Configure Network Buffering: registry value NetworkBufferingPolicy and 2 moreUserHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer

Policy ID: NetworkBuffering
Scope: User Configuration
Supported on: Windows Media Player for Windows XP and later.
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Windows Media Player › Networking

Registry

NetworkBufferingPolicy

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer Current key

Enabled value: 1
Disabled value: 0

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer]

; Options (use only one)
; Enabled
"NetworkBufferingPolicy"=dword:00000001
; Disabled
"NetworkBufferingPolicy"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Enabled
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer" /v "NetworkBufferingPolicy" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Disabled
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer" /v "NetworkBufferingPolicy" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Enabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'NetworkBufferingPolicy' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Disabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'NetworkBufferingPolicy' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null

BufferingType

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Buffering Time

Options
Item	Stored value
Default	1 Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer\UseDefaultBuffering = 1
Custom	2 Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer\UseDefaultBuffering = 0

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer]

; Options (use only one)
; Default
"BufferingType"=dword:00000001
"UseDefaultBuffering"=dword:00000001
; Custom
"BufferingType"=dword:00000002
"UseDefaultBuffering"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Default
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer" /v "BufferingType" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer" /v "UseDefaultBuffering" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Custom
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer" /v "BufferingType" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer" /v "UseDefaultBuffering" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Default
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'BufferingType' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'UseDefaultBuffering' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Custom
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'BufferingType' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'UseDefaultBuffering' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null

NetworkBuffering

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Configure Network Buffering
Value type: REG_DWORD
Maximum value: 60

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer]

; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data
"NetworkBuffering"=dword:<enter value>

CMD

:: Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer" /v "NetworkBuffering" /t REG_DWORD /d "<enter value>" /f

PowerShell

# Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'NetworkBuffering' -PropertyType DWord -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null