Media Lock 0.3.0

Media Lock 0.3.0 is the stable Windows 11 x64 release of the feature set validated in 0.3.0-rc.1. It adds one-way Playback State Lock, a per-user installer and a smaller compressed self-contained executable while preserving Media Lock's routing, Recovery, localization, visual, diagnostic and global-media-key behavior.

Highlights since 0.2.0

• Keep the current routed target playing until Media Lock, the Windows lock screen, system sleep or the configurable repeated-pause escape explicitly releases the policy.
• Install per user without elevation, launch from Windows Search／Start Menu and retain user data during uninstall.
• Continue using the portable ZIP when installation is not wanted; ZIP and Setup contain the same reviewed payload.
• Use the compressed self-contained single-file build without installing a separate .NET runtime.

Upgrade

From 0.3.0-rc.1 Setup

Exit Media Lock, then run the stable Setup. It uses the same per-user AppId and install path, upgrades in place and preserves settings, state and an enabled installed-path startup command. Same-version repair is supported; after stable is installed, the older RC1 installer is blocked.

From portable 0.2.0

Disable Start with Windows in the old copy and choose notification-area Exit before moving it or installing stable. Existing %LocalAppData%\MediaLock\ settings and state are reused. After verifying the migrated settings, re-enable startup from the installed or final portable path.

Downloads and SHA-256

Both downloads and their contained executable are unsigned. Windows may show SmartScreen, Smart App Control or reputation warnings. Verify the downloaded file before running it.

• MediaLock-0.3.0-win-x64.zip — 76,504,983 bytes
  • SHA-256: 94deac66e195cfca21c826ee86f3e61097f3440d3a84ebb5af2439ef3ad3d437
• MediaLock-Setup-0.3.0-win-x64.exe — 76,915,357 bytes
  • SHA-256: 7937f807b2ec577b88d3506735dfb7c26fe0c12b0f055a2b739364bb9ab4d00d

The ZIP contains one self-contained MediaLock.exe. Setup installs for the current user, requires no elevation and adds Windows Search／Start Menu and Installed apps entries.

Known limitations

• Media Lock cannot set or reliably retain Windows Current Session and cannot promise that its card replaces or stays first on Windows native media surfaces.
• GSMTC routing does not inspect browser URLs or guarantee a specific tab inside one Chromium application.
• Keep Playing cannot perfectly attribute every genuine Playing-to-Paused transition to a person versus a player; Changing and duplicate Paused observations are excluded, and bounded overrides are provided.
• Playback State Lock is process-lifetime state and does not automatically re-arm after restart, login or sleep.
• Automatic updates, code signing, ARM64, volume/mute and customizable shortcuts are not included.

The ZIP and Setup were built from clean source commit a773fac983728f5d4b2d8cbe40bfad9d1c016737. All 365 automated tests, Release build, packaging contracts, exact-artifact host validation and fresh Windows Sandbox validation passed. Full evidence is in the Phase 14 stable validation report.