How to update your Zune device

View products that this article applies to.

Expand all | Collapse all

SUMMARY

This article describes how to update your Zune device to the current Zune device software, also known as the Zune device firmware. The Zune device software is available at no additional charge.

Firmware is embedded software that controls the operation of hardware devices. At first, the firmware is installed at the factory. However, you can upgrade the firmware for a piece of hardware when improvements become available.

MORE INFORMATION

To determine what version of the software is installed on the Zune device, follow these steps:

On the Home screen on the Zune device, select settings, and then press the center of the Zune pad.
Select about, and then press the center of the Zune pad.
Select zune, and then press the center of the Zune pad.

The latest version of the Zune device software is listed in the following table. This version includes the latest improvement and all past improvements. To view the details about the improvements, see the following table.

Collapse this tableExpand this table

Device software version	Improvement that is provided
Version 3.1 (50)	This required update enhances device functionality. By default, the wireless feature is turned on. To turn off the wireless feature, select settings, select wireless, and then turn off the wireless feature.
Version 3.0 (225)	This required update enhances device functionality. By default, the wireless feature will be turned on. To turn off the wireless feature, select settings, select wireless, and then turn off the wireless feature.
Versions 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.5	This was the original device software version installed at the factory for the Zune 4GB, Zune 8GB, Zune 16GB, Zune 80GB, and Zune 120GB devices, as well as the subsequent updates that improve device functionality and performance.
Versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4	This was the original device software version installed at the factory for the Zune 30GB device, as well as the subsequent updates that helped improve stability and performance.

To update your Zune device, follow these steps:

Make sure that you have the current version of the Zune software installed on your computer. To do this, follow these steps:
- If you are a new Zune customer, visit the following Web site and install the Zune software for your computer:
  http://www.zune.net/setup (http://www.zune.net/setup)
- If you already have an earlier version of the Zune software installed on your computer, update the software. To do this, click Settings, click software, click GENERAL, and then click CHECK FOR UPDATES
Connect the Zune device to your computer by using the Zune sync cable. Use a USB port on the back of the computer. Do not use a USB hub.
Note If the battery in the Zune device is critically low, we recommend that you charge your Zune device before you continue. For more information about how to charge your Zune device, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
927348 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927348/ ) How to charge the battery in your Zune device
Open the Zune software while the Zune device is still connected to your computer. The Zune software searches the Internet for the latest version of the firmware. If a newer version of the Zune firmware is available than the version that you have installed, a notice to update your device appears. You can also manually check for new device updates by clicking Settings, by clicking device, and then by clicking Device Update.

Important Do not move or disconnect the Zune device until the update is complete. The update may take several minutes. During this time, the Zune device may restart several times. Please be patient.

If you experience difficulty or you receive an error code when you update your Zune device, click the following article number to view an article in the Microsoft Knowledge base for more information:

945278 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945278/ ) You cannot update the software on a Zune device