Switch between display modes in Windows Media Player

Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?

Windows Media Player has five display modes: full (the default view), skin, full screen, compact, and mini Player. You can easily switch to the mode that works best for the content you are viewing.

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To switch from full mode to compact mode

Compact mode allows you to view just the Player controls.

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Click the Switch to compact mode button Picture of the Switch to compact mode button near the bottom-right corner of the Player.

Click the button again to restore the Player to full mode.

To switch from full mode to skin mode

Skin mode allows you to use a customized, alternative view of the Player.

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Press CTRL+2 to change the Player into the most recently selected skin.

For more information about skin mode, see Change how the Player looks using skins.

To switch from skin mode to full mode

Full mode is the default view of the Player. It provides full access to all of the Player features.
•	Right-click anywhere on the Player, and then click Switch to Full Mode.

To switch from full or skin mode to mini Player mode

Mini Player mode allows you to minimize the Player to the Windows taskbar, while still having access to playback controls and the ability to view visualizations and information about the currently playing item.

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Right-click an open area of the Windows taskbar (such as below the system clock), point to Toolbars, and then click Windows Media Player.

This turns on the feature and only needs to be performed once. A check mark appears next to Windows Media Player to indicate that it is turned on. To switch to mini Player mode in the future, simply click the Minimize button in the Player.

To switch from mini Player mode to full or skin mode

•	In the mini Player, click anywhere in the Player that is not used as a button or volume control. The Player returns to the mode that it was in previously.

To switch from full or skin mode to full-screen mode

Full-screen mode makes videos, DVDs, and pictures fill the entire screen when you play them.

Begin playing (or pause playing) a video, TV show, DVD, or song with a visualization.

Click the View full screen button Picture of the View full screen button , or press ALT+ENTER.

To return to full mode, press ESC. For more information about full-screen mode, see View a video using the entire screen.

To prevent people from switching from full-screen mode

You can use the full-screen lock to prevent people from switching from full-screen mode to another mode. You might want to use the full-screen lock, for example, during a party to prevent guests from using other programs while your music is playing.
1.	Play an item, and then switch to full-screen mode.
2.	Click the Lock full-screen mode button .
3.	Type a four-digit personal identification number (PIN), and then click the OK button . To turn off full-screen lock, click the Unlock full-screen mode button , type your PIN, and then click the OK button . If you forget your PIN, restart your computer.