How to configure the Zune software to share content from your Zune collection to an Xbox 360 console on a home network

This article describes how to configure the Zune software to share content from your Zune collection to an Xbox 360 console on a home network. This will let you play music, videos, and pictures from a computer to any Xbox 360 consoles that are on the same network.

Verify that you have the network requirements to share files

To share files on a network, you must meet the following requirements:

• A wired or wireless home network
• The Zune software installed on a computer that is connected to the network
• One or more Xbox 360 consoles that are connected to the network
• The correct Xbox Dashboard version
  To share files on a network, you must have version 2.0.4520.0 or a later version of the Xbox Dashboard on the Xbox 360 console. To determine whether you have the required Dashboard version on an Xbox 360 console, follow these steps:
  1. In the System section of the Xbox Dashboard, select Console Settings.
  2. Select System Info. The version of the Xbox Dashboard appears on the screen.
  Note Dashboard version 2.0.4520.0 or a later version is automatically installed when you connect to Xbox LIVE. However, some Xbox 360 games also contain the updates on the installation CD.

Share files

You can share most digital media from your Zune collection. This includes protected files that you download from the Zune Marketplace but not files that are purchased from other online stores.

To share a file in your collection, the original file must be stored in one of the monitored folders. By default, the Zune software automatically monitors the folders where people typically store their digital media files. This includes the My Music folder, the My Pictures folder, and the My Videos folder.

Shared files must be formatted in one of the following file types:

• Music files that are in one the following file formats:
  • wma
  • mp4
  • mp3
  • m4a
  • m4b
  Note You cannot share audio CDs that you insert in the computer.
• Video files that are in the .wmv file format.
  Note You cannot share DVD-Video discs that you insert in a computer.
• Picture files that are in one the following file formats:
  • jpeg
  • jpg
• Playlists that are in one the following file formats:
  • zpl
  • m3u

Turn on media sharing in the Zune software

To configure the settings for sharing content with your Xbox 360, follow these steps:

1. In the Zune software, click Settings, point to Software, and then click Xbox 360.
2. In the Xbox 360 window, type a name for your media collection in the Name your collection box.
   Note When you share music, videos, and pictures with Xbox 360 consoles, your media is identified on the consoles by the name of your collection. By default, your media collection name is the same as your Microsoft Windows account name.
3. Select the type of media that you want to share from the following options:
   • Music
   • Video
   • Pictures
4. Select one of the following Xbox 360 console sharing options:
   • Share with all Xbox 360s
     This option lets you share your Zune collection with all the Xbox 360 consoles that are on the network.
   • Only share with these Xbox 360s
     This option lets you select the Xbox 360 consoles with which you want to share your Zune collection.

After you turn on media sharing, move to the Media section in the Xbox Dashboard to play music, videos, or pictures from your Zune collection on an Xbox 360 console.