VLC is one of the most popular media players out there, and for good reason. It’s free, open-source, and can play almost any file format you throw at it. However, one of the most frustrating aspects of VLC is its tendency to default to full screen mode, often at the most inopportune moments. If you’re tired of VLC taking over your entire screen, you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll explore the various ways to make VLC not full screen, and dive into some additional tips and tricks to help you master this powerful media player.
Understanding VLC’s Full Screen Mode
Before we dive into the solutions, it’s essential to understand why VLC defaults to full screen mode in the first place. VLC’s full screen mode is designed to provide an immersive viewing experience, hiding the toolbar and other interface elements to give you an unobstructed view of your video. However, this feature can be more of a curse than a blessing, especially if you’re trying to multitask or work on something else while watching a video.
In some cases, VLC may default to full screen mode due to a specific setting or configuration. For instance, if you’ve enabled the “Fullscreen” option in VLC’s preferences, the player will automatically switch to full screen mode whenever you start playing a video. Similarly, if you’re using a keyboard shortcut like F11 to toggle full screen mode, VLC may interpret this as a signal to enter full screen mode by default.
Method 1: Disable Full Screen Mode Via VLC Preferences
One of the simplest ways to make VLC not full screen is to disable the “Fullscreen” option in the player’s preferences. Here’s how:
- Open VLC and click on the “Media” menu at the top left corner of the screen.
- Select “Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
- In the “Preferences” window, click on the “Interface” tab.
- Uncheck the box next to “Fullscreen” under the “Window style” section.
- Click “Save” to apply the changes.
By disabling the “Fullscreen” option, VLC will no longer default to full screen mode when you start playing a video. However, this method only works if you’re using VLC on a Windows or Linux system. If you’re a Mac user, you’ll need to try a different approach.
Method 2: Use The “Windowed” Mode On Mac
If you’re using VLC on a Mac, you can force the player to stay in windowed mode by using a specific command. Here’s how:
- Open VLC and click on the “VLC” menu at the top left corner of the screen.
- Select “Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
- In the “Preferences” window, click on the “Interface” tab.
- Check the box next to “Windowed” under the “Window style” section.
- Click “Save” to apply the changes.
By enabling the “Windowed” mode, VLC will always open in a resizable window, rather than defaulting to full screen mode. This method is specific to Mac users, so if you’re using VLC on a Windows or Linux system, you’ll need to try a different approach.
Taming VLC’s Full Screen Mode With Keyboard Shortcuts
Another way to make VLC not full screen is to use keyboard shortcuts to toggle full screen mode on and off. Here are a few shortcuts you can use:
- F11: Toggle full screen mode on and off (Windows and Linux)
- Cmd + F: Toggle full screen mode on and off (Mac)
- Esc: Exit full screen mode (all platforms)
By using these keyboard shortcuts, you can quickly switch between full screen mode and windowed mode, giving you more control over VLC’s behavior. However, these shortcuts may not work if you’ve disabled full screen mode altogether using the methods described above.
Customizing VLC’s Keyboard Shortcuts
Did you know that you can customize VLC’s keyboard shortcuts to suit your needs? Here’s how:
- Open VLC and click on the “Media” menu at the top left corner of the screen.
- Select “Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
- In the “Preferences” window, click on the “Hotkeys” tab.
- Click on the “Customize” button next to “Hotkeys” to open the hotkey editor.
- In the hotkey editor, you can assign new keyboard shortcuts to various VLC actions, including toggling full screen mode.
- Click “Save” to apply the changes.
By customizing VLC’s keyboard shortcuts, you can create a more streamlined workflow that suits your needs. For instance, you could assign the “F” key to toggle full screen mode, or create a custom shortcut to exit full screen mode quickly.
Additional Tips And Tricks For Mastering VLC
While we’ve covered the main methods for making VLC not full screen, there are a few additional tips and tricks you can use to master this powerful media player. Here are a few:
Use VLC’s Compact Mode
VLC’s compact mode is a hidden feature that allows you to shrink the player to a small, compact window that takes up minimal screen real estate. To enable compact mode, follow these steps:
- Open VLC and click on the “Media” menu at the top left corner of the screen.
- Select “Toggle compact mode” from the drop-down menu.
- VLC will shrink to a small window that you can place anywhere on your screen.
Compact mode is perfect for multitasking or working on something else while still keeping an eye on your video.
Use VLC’s Snap Mode
VLC’s snap mode is a feature that allows you to “snap” the player to the edges of your screen, giving you more control over its size and position. To enable snap mode, follow these steps:
- Open VLC and click on the “Media” menu at the top left corner of the screen.
- Select “Toggle snap mode” from the drop-down menu.
- VLC will snap to the edge of your screen, allowing you to resize it as needed.
Snap mode is perfect for creating a distraction-free viewing experience, or for working on something else while still keeping an eye on your video.
Additional VLC Features to Explore
- Subtitle delays: VLC allows you to adjust the delay between subtitles and audio, ensuring a more synchronized viewing experience.
- Audio equalizer: VLC’s built-in audio equalizer allows you to customize your audio experience, with presets for different genres and styles.
- Video effects: VLC offers a range of video effects, including contrast, brightness, and saturation adjustments, allowing you to customize your viewing experience.
By mastering these additional features, you can unlock the full potential of VLC and create a more personalized viewing experience.
Conclusion
Making VLC not full screen is easier than you think, and with these methods, you can regain control over your media player. Whether you’re a Windows user, Mac user, or Linux enthusiast, there’s a solution out there for you. By disabling full screen mode, using keyboard shortcuts, and customizing VLC’s behavior, you can create a more streamlined and distraction-free viewing experience. So go ahead, give these methods a try, and take your VLC game to the next level!
How Do I Exit Full Screen Mode In VLC?
To exit full screen mode in VLC, you can press the “Esc” key on your keyboard. This is the default shortcut to exit full screen mode in VLC. Alternatively, you can also press “F” on your keyboard to toggle full screen mode on and off. If you’re using a Mac, you can also use the “Command + F” shortcut to exit full screen mode.
It’s worth noting that if you’re using a newer version of VLC, you may need to press “Ctrl + F” on Windows or “Command + F” on a Mac to exit full screen mode. This is because the default shortcut was changed in recent versions of VLC. If you’re still having trouble exiting full screen mode, you can try pressing the “Alt” key on your keyboard to bring up the VLC menu, and then select “Video” > “Full Screen” to toggle full screen mode off.
How Do I Customize The VLC Interface?
To customize the VLC interface, you can go to “View” > “Interface” in the VLC menu. From there, you can select from a variety of interface options, including a minimalistic interface, a compact interface, and a skins interface. You can also customize the toolbar by selecting “View” > “Toolbar” and then choosing which buttons you want to display.
Additionally, you can also customize the VLC interface by using skins. Skins are custom themes that can change the look and feel of VLC. To use a skin, you can download one from the VLC website and then place it in the VLC skins folder on your computer. Once you’ve installed a skin, you can select it by going to “View” > “Interface” and then selecting the “Skins” option.
How Do I Add Subtitles To A Video In VLC?
To add subtitles to a video in VLC, you can go to “Video” > “Subtitles” in the VLC menu and then select “Add Subtitle File”. From there, you can browse to the location of your subtitle file and select it. VLC supports a variety of subtitle formats, including SRT, ASS, and SSA.
It’s worth noting that you can also automatically load subtitles in VLC. To do this, you can go to “Preferences” > “Subtitles” and then select the “Autoload subtitles” option. This will allow VLC to automatically load subtitles from a file with the same name as the video file. For example, if you’re watching a video called “movie.mp4”, VLC will automatically load subtitles from a file called “movie.srt”.
How Do I Take A Screenshot In VLC?
To take a screenshot in VLC, you can press the “Ctrl + Alt + S” shortcut on Windows or the “Command + Shift + S” shortcut on a Mac. This will capture a screenshot of the current video frame and save it to a file in your default screenshot location.
You can also customize the screenshot settings in VLC by going to “Preferences” > “Video” and then selecting the “Video snapshot” option. From there, you can choose the format and quality of your screenshots, as well as the default screenshot location. You can also select the “Take video snapshot” option to take a screenshot of the current video frame without saving it to a file.
How Do I Create A Playlist In VLC?
To create a playlist in VLC, you can go to “Media” > “Playlist” in the VLC menu and then select “New Playlist”. From there, you can add files to your playlist by dragging and dropping them into the VLC window or by selecting “Media” > “Add File” and then browsing to the location of your files.
You can also customize your playlist by selecting “Media” > “Playlist” and then using the playlist editor. From there, you can add, remove, and reorder files in your playlist. You can also use the playlist editor to create multiple playlists and save them for later use.
How Do I Stream Media From VLC?
To stream media from VLC, you can go to “Media” > “Stream” in the VLC menu and then select the file you want to stream. From there, you can choose the destination of your stream, such as a website or a network location. You can also customize the stream settings, such as the bitrate and resolution, by selecting “Media” > “Stream” and then clicking on the “Settings” button.
It’s worth noting that VLC can also stream media to other devices on your network. To do this, you can select “Media” > “Stream” and then choose the “RTP” or “RTSP” option. This will allow you to stream media to other devices, such as smart TVs or game consoles.
How Do I Reset VLC To Its Default Settings?
To reset VLC to its default settings, you can go to “Preferences” > “Reset preferences” in the VLC menu. From there, you can select the “Reset” button to restore VLC to its default settings. This will reset all of VLC’s settings, including the interface, hotkeys, and plugin settings.
It’s worth noting that resetting VLC to its default settings will not delete any of your files or playlists. However, it will delete any custom settings or preferences that you’ve created. If you want to reset VLC to its default settings without deleting your files or playlists, you can try reinstalling VLC instead.