Check here for answers to questions about Zune battery power.

• How do I charge the battery?
• How long does it take to charge the battery?
• How can I maximize the time a battery charge will last?
• How come the battery doesn't seem to charge or charges very slowly?
• Why does my Zune display a battery icon?
• Why doesn't my Zune have battery power when I plug it in to my computer for the first time?
• How do I turn off my Zune to save battery power?
• Why does my Zune have a black screen?

Your Zune comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery installed. To charge the battery, plug your device in to a power source that will work for Zune. Here are some options:

• Connect the device to a USB port on the back of your computer using the Zune Sync Cable that came with your Zune. Avoid connecting to a USB hub or the USB port on your keyboard or the front of your computer. Those ports are likely to be low-powered and may charge Zune slowly. Also, a high-powered port may change to a low-powered port when your computer goes to sleep. See your computer's documentation for details.
• Connect your device to the Zune AC Adapter or the charger in the Zune Car Pack (all sold separately).

Icon	State
	Low battery
	Charging battery
	Fully charged battery

Once you connect your Zune to a power source, you'll see a charging battery icon on your Zune device's screen as the battery starts to charge.

If the battery is very low, you may at first see a full-screen charging icon on your Zune. When the battery has enough charge, the home screen will pop up—this may take several minutes.

Once the home screen appears, the charging battery icon appears in the lower right of the screen so that you can see how full your battery is getting.

Charging time varies depending on the power source. Typically, if your battery is completely drained, expect it to take about three hours to fully charge when you use a high-power USB port. If Zune software is running on the computer you're charging the device on, it can take longer because the software may be syncing to your Zune. Close Zune software to speed things up.

You don't have to wait until your battery is fully charged to use your Zune. Disconnect any time you've got the charge you need.

What you do with your Zune affects how long the battery lasts. For example, the more you interact with your Zune, the more battery power you use.

To get the best battery performance, follow these guidelines:

• Be sure to update your Zune player. Zune engineers work continuously to find ways to optimize battery performance.
• Turn off the radio when you're not listening to it. The radio turns off when you turn off your Zune.
• Turn off wireless.
• Set the hold switch to the locked position when you're not using your Zune to prevent unintentional activation. The hold switch is on the top of the player.
• Adjust the backlight to display for the shortest possible time; good options are 30 seconds or less. Also, you can reduce the brightness level. For more, see Change Display Settings.
• Use your Zune—its lithium battery needs regular activity to function most efficiently. Be sure to go through at least one charge cycle each month.
• Charge the battery when it is at least half empty.

If you try to charge your battery but it doesn't seem to charge or charges very slowly, you may be plugged in to a low-power USB port. Sometimes, when charging, you may even see a low battery icon or a charging icon on your Zune.

Ideally, the battery should be charged with at least 500 milliamps (mA) of power. In many cases, the USB ports on the front of a computer and on some USB hubs are low-power 100-mA ports. Typically, the high-power 500-mA USB ports are on the back of a computer. Additionally, if your computer is sleeping, the high-power USB ports may switch to low-power 100 mA mode.

Try some of these solutions:

• Connect your player to a different USB port on your computer. Try one on the back of the computer. Avoid connecting to a USB hub.
• Use a different high-power source, like an Xbox 360 console, the Zune AC Adapter, or the Zune car charger (all sold separately).
• Try updating your Zune.

Your Zune can display a few different battery icons depending on its state.

Icon	State
	Low battery. The battery charge is too low to start your Zune.
	Charging battery. The battery charge is too low to start your Zune but it is connected to a power source and the battery is charging.
	The home screen displays when the battery is charged enough to start your Zune. A small battery icon in the lower right displays charge status.

The Zune devices are all partially charged before packaging. However, if the remaining charge in the battery is too low, the Zune won't turn on until the battery has charged up a bit. Connect the device to a powered USB port or the Zune AC Adapter (sold separately) and let it sit for at least 15 to 30 minutes to partially charge it. A completely drained battery takes about 2 to 3 hours to fully recharge.

To correct common charging problems, try these steps:

• If charging from the computer, connect the player to a different USB port on your computer, preferably one on the back of your computer. Don't use a USB hub.
• Use another high-power source that works with Zune, such as a USB port on the back of an Xbox 360 console, a Zune AC Adapter, or a Zune car charger.

To turn off your Zune manually, press and hold the play/pause button.

Your Zune will turn itself off automatically if you're not currently playing something—music, videos, podcasts, or the radio. If you are playing music, videos, or podcasts, your Zune will turn off after the selection is finished. If it's playing the radio, however, it will continue playing until you turn your Zune off manually.

The same is true if you set the backlight to always on. It stays on until you turn off your Zune.

The battery may be completely drained. Connect your Zune to a power source and allow time for the battery to recharge.

The hold switch may be locked. Try moving the hold switch back and forth. Then move it to the unlocked position and press the play/pause button.

For other possible solutions, see Troubleshoot Zune Player Problems.