Play Video and Music on Xbox One - A Simple Guide

Media Playback Capabilities on the Xbox One

The Xbox One console extends beyond gaming, incorporating television functionalities and compatibility with popular streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu.

However, its media capabilities don't stop there. Users are able to enjoy personally stored video and music content.

Utilizing USB Drives and Local Networks

This is achieved by connecting a USB drive containing your ripped or downloaded files, or by streaming media from a network location within your home.

The Xbox Media Player application facilitates this functionality.

The Xbox Media Player App

Microsoft introduced the Xbox Media Player approximately nine months following the initial release of the Xbox One console.

This addition broadened the console’s versatility, allowing for a wider range of media consumption.

Console Parity with PlayStation 4

Notably, Sony mirrored this feature on the PlayStation 4 with the release of its own PS4 Media Player application.

Consequently, both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles provide users with the ability to play media files from USB drives or local network sources.

Xbox One Media Player: Compatible File Types

The Xbox One Media Player application offers extensive compatibility with numerous audio and video codecs, container formats, and image file types. Notably, it also recognizes and displays album artwork embedded within music directories.

Supported Music, Video & Image Formats

Below is a comprehensive listing of supported formats, as officially documented by Microsoft. This ensures a broad range of media can be readily accessed and enjoyed.

• Music, Video, and Container Formats: 3GP audio, 3GP video, 3GP2, AAC, ADTS, .asf, AVI DivX, DV AVI, AVI uncompressed, AVI Xvid, H.264 AVCHD, M-JPEG, .mkv, .mov, MP3, MPEG-PS, MPEG-2, MPEG-2 HD, MPEG-2 TS, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, MPEG-4 SP, WAV, WMA, WMA Lossless, WMA Pro, WMA Voice, WMV, WMV HD
• Picture Formats: Animated GIF, BMP, JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIFF

Generally, the vast majority of media files will play without issue. Should an unsupported file type be encountered, a corresponding error notification will be displayed to the user.

The application is designed to handle a diverse selection of media, providing a versatile playback experience. Compatibility is a key feature of the Xbox One Media Player.

Setting Up the Xbox Media Player

The Xbox Media Player application does not come pre-installed on your console. Therefore, manual installation from the Xbox Store is required. Access the Store through your Xbox dashboard by navigating to My Games & Apps, then selecting Apps, and finally choosing Find more in the Xbox Store.

Within the Store, utilize the search function to locate "media player." Select the official Media Player app and proceed with the installation process.

Locating and Installing the Application

The search bar within the Xbox Store is the primary method for finding the necessary application. Ensure you are searching for "media player" to identify the correct program.

Once found, the installation process is straightforward. Simply select the app and follow the on-screen prompts to download and install it onto your Xbox.

Playing Media Files from a USB Drive on Xbox One

Understanding the compatibility of file systems is key. Specifically, consider the differences between FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS.

The Xbox One console is capable of playing media directly from a USB flash drive or an external hard drive. It supports drives utilizing USB 1, USB 2, and USB 3 connection standards.

Supported File Systems

For optimal compatibility, the USB drive must be formatted using one of the following file systems: FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, or NTFS.

If you are using a Windows computer, any USB drive readable by your PC will generally function correctly with your Xbox One.

Mac users should ensure their drives are formatted as exFAT to avoid compatibility issues. Avoid using Mac-specific file systems such as HFS+.

Transferring and Connecting Your Files

Begin by connecting the USB drive to your computer. Then, transfer your desired video, music, and picture files onto the drive.

Safely eject the drive from your computer and connect it to one of the available USB ports on your Xbox One console.

The Xbox One features three USB ports: two located on the rear panel and one conveniently positioned on the side.

Accessing Your Media

Launch the Media Player application on your Xbox One. Your connected USB drive will then appear as a selectable source.

Select the drive to browse the media files stored on it. Playback can be controlled using your Xbox controller.

Streaming Media Files From Your Computer

Related information can be found in guides detailing how to transform your computer into a DLNA media server.

An alternative to using a USB drive involves directly streaming video content from your computer to your Xbox One utilizing DLNA technology. A network attached storage (NAS) device can also function as a DLNA media server, should you possess one.

Setting Up a DLNA Server

Initially, a DLNA server must be configured on either your PC or Mac. Microsoft officially supports and recommends Windows Media Player for this purpose.

This functionality was first implemented in Windows 7 and remains compatible with Windows 8, 8.1, and 10. Mac users will require a third-party DLNA server application, such as Plex, to achieve the same result.

To enable the DLNA server integrated within Windows, access the Control Panel. Search for "media" and select the "Media streaming options" link located under the Network & Sharing Center. Click the "Turn on media streaming" button to make your files accessible.

This action will expose the contents of your Music, Pictures, and Videos libraries for streaming. Ensure your video file is placed within the Videos folder if it isn't already.