media Player.

2. Press Open Run via Registry Editor

1. , type regedit in the text field, and click .WindowsREnter
2. Click "is" at the UAC prompt.
3. Navigate the following path or paste it into the address bar and click: Enter<strong>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer</strong>
4. Locate the "Prevent media sharing" DWORD, right-click it and select "Modify". If the path and/or key cannot be found, create it.
5. Enter 0 under Numeric Data and click OK to save changes.

You can always turn on media streaming in Windows 11 through the registry. The same changes can be made through the Local Group Policy Editor. If you are using Windows 11 Home edition, install gpedit.msc on your PC first as the console is not included in Home edition.

3. Use third-party applications

If the built-in DLNA functionality does not meet your requirements, please use a reliable third-party solution. Problems often occur when the codec is not supported, and you can eliminate this problem with a player that employs real-time transcoding.

You can try Playon, Ampache, Plex Media Server or Jellyfin, etc. All of them are easy to use, and their official website lists the steps to get them running.

How to turn off DLNA on Windows 11?

• Through Control Panel: To turn off media streaming in Windows 11, open Control Panel>Click Network and Internet>ClickNetwork and Sharing Center> Select Media Streaming Options from the left pane> and click the Block All button.
• Via Local Group Policy Editor: To disable DLNA in Windows 11, open Gpedit.msc, >under "Computer Configuration" select "Administrative Templates ” >Select “Windows Components” > Double-click Windows Media Player > Open the “Block Media Sharing” policy on the right > Select “Enabled” > Then click Click "Apply" and "OK" to save changes.

Troubleshoot common issues with DLNA on Windows 11

• The server does not recognize the file format: Make sure the file's format is supported. If not, convert it or use a streaming service that is compatible with the file type.
• A popup will appear when trying to stream a file : Make sure the personal folder you are streaming the file from has been added to the relevant library. You can add folders to the library via File Explorer or Windows Media Player.
• The default settings do not allow file sharing: Re-enable DLNA media streaming or enable network discovery in the advanced sharing settings.

If you're still having issues, learn how to fix problems when media streaming isn't working in Windows.

You now have an overview of DLNA, how to enable it, and streaming features in Windows 11. Additionally, server software can prove useful in some situations, but it shouldn't be your primary approach.

If you're still running a previous iteration, learn how to set up a DLNA server on Windows 10. The steps are almost the same as Windows 11.

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