Media servers make it easier to share (stream) content with digital storage and playback devices on a home network. However, without media server software, photos, music, videos, and data files can be stored on a drive, device, or computer, but a network media playback device may not be able to "see" or access them.
Turn your old PC into a new 4K Blu-ray Dolby ATMOS Streaming Server!
Devices such as Network Attached Storage (NAS) drives and other types of dedicated media servers already have the appropriate sharing software built in. However, PCs and laptops often require the installation of media server software so that it can organize and provide access to media file content in the same manner as a standalone media server.
Windows 7, 8, and 10 have built-in media server software, but you'll need to take steps to enable it so you can see or hear your selected media files on other devices. A network media playback device can find files imported to and playlists created by Windows Media Player 11 and later because your PC is acting as a media server.
For Windows 10, these are the activation steps to enable basic features of the media server:
