Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center is a DVR and media player that was first introduced in 2002 with Windows XP Media Center Edition and it became an included app in the Home Premium and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista as well as all editions of Windows 7.

Microsoft ceased active development of Windows Media Center after Windows 7 shipped in 2009 and as a result, Microsoft deprecated Windows Media Center in Windows 8/8.1 when it no longer became bundled with any of the editions of the OS by default and instead, Windows Media Center was offered as an paid add-on for these versions until 30 October 2015 via the Add Features to Windows 8 service and The Windows 8 Feature Packs web site.

In May 2015, Microsoft announced that Windows Media Center would not be available for Windows 10 due to decreased usage. As a result, anyone who upgraded to Windows 10 from a previous version of Windows that had Windows Media Center would lose access to the application. However, people who did upgrade from a previous version of Windows that did include the WMC would receive the paid Windows DVD Player app for free.

In January 2020, Microsoft discontinued support for the Electronic Program Guide service on all versions of Windows Media Center when free support for Windows 7 ended.