Zune gives you the freedom to wirelessly sync your music, videos, pictures, and podcasts from your collection to your Zune. Wireless sync works with Zune HD and all earlier Zune models—just be sure your player has the latest Zune updates.
Setting up wireless sync takes only a few minutes. You have to connect your Zune to your computer with a sync cable to set up wireless sync. But once it's set up, your Zune automatically syncs new content whenever it's docked or connected to a power outlet and in range of your wireless network. Of course, your wireless network must be up and running and you have to be logged in to your computer so that the Zune software can launch.
You can manually start wireless syncing anytime from the player, even when it's not plugged in. Be sure to disconnect your Zune from your computer after syncing to save battery power.
Looking to create a wireless home network? See our list of compatible routers.
Say that when you come home you like to park your Zune next to your media center in the living room, and your computer is upstairs in the den. Two possible setup configurations work in this example:
If your computer operating system is Windows 7 or Windows Vista and your computer is wirelessly connected to your network, Zune will automatically locate your wireless network and transfer the network name (SSID) and network key to your Zune.
If your computer operating system is not Windows 7 or Windows Vista, and your computer is connected to the network by an Ethernet cable, your Zune can scan for available wireless networks. Select the one your computer is connected to and enter the network key.
For step-by-step wireless setup instructions, see Sync Your Zune Wirelessly.
During wireless sync setup, the Zune software opens ports 1900 and 2869 on your computer. To confirm that these ports are open in Windows 7 or Windows Vista, click Start (the Windows orb) and in the search box type Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. Open the firewall program and in the left column click Inbound Rules. In the center pane, scroll down to the Zune Wireless Sync entries and confirm that ports 1900 and 2869 say Yes in the Enabled column.
Compatible wireless networks
Zune supports wireless local area networks (LANs) that conform to 802.11b or 802.11g, two general purpose wireless standards. Zune players do not support the 802.11n standard.
When setting up wireless sync, you must apply the same authentication/encryption scheme to your device that's being used on your wireless network. Zune works with the following authentication schemes:
The WPA2-PSK schemes do not work with Zune 30. If you're using a Zune 30 and have a WPA2-PSK encryption scheme on your network, you'll need to reconfigure your wireless LAN to use wireless sync.
