How to Minimize Windows 7 Media Player (WMP12) to Taskbar as Mini Toolbar (Taskband/Deskband)
In Windows Vista with Windows Media Player 11 (WMP11), user can choose to enable Windows Media Player toolbar on Windows Taskbar as a mini toolbar or Taskband or Deskband, where user can directly access WMP controls and view song or music currently been played. With the new programming directive from Microsoft for Windows 7 where icons replace buttons on Taskbar (which also makes MSN Windows Live Messenger does not minimize to notification tray), Windows Media Player 12 (WMP12) in Windows 7 does not have such an ability to minimize to mini toolbar in Taskbar.
Many people resorts to downgrade to Windows Media Player 11 from WMP 12 in Windows 7 in order to get back the WMP toolbar in Taskbar. But thanks to Justin Buser, who had posted a solution on WinMatrix forum, now Windows 7 users can get back the Windows Media Player toolbar for WMP12.
Here’s hack to re-enable Windows Media Player 12 toolbar in Taskbar of Windows 7, and how to enable the Windows Media Player 12 mini toolbar. Unfortunately, WMP icon or button does not hidden and made disappeared from Windows 7 Taskbar to replace with just a mini toolbar, although the toolbar itself already comes with play, pause, forward, backward, volume adjustment and other controls. Thus, it makes the toolbar for WMP12 kind of redundant.
- Obtain a copy of wmpband.dll from Windows Vista at following location. wmpband.dll provides functionality of WMP toolbar or Taskband on Taskbar.
%ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmpband.dll
The file should be copied from a comptuer with the same operating system type or architecture, i.e. 32-bit versus 64-bit. Alternatively, just download the following pre-extracted wmpband.dll from the following ZIP archive:
32-bit: wmpband-x86.zip
64-bit: wmpband-x64.zip - Copy the wmpband.dll into %ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\ folder of Windows 7 (with WMP12).
- Go to Control Panel -> System and Security -> Administrative Tools, and open Services panel.
- Stop the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service.
- Open a command prompt as administrator.
- Run and execute the following command:
regsvr32 “%ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmpband.dll”
- Restart the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service.
- Start Windows Media Player 12.
- Minimize the window of Windows Media Player.
- Right click on Windows Taskbar, and select Toolbars, and choose Windows Media Player from the list (a tick will appear beside it on subsequent view).
- The Windows Media Player toolbar will appear close to notification area (system tray).
For user facing the following error message, just click on “Yes” to continue:
The Windows Media Player toolbar isn’t compatible with this version of Windows
If you continue, the toolbar might appear incorrectly. To check for an updated version, go to the software publisher’s website.
Do you want this toolbar on your taskbar?
Tip: If there is problem enabling the Windows Media Player 12 toolbar in Windows 7, try to perform the steps above again after a clean reboot and before running Windows Media Player.
Related posts:
- How to Set 64-Bit Windows Media Player 12 (WMP12) As Default Player
- How to Uninstall and Re-Install Windows Media Player 12 (WMP12) in Windows 7
- Hack to Change Windows Media Player 12 (WMP12) Library View Background Image
- How to Downgrade Windows Media Player 12 to Install WMP 11 on Windows 7
- Shift-Right Click to Reveal Classic Context Menu (Restore, Move, Maximize, Minimize) on Windows 7 Taskbar App
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Thanks very much, works like a charm
Thanks! It works for me! Windows 7 in Bootcamp on a Macbook mid 2010.
[...] Windows Media Player 11 (WMP11), user can choose to enable Windows Media Player toolbar on Windows Taskbar as a mini toolbar or Taskband or Deskband, where user can directly access WMP controls and view [...]
[...] Windows Media Player 11 (WMP11), user can choose to enable Windows Media Player toolbar on Windows Taskbar as a mini toolbar or Taskband or Deskband, where user can directly access WMP controls and view [...]
[...] Windows Media Player 11 (WMP11), user can choose to enable Windows Media Player toolbar on Windows Taskbar as a mini toolbar or Taskband or Deskband, where user can directly access WMP controls and view [...]
Absolutely great! I’ve got it =D Works like a charm.
GREAT TIP, WORKS PERFECTLY
regsvr32 "%programfiles(x86)%Windows Media Playerwmpband.dll"
line for 64 bit windows.
remember you have to use (x86) folder for 64 bit versions.
=)
Can anyone tell me what to make of this?
I went through everything, got the option for WMP under the toolbar list, checked it and it doesn’t do anything!
Sorry the img tag didn’t work in that reply. Now I’m not sure how to show you guys what my screen looks like…can we add pics in our replies? In any case, like I said above, the toolbar option is checked but when minimized, the player doesn’t go into the taskbar, it just sits down like a regular window…..
It absolutely works, but why i can't see any video ? Have you (anyone ) have a solution ? Please help me.
How do I put the path the the x86 folder into cmd?
It won't accept:
Program Files (x86)Windows Media Player
Thanks so much for the updated links, SMACKS. I was stuck with the 32 bit version. But now got it to work
IF YOU HAVE 64-bit, you will need to copy BOTH 32-bit and 64-bit versions of wmpband.dll to the respective places. The 32-bit goes in program files (x86)/windows media player and the 64-bit goes in program files/windows media player
You will also need to regsvr32 both of them individually.
The wmpband.dll file downloads offered on the main post are unavailable. New downloads can be found at:
64-bit: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1U9N5G10
32-bit: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ODKZFOS7
it didnt work for me at first but afta i tried the 64 bit cmd code it worked flawlessly in the first time thanx a lot
Worked flawlessly! Thank you very much! As someone said above, it may not appear in Toolbars the first time around, so give it a sec. Make sure you also include the quotes when using the command prompt. Thank you for this awesome (and easy) tutorial!
Windows 7 (64-bit)
great, worked perfekt for the very first time
and tryit is also great for all my apps… just what i was looking for
This is so great, thank you!!
I have Windows 7, 64-bit… below were my challenges with this.
1) If you can't find "services" under Step 3, simply open up the Control Panel and then "search" for services. You then click on "View local services."
2) As others did, I had to type the below for step 6. Hit "enter" after each line, and be sure to put a space after Windows and Media as shown.
cd/
cd %ProgramFiles%Windows Media Player
regsvr32 wmpband.dll
3) If Windows Media Player doesn't show up under toolbars, try again. Worked for me the second time (didn't have to restart computer).
Good luck! And THANK YOU to who figured this out for us!!! Really missed this feature, and it's great to have it back.
Thanks … nice share
Great info, and along with TrayIt!* you get rid of the taskbar button.
*http://www.teamcti.com/trayit/trayit.htm
Worked fine, followed step by step instructions except i didnt have a wmpband.dll to start with.
Running Win7 Ultimate 64bit.
Thanks very much
Sorry if I'm re-awakening an old thread. I'm posting this to note that it worked on a win7x64
I used the drag and drop method to register the files. Make sure you drag both 64 and 32 bit versions of the file to it's respective regsvr32 (64 bit or 32 bit)
in the cmd part it wont work if:
regsvr32 “%ProgramFiles%Windows Media Playerwmpband.dll”
but i used:
1. cd %ProgramFiles%Windows Media Player
2. regsvr32 wmpband.dll
Also i have win7 ultimate 32-bit
yeah… ur solution help me at thsi part… i also hav the prob same as u… also using ultimate.. thanks man!
This def worked… Why would Microsoft take something so simple and so nice away! Thank you to all other geniuses out there!
It working but there is no video or the visualization
YOU ROCK! Thanks a lot.
thxxxxxxx it works on win 7 64:
Just open cmd as administartor.
type:
cd/
cd %ProgramFiles%Windows Media Player
regsvr32 wmpband.dll
For x64Bit Windows 7 follow instructions but when you goto register you should open up Windows Explorer (not the browser but the explorer itself so u can view fodlers).
Copy n paste this into the adress bar (See below):
%SystemRoot%Syswow64 aka C:WindowsSysWOW64
Now find the file named " regsvr32.exe " leave this window open, open a new window and find the location of WMP 12 in C:Program Files (x86)Windows Media Player find the file named " wmpband.dll " that you downloaded and copied into there.
Now drag wmpband.dll over onto the other window and while still dragging this file release the button when it is hovering over "regsvr32.exe" and you will notified the registry has suceeded.
Do the same for the 32Bit location but instead goto:
C:WindowsSystem32 aka %SystemRoot%System32
and find the 32Bit version of "regsvr32.exe"
doing the same routine as you did above for the 64Bit entry.
Not working for me……….
got error msg
The module "wmpband.dll" was loaded but the call to DllRegisterServer failed with error code 0×80020009
Exact same thing on my end. I've tried so many different solutions and I always seem to be in the small percentage who it just doesn't work for. I really thought it was gonna work this time too
you both need Administration Permission
Working GREAT for me! (WINDOWS7-32 BIT)
Thanks
It's important to note in all this that there are actually TWO versions of Windows Media Player installed on 64-bit Windows 7 systems: one in the x86 Program Files folder and another in the regular 64-bit Program Files folder. Given this, the savvy individual will register BOTH the 32-bit and 64-bit wmpband.dll libraries, BUT be sure to a) register the correct bit-version with the correct version of Windows Media Player, AND be sure to use the correct version of regsvr32.exe (there are two of those as well on 64-bit systems): http://support.microsoft.com/kb/282747 . I've registered both the 32-bit and 64-bit wmpband.dll files on my Windows 7 x64 system, and things are working great! (Yes, there are a few integration issues because this was not intended for use with WMP 12, as others have noted, but these are minor inconveniences compared to not having the toolbar at all, in my opinion.
)
Did not work for me, after all the steps (regsvr32…succeeded), the toolbar does not show as an option on available toolbars
Worked for me, but couldn't register the DLL until after I logged out then back in.
It's not perfect, stays in mini mode after you maximize the mini player, after that the icon also stays in the task bar whether its maximized or minimized unlike in vista/xp which isnt a big problem. Also no video/visualization but I don't mind that either. Its good enough though. Why the hell did they decide to remove mini mode??
P.S. Some dude has created a program to do all this for you but the download link seems to be down atm. If anyones having trouble and would like me to I could make a program myself to do all the above. Don't think you can get email alerts for this so my addy is lloyd medley [zero seven] at gmail.com if anyone wants me to do that
Admin note: The download is dead. Just create one and share with us!
This worked for me on windows 7 64bit but I had to type this
in the command. It's also a little bugie because have to re-enable the toolbar every time you run windows media player (uncheck and recheck from toolbars menu). It will not hide when windows media player main menu is opened. To close the toolbar you have to uncheck it from toolbars menu. But it's better than not having it when you been so use to using it.
about the register part, if it wont work as the step says, then type instead: regsvr32 "C:Program FilesWindows Media Playerwmpband.dll"
it seems that the capital letters must be there, or it wont work, or so it does for me.
want this thing to mini mode looks much more cool
it just worked for me.. ( WINDOWS 7 32 BIT )
i just followed hansie..
Hansie
""Just open cmd as administartor.
type:
cd/
cd %ProgramFiles%Windows Media Player
regsvr32 wmpband.dll
"" thanks a lot..
With Windows 7 64-bit it is necessary to type:
regsvr32.dll "c:%ProgramFiles%Windows Media Playerwmpband.dll"
I did this from the run box using the start menu.
Start > Run > type the exact command and hit OK or Run…
I was unsuccessful until I took the suggestion elsewhere in this thread. regsvr32.exe ….
I am sure it also works from the cmd.exe window. I am the administrator, so it is unnecessary to open a window with administrative priveleges. I already have them.