Article ID: 928192 - Last Review: May 15, 2008 - Revision: 4.0

Information about the video file formats that are supported by the Zune software

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SUMMARY

This article describes the video file formats that are supported by the Zune software. This article also describes how you can configure the Zune software to be the default player for certain types of video files, provides an overview of the file types that you can add to the Zune library, and lists some of the options that you can use to synchronize (sync) content to your Zune device.

MORE INFORMATION

Configure the Zune software to be the default player for video files

You can configure the Zune software to be the default player for the following file types:
  • m4v: MPEG-4 video file
  • mp4: MPEG-4 video file
  • wmv: Windows Media audio/video file
Although the Zune software can play some QuickTime video files (.mov), you cannot configure the software to be the default player for this kind of file.

To configure the Zune software to be the default player for different types of files, follow these steps:
  1. Click Settings, click software, and then click FILE TYPES.
  2. Select the file types that you want the Zune software to play by default, and then click OK.
To change the default file types that the Zune software plays, you must sign in to the computer as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group.

For more information, open the Windows Help and Support Center, and then search for the following phrase:
To change the program that opens a file

Add video files to your Zune collection

The Zune software will automatically search for appropriate video files and then add them to your collection. For more information about how to add media to your collection, visit the following Zune Web site:
http://www.zune.net/support/usersguide/zunesoftware/addmedia.htm (http://www.zune.net/support/usersguide/zunesoftware/addmedia.htm)

Sync video files to your Zune device

The Zune software syncs video from your library to your Zune device. To optimize the quality level or to format the file for playback on the device, the Zune software may convert the video file during the sync process depending on the format of the source file.
Note Conversion does not affect the original file.
Although you cannot turn off the conversion process for video files, you can influence the quality level of the conversion.

To adjust the quality level for converted files, follow these steps:
  1. Start the Zune software.
  2. Click Settings, click device, and then click Conversion Settings.
  3. Under Video, select Optimize videos for my Zune device or Optimize videos for TV output (takes longer).
  4. Click OK.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about how to convert video files into .wmv files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
932614  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932614/ ) How to convert video files to a file type that is supported by the Zune software and the Zune device
For more information about how to use video on your Zune device, visit the following Web site:
http://www.zune.net/en-us/support/usersguide/musicvideospictures/playvideos.htm (http://www.zune.net/en-us/support/usersguide/musicvideospictures/playvideos.htm)

APPLIES TO
  • Zune software
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