How to Turn On DLNA in Windows 8: A Step-by-Step Guide

DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a set of open standards that enable devices from different manufacturers to share and play media content over home networks. If you're having trouble playing videos or other media on your DLNA device connected to your Windows 8 computer, it's likely because the Media Player app isn't properly configured for DLNA sharing.

In this article, we'll walk through a step-by-step guide on how to turn ON DLNA (Media Sharing) in Windows 8 so you can easily stream movies and music from your PC to compatible devices like smart TVs, Blu-ray players, game consoles, and more.

Prerequisites

Before you begin:

1. Ensure that both your Windows 8 computer and the DLNA device are connected to the same local network.

2. Make sure that Media Player is installed on your Windows 8 machine (it comes pre-installed).

3. Check if your DLNA-compatible devices support Windows Media Server version 12 or later.

Step-by-1 Instructions

### Step 1: Open Control Panel

1. Click the Start button in the bottom left corner of your desktop.

2. Type 'Control Panel' and press Enter (or click on it from the search results).

3. In older versions of Windows, you may need to select Large icons or Small icons at the top right corner before seeing Media Player.

### Step 2: Turn On DLNA Sharing

1. Once in Control Panel:

- For Windows 8/8.1 users: Click on 'Network and sharing center.'

- For Windows 10/11 users: Open Settings, then go to System > Advanced share settings.

2. Under 'Media devices' or 'HomeGroup', click the blue toggle button next to Turn media streaming On.

### Step 3 (Optional but Recommended): Configure DLNA Sharing Options

If you want more control over what content is shared:

1. Click on Choose how I connect my home network computers and devices together, then select your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.

2. Under 'Network discovery', make sure it's set to On - This device can be found by other devices in the network.

### Step 4: Check DLNA Status

1. Go back to Control Panel > Network & Internet (or Settings > System > About this PC on newer versions) and look for 'HomeGroup' or similar.

2. Ensure that Media streaming is turned On under your HomeNetwork name.

That's it! Your Windows 8 machine should now be visible as a DLNA media server, allowing other devices to discover and play the shared content using compatible DLNA clients like Media Player or third-party apps from app stores.

Turn on dlna in win dows 8