With Zune, sync always happens automatically, but you control exactly what syncs from your collection to your Zune.
If you want, you can set the Zune software to sync to your Zune device all media of a particular type (all your music, for example). Or you can pick and choose the items you want to sync—maybe you only want certain artists or albums tickling your eardrums.
The first time you sync, Zune will add all your music, pictures, and podcasts to your device by default, provided there's enough space on your device. If not, you'll need to choose what to sync and what to leave off your device. If you don't want to load all your media, just adjust the sync settings to the way you want them before you connect your device.
Zune only syncs videos that you specifically choose because they're often large and take a long time to sync.
Note
For Zune 4GB and Zune 8GB devices, you choose what syncs by default.
Zune only syncs friends that you specifically choose. When you have a lot of friends who like to share, your inbox can end up with more music than you can fit on your Zune.
| Media | If your collection fits on your Zune | If your collection is too large |
| Music | Sync all | Let me choose |
| Video | Let me choose | Let me choose |
| Pictures | Sync all | Let me choose |
| Podcasts | Sync all | Let me choose |
| Friends | Let me choose | Let me choose |
However much space you have on your Zune, you can always change your sync settings.
When you decide what you want to sync, just drag it from your collection to the device icon in the Zune software and sync starts immediately. You can choose a category—artist, album, picture folder, podcast series, playlists—or choose individual tracks, videos, or other stuff. If you make any changes to your collection—download a CD or change song information, for example—your device will sync automatically, as long as your settings allow it.
If no device is connected, the media you choose to sync always applies to the Zune that was connected most recently. If you want to sync with a specific device, click the device icon in the Zune software and select a device from the list.
If you want to change what media you're already syncing, see Sync Groups.
If you want to single out individual items (for example, a song or a picture) in your collection to exclude, see Skip Items from Sync.
