The quest for a "Dark Mode" in Windows Media Player 12 is a bit like digital archaeology. Released in an era when glossy "Aero" transparency and bright whites were the peak of fashion, WMP 12 doesn't have a simple toggle switch for the dark side.
Modern Microsoft apps (like the new Media Player for Windows 11) support dark mode natively. However, legacy WMP 12 remains stuck in a "light-only" philosophy inherited from the Windows Vista/7 era. Therefore, achieving a dark look requires manual intervention. windows media player 12 dark theme