Windows Media Player Not Opening in Full Screen?

Jeddie said:

Whenever I open a video file from File Explorer, WMP opens up in a small screen? Then I need to click the rectangle to maximise to full screen. ... How do I get WMP to open in full screen consistently?

Microsoft would prefer you to use Films & TV which does open consistently at the same size it had when you last closed it, filling the screen if that's how you left it. WMP doesn't get much development these days and is less convenient to use. You can however get WMP to open with a larger window that, for all but the smallest of videos, will fill the screen.

Open WMP (just WMP, you don't need to play a video). On View > Video size select 'Fit Video to Player on resize', 'Fit Player to video' and '200%' scaling then close WMP. If you are playing a video you can get the same menu by right-clicking anywhere on the video. When you next open a video in File Explorer WMP will open at 200% scaling or, if that's too large to fit your screen, scale the window to fit your screen.

Or just get into the habit of double-clicking on the title bar to maximize, or anywhere on the video to go full-screen.

Thanks for quick reply.

I totally forgot about Films and TV. Just been using WMP for so long I just kept using it.

I just changed my default to Films and TV.

Just wondering what other people use? Am I a dinasour for using WMP in win 10?

I use, in descending order of preference, Films & TV, VLC and WMP. Each has it's strengths - Films & TV can 'Cast to' my TV, VLC can play DVDs and WMP can.... well... it's always useful to have an alternative available :)

Edit: actually that's a bit unfair on WMP. It has a lot more options and controls than Films & TV, like playback speed, graphic equalizer and colour/brightness controls.

Start the Player Maximized

1. Log into the computer with an administrator account.

2. Click "Start," and position your mouse cursor in the Search box.

3. Type “media player” (without quotation marks).

4. Right-click on “Windows Media Player” when it appears in the search results.

5. Click “Properties.”

6. Select “Maximized” from the "Run:" drop-down menu.

7. Click “Apply,” and then “OK.”

Bree said:

I use, in descending order of preference, Films & TV, VLC and WMP. Each has it's strengths - Films & TV can 'Cast to' my TV, VLC can play DVDs and WMP can.... well... it's always useful to have an alternative available :)

Edit: actually that's a bit unfair on WMP. It has a lot more options and controls than Films & TV, like playback speed, graphic equalizer and colour/brightness controls.

WMP also has the function to cast-to a device.

PJLLB said:

WMP also has the function to cast-to a device.

Not quite the same - unless, that is, you've found an option in WMP that I'm unaware of.

AFAIK, for WMP you have to turn on media streaming. This makes your PC behave as a Media Server and allows other devices access to WMP's media library. This was how I used to do it in Windows 7. The downside is that it opens holes in your firewall. I now use 'Cast To..' from File Explorer or Films & TV which doesn't require media streaming to be enabled.