Set up your device:

• Automatic. If your device's storage capacity is more than 4 gigabytes (GB) and your entire library can fit on the device, the Player automatically syncs your entire library. You can also choose what syncs automatically by selecting the playlists you want to sync. With this option, the Player syncs your digital media files to the device to mirror your library when you connect it to your computer or when you change sync settings.
• Manual. With this option, you pick specific files or playlists you want to sync each time you want to make changes to the digital media files on your device, and you manually remove files from your device.

1. Start the Player, turn on your device, and then connect your device to your computer. If prompted, select the option to sync the device using Windows Media Player.
2. Do one of the following:
   
   
   • If the Player has selected to sync your device automatically, click Finish. When you do so, the Player will sync your entire library to your device. After that, your device will sync every time you connect it to your computer.
   • If the Player has selected to sync your device manually, click Finish. Then, in the Sync tab, you must select the files and playlists you want to sync manually.

Top of Page

Choose and prioritize what syncs automatically:

1. Click the arrow below the Sync tab, point to the name of the device, and then click Set Up Sync, as shown in the following screen shot.
   
   
2. The Device Setup dialog box appears, as shown in the following screen shot.
   
   
3. In the Available playlists list, select the existing playlists you want to sync and then click Add.
4. To create a playlist, click New Auto Playlist and follow the steps on the screen to specify criteria for files in the auto playlist.
5. To remove a playlist, click the playlist in the Playlists to sync list, and then click Remove.
6. Do one of the following:
   
   
   • In the Playlists to sync list, select a playlist, one at a time, and click the Priority arrows to arrange them in the order that you want them to sync, as shown in the following screen shot. If your device fills up before sync is complete, files and playlists that are lower in priority on the list may not sync. You can also monitor how much remaining space is available on the device from this list.
     
     
   • Select the Shuffle what syncs check box if you want the Player to shuffle the files that are in the playlists you have selected to sync. With this option, every time you connect your device, the files on the device are removed and a new set of files (from the playlists in the Playlists to sync list) are added to the device. This option is useful if you have a device with limited storage capacity, you like to rotate through your music, or if your library has grown too large to fit on your device.

Top of Page

Select and shuffle items with manual sync:

1. Start the Player, turn on and connect your device to your computer, and then click the Sync tab.
2. If you need to clear the List pane before beginning, click the Clear List pane button .
3. If more than one device is connected, in the Navigation pane, click the device you want to sync.
4. Drag items such as files, albums, and playlists to the List pane to add them to the list of items to sync, as shown in the following screen shot.
   
   
   
   To select multiple adjacent items, press and hold the SHIFT key while selecting. To select nonadjacent items, press and hold the CTRL key while selecting.
5. To remove items, select one or more items in the List pane, and then click Remove from List, as shown in the following screen shot.
   
   
6. In the List pane, verify that the items you have selected to sync will all fit on the device, as shown in the following screen shot. If necessary, remove items from the list.
   
   
7. Click Start Sync.

1. Start the Player, turn on and connect your device to your computer, and then click the Sync tab.
2. Click the arrow below the Sync tab, point to the device, and then click Shuffle, as shown in the following screen shot.
   
   
   
   —or—
   
   In the List pane, click Shuffle music to have the Player automatically add a shuffled set of songs from your library to the List pane, as shown in the following screen shot.
   
   
3. Add or remove any songs you want, and then click Shuffle Now.

Top of Page

Switching between automatic and manual sync

1. Click the arrow below the Sync tab, point to the device, and then click Set Up Sync.
2. Select or clear the Sync this device automatically check box.
3. Do one of the following:
   • If you are switching to use automatic sync, choose what syncs automatically. For more information, see Choose and prioritize what syncs automatically (on Microsoft.com).
   • If you are switching to use manual sync, see Select and shuffle items with manual sync (on Microsoft.com).

Top of Page