While most people stream music these days, some prefer to keep an audio library of their own. If you're of that mindset, you're probably also interested in still using Windows Media Player.

Despite numerous modern alternatives, there's something nostalgic about booting up your favorite album in WMP and watching those classic visualizers play out. However, if you're bored of the pre-installed visualizer, then we'll shock you with some of the coolest alternative visualizers out there.

How to Get Windows Media Player Visualizers

For most of these different visualizers, you'll be able to get your hands on them from the same place: Microsoft's website. Open Windows Media Player and start playing an audio file. Click the Now Playing button to view the Now Playing window.

While in the Now Playing window, right-click and hover over Visualizations. At the bottom of the list, select Download Visualization to be taken to the Microsoft support website.

Windows Media Player Visualizations Menu

Please note that Microsoft no longer supports Windows Media Player officially. The downloads available on this site cannot be downloaded securely, so readers do so at their own risk.

On the support site, right-click on the Download button for the visualizer you want, and select Save Link As. Once you've downloaded the executable, run it to install your new visualizer.

If everything has worked, you should find a new option in the right-click menu of Windows Media Player.

Related: VLC Media Player: Every Windows Keyboard Shortcut

The Coolest Windows Media Player Visualizers

So, now you know where to get them and how to use them, but which of these Windows Media Player visualizers is the coolest? We've put together a list of the most interesting ones for you here.

1. Psychedelia Viz Pack

Distortion Windows Media Play Visualization

This pack comes with seven new visualizers for you to try out, and as the name implies, things can get a bit trippy. As well as a 3D version of the album art visualizer, you also get access to more psychedelic visuals than a Tool music video.

A particular highlight is probably the Distortion mode with a giant picture of your album art, jiggling to the music under a blue sky while text spins lazily around.

Download: Psychedelia Viz Pack (Free)

2. Windows Media 9 Series

Windows Media Series 9 Visualizer Screenshot

While it may have the blandest name in the universe, the Windows Media 9 Series visualizer is great for a slightly more chilled-out and subtle effect. It features a reactive pool of water at the bottom and some audio levels projected over the backgrounds.

One of the best parts of this visualization is how customizable it is. You can change the size of the audio level display and remove reflections and logos from the screen.

Download: Windows Media 9 Series (Free)

3. WhiteCap

WhiteCap Windows Media Player Visualizer Screenshot

WhiteCap is a pretty well-known visualizer for Windows Media Player, and it's easy to see why. More than any other visualizer on this list, WhiteCap offers you a huge amount of customization. You can tweak shapes, colors, backgrounds. You name it.

The reason that WhiteCap doesn't place higher on this list is that this visualizer isn't free. You can get a free trial version with stripped-down features, but for the full software, you'll need to sink $20 or $30 for the gold/platinum versions.

Download: WhiteCap (Free trial)

4. Trilogy III

Trilogy III Atomic Cloud Visualizer Screenshot

There were plenty of Trilogy options to choose from on the list of available visualizers, but Trilogy III just about takes the win. All three of the Trilogy packs are pretty excellent, each providing three brand-new visualizers for you to enjoy.

Trilogy III is the best, thanks to the included Mystic Cloud visualizer. Not only does it have an incredibly well-suited name for the title, but it has a subtle and eerie tone as you watch the visualizer burst forth in color, only to fade from the screen a few moments later.

Download: Trilogy III (Free)

5. Yule Log

Yule Log Visualization Screenshot

The final new visualizer you need to get your hands on is very situational. If it's the summer months, you'll probably be less interested, but the Yule Log visualizer is a great decorative piece during the Winter.

This visualizer emulates a burning log crackling in a fire, with the flames dancing exactly to the audio that you're listening to. If you're trying to set the mood during the winter months, this visualizer will make you feel warm, safe, and toasty. It's a shame that you've got to install the Winter Fun Pack 2004 to get this one.

Download: Yule Log (Free)

Those Are The Coolest Windows Media Player Visualizers

There you have it. We've presented our definitive list of the best visualizer for Windows Media Player in 2021. However, if you are still using WMP, you may want to look into some alternatives, thanks to Microsoft dropping support for the product.