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Windows Media Player 11

Switch Between Full, Compact, and Skin Modes

SUMMARY: Switch how Windows Media Player 11 is displayed - with a full set of features, compact, or with a skin.

Windows Media Player 11 can appear several different ways onscreen - in full mode, with all functions available; compact; or with a customized skin, or look, where some functions (including menus) may not be accessible or easily apparent.

You can switch between full and skin modes using either the menus or keyboard. Note that depending on your chosen skin, you may not have access to the menu bar. In this case the skin may have a button to switch back to full mode, but this will depend on the skin - the keyboard shortcut should still work, however:

Windows Media Player 11 playing in full mode with menus visible

Full Mode: Select "View" - "Full Mode" or press Ctrl+1 - if in Skin Mode, right-click the player and select "Switch to Full Mode"

Skin Mode: Select "View" - "Skin Mode" or press Ctrl+2

Windows Media Player 11 playing in skin mode with the "DaVinci" skin

Compact Mode: From the Full Mode, click the "Compact Mode" button on the bottom-right of the player (see the screenshot to the right). When in Compact Mode, click this button again to return to Full Mode.

Windows Media Player 11 also has a full screen playback mode.