- Music + Videos Hub
- Get music and podcasts from the Windows Phone Store
- Sync music, ringtones, and podcasts using my computer
- Syncing music FAQ
- Sync with my Mac
- Copy my iTunes music to my phone
- Play music, videos, and podcasts
- Music and videos FAQ
- Create a playlist
- Delete music, videos, and podcasts
- What song is this?
- Use Xbox Music on my phone
Music and videos FAQ
You have two options:
- Use one of the three Windows Phone apps available for download, which you install on your PC, to move stuff from your PC to your phone. For more information, see Sync music, ringtones, and podcasts using my computer and Syncing music FAQ.
- Download music or subscribe to podcasts using the Xbox Music Store on your phone. For more information, see Get music and podcasts from the Store.
Windows Phone 8 currently doesn't support videos that use digital rights management (DRM). The phone does support video without DRM, and many streaming apps are available in the Windows Phone Store.
You have a couple of options:
-
To play all your music in random order, in Music + Videos, flick to Collection, and tap Play music
at the bottom of the screen. -
To play the current playlist in random order, tap Shuffle
next to the album image of what's currently playing.
(To stop playing songs in random order, tap Shuffle
again.)
-
To play all your music in random order, in Music + Videos, flick to Collection, and tap Play music
The music app on your phone supports a number of popular audio and video file formats, such as MP3, MPEG-4, Windows Media Audio (WMA), and Windows Media Video (WMV).
Media files are typically compressed and decompressed using software called a codec. By default, your phone can play music and videos that have been compressed with the following codecs and that are stored in the following file containers (typically identified by their file name extensions).
Codec Container Note AAC
M4A
Only unprotected (non-FairPlay DRM) files are supported.
H.264
MP4, M4V
MP3
MP3
MPEG-4 Part 2
MP4, M4V
WMA
WMA
All variations except for WMA Lossless are supported.
WMV (VC-1)
WMV
Other apps on your phone might be capable of playing additional types of music and video files.
Xbox Music Pass is a music subscription service offered through the Xbox Music Store. For a monthly fee, subscribers can download and stream an unlimited number of songs to their phone, Windows 8 PC, and Xbox 360. If you use the Pass on your PC, your music collection there will automatically appear on your phone so you can stream it from the cloud. To learn more about Xbox Music Pass, go to Xbox.com.
Smart DJ is a feature that creates autoplaylists that you can play on your phone. Using the criteria you provide, Smart DJ will create an autoplaylist of songs that have similar characteristics (pulled from your collection and the Xbox Music Store).
For example, if you love the Rolling Stones, you can use Smart DJ to create a playlist of songs by that band and from other similar-sounding bands. On your phone, just tap and hold an artist, song, or album, and then tap Play Smart DJ mix.
