Content can be played back on computer monitors or on television sets through the use of devices called Windows Media Center Extenders.

It is possible to view encrypted cable television channels by using an internal or external tuner that supported CableCARD.

A new version of the WMC was included in the Home Premium and Ultimate Windows Vista editions.

Support for multiple tuners was added in later releases and varies depending upon the version of the operating system purchased.

When any of the options is selected, the entries for each are presented in a grid-like structure, with each item being identified by album art, if it is an audio file, or a thumbnail image if it is a picture, a video or a TV recording, and other related options, such as different views for the music collection if "Music" is selected, extend horizontally along the top of the grid.

[5][6][7] The update tweaked the user interface, added support for digital subchannels, QAM, DVB-S and MHEG, and increased the total number of each type of tuner allowed.

[11] The WMC has retained much of the design and feel of its predecessor, but with a variety of user interface shortcuts and browsing capabilities.

[12] Playback of H.264 video both locally and through a Media Center Extender (including the Xbox 360) is supported.

When the left or right remote control buttons are held down to browse the library quickly, a two-letter prefix of the current album name is prominently shown as a visual aid.

For television support, the Windows Media Center "TV Pack" released by Microsoft in 2008 is incorporated into the WMC.

This includes support for CableCARD and North American (ATSC) clear QAM tuners, as well as creating lists of favorite stations.

[19] After the promotion, the price of the Windows 8 and 8.1 Media Center Pack changed to US$9.99,[18] until it was discontinued on October 30, 2015.

[23] During the 2015 Build developers' conference, a Microsoft executive confirmed that Media Center, with its TV receiver and PVR functionality, would not be updated for or included with Windows 10; thus the product would be discontinued.

Alternatives exist that acquire program information and load it into the WMC EPG data base.

Recordings can be burned to Video DVD or, barring copy restrictions, be transferred to a portable media player.

The menus of Windows Media Center are displayed in a 10-foot user interface suitable for viewing on large screen televisions and can be navigated using various remote controls.

Windows Media Center PCs require a sensor to be able to interact with the remote control.

[33][34] Windows Media Center organizes and displays videos and music found on both local and networked computers.

In addition, users can organize and play films through the "Movie Library" feature introduced in Windows Vista Media Center.

Through the "Internet TV" feature, users can also stream television and web shows from select content providers.

Presentation Layer includes support for animations, dynamic layout, keyboard/mouse as well as remote navigation.

MCML is used to define the user interface, with animation, text input, navigation, data binding, and local storage support available from the markup itself.

If custom code or other functionality is required to implement a certain feature, CLI assemblies can be referred.

XBAPs are rendered using the vector-based resolution-independent Windows Presentation Foundation component of .NET Framework 3.0.

WMC provides limited support for streaming XBAPs to Windows Media Center Extenders.