Methods and systems to install a player to process content data are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method includes launching a content access manager on a user device to read metadata containing compatible player data, determine whether a compatible player able to access the content data is installed on the user device, and if not, to install a compatible player. Other embodiments involve receiving content data and data about one or more compatible players able to access the content data, generating the metadata using the data about one or more compatible players, and distributing the content data, the metadata, and the content access manager in a transmittable unit. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.