Zune Tricks

by James T Wood
Get the most out of your Zune.

Get the most out of your Zune.

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

The Microsoft Zune and Zune HD portable media players let you watch video and listen to audio files and FM radio stations. The basic functions are straightforward, letting you load and play music from your collection, but there are some tricks that you may not know about that can make your Zune or Zune HD a bit easier to use.

Navigation

Using the Zune, go immediately to the main menu from anywhere by holding down the "Back" button for a few seconds. Hold down the "Media" button on the side of your Zune then press the right or left arrows to switch songs. On the Zune HD, tap the "Breadcrumb" icon in the upper portion of the screen to move one level up in the menu system. Tap the name of the artist you see in "Now Playing" to access the screen for that artist.

Internet

When browsing the Internet on the Zune HD, pinch your fingers closer together to zoom out and reverse the motion to zoom in. Tap twice on a section of a Web page to zoom in to that section. Tap the Internet address (URL) to see the address bar. When you are entering an address press and hold on ".com" to see a list of other options such as ".net" or ".edu" for your Web address.

Music

Rip your CDs to the MP3 format so you can use the files anywhere. The Zune PC software defaults to using the Windows Media Audio (WMA) format for ripped music. Click "Options" then "Rip" then "Format" and select "MP3" to change the format if you want to be able to use your ripped music with other software and/or on other devices. Press the "Play" button next to "Music" on the main menu to instantly shuffle-play from all the music on your Zune HD. Press and hold on a song or artist then tap "Pin to Quickplay" to always see that item on the main menu on your Zune or Zune HD.

Troubleshooting

Reboot your Zune by pressing the back and up buttons at the same time and holding them until the player restarts. This can be helpful if features aren't working correctly to refresh the Zune operating system. If you want to reformat and completely delete all the files on your Zune you can press and hold the back, play and center buttons simultaneously as the Zune restarts. You will be prompted to accept the reformat with the warning that it will delete all your data.

Resources

About the Author

James T Wood is a teacher, blogger and author. Since 2009 he has published two books and numerous articles, both online and in print. His work experience has spanned the computer world, from sales and support to training and repair. He is also an accomplished public speaker and PowerPoint presenter.

Photo Credits

  • Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images