VLC media player is a popular open-source, cross-platform media player that supports playback of most audio and video formats. It has a full screen mode that provides an immersive, cinematic viewing experience by eliminating on-screen distractions. However, you may sometimes need to exit the full screen mode to access VLC player controls or switch to another application. This article explains multiple methods to exit full screen mode in VLC media player.
Table of Contents
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
The easiest way to exit full screen mode is by using VLC keyboard shortcuts:
- Esc Key – Press the Esc key on your keyboard once to exit full screen mode. This key is usually located at the top left corner.
- Alt + M – Press and hold the Alt key and press M to open the Media menu at the top. Navigate to the bottom and select Quit to exit full screen and close VLC player completely.
- F Key – Tap the F key once to toggle between full screen and windowed mode. This is the dedicated full screen shortcut key in VLC.
Minimizing the Window
You can also exit full screen by minimizing the VLC window instead of completely closing it:
- Click on the VLC player window once using your mouse to reveal the minimize button.
- Click on the minimize button to shrink the window into the taskbar tray. This exits full screen mode while keeping VLC open in the background.
Using the Taskbar
With Windows, you can use the taskbar to switch out of full screen:
- Move your mouse cursor to the bottom of the screen to reveal the taskbar.
- Click on another running application icon to switch to that window.
- Alternatively, right-click on the VLC icon in the taskbar and select Restore from the context menu.
Mouse Gestures
If you have enabled mouse gestures in VLC, you can:
- Hold the designated trigger mouse button (left/right)
- Quickly move the mouse downwards and left to exit full screen mode
Disabling the Auto Full Screen Feature
Some users have reported VLC automatically entering full screen mode during video playback after a few minutes. To disable this:
- Go to Tools > Preferences > Video
- Uncheck the “Use as Background” option
- Disable any auto full screen plugin if enabled
Resetting VLC Settings
As a last resort, you can reset all VLC settings to default if incorrect configurations are forcing full screen mode:
- Go to Tools > Preferences > Reset Preferences
- Check all options and save
- Restart VLC player
Conclusion
VLC player provides great flexibility in entering and exiting the full screen view during video playback. Master the keyboard shortcuts, mouse gestures and menu options covered in this article to seamlessly switch between windowed and immersive full screen modes. Disabling automatic full screen and resetting preferences can also help resolve issues.
