Have questions about using Zune Marketplace? Check here for answers.

Note

Zune Marketplace is not available in all regions.

• What's a Zune Tag?
• Why does it say my Zune Tag is already being used?
• Why does it say my Zune Tag is not valid?
• I already have an Xbox LIVE Gamertag. How can I sign up?
• I already have a Zune Tag. How can I sign up?
• What's a Windows Live ID?
• I can't read those blurry characters in the picture during signup. What do I do?

• Which should I buy—Microsoft Points or a Zune Pass?
• What's a Zune Pass?
• What are the benefits of a Zune Pass?
• What are Microsoft Points?
• What are the benefits of buying songs with Microsoft Points or song credits?
• What are the benefits of buying videos with Microsoft Points?
• How do I buy a Zune Pass?
• How much does a Zune Pass cost?
• Does the cost of a Zune Pass include tax?
• I just bought a Zune Pass. How can I use it?
• How do I redeem my prepaid code?
• How do I buy songs with Microsoft Points when I have a Zune Pass?
• Why are some songs unavailable with a Zune Pass?
• Are videos available with a Zune Pass?

• Is my account information secure?
• What is auto-renewal?
• Do I have to auto-renew my Zune Pass?
• On what day of the month does my Zune Pass auto-renew?
• Does it cost extra to put Zune Pass music on a second Zune?
• Can I listen to Zune Pass music on more than one computer?
• If I cancel my Zune Pass, can I still listen to the music I have downloaded?
• Why do I need to provide my credit card information for my child's account?
• I just changed my child's settings. When do the changes take effect?

• Is the music that I download from the Zune Marketplace protected?
• What is the bitrate of the music at Zune Marketplace?

A Zune Tag is the unique name that represents you in the Zune online community. You create a Zune Tag when you create your Zune account.

Someone is already using the name you want. Select from alternative tags or try a different Zune Tag.

Your Zune Tag can use the letters Aa–Zz, the numbers 0–9, and single spaces. A Zune Tag can't start with a number and can't contain words that are reserved or could be considered offensive. "Zune" can't be used in a Zune Tag.

If you have an Xbox LIVE Gamertag and you use the same Windows Live ID for Zune, your Zune Tag is the same as your Gamertag. Just use your Windows Live ID during signup.

Your Xbox LIVE account must be a U.S.-based account to sign up with Zune.

If you already have a Zune Tag, just click the Sign In button in Zune software and enter your Windows Live ID.

Windows Live ID is a sign-in name you can use on various Microsoft sites and some other websites. You already have a Windows Live ID if you have an MSN, Hotmail, Xbox LIVE, or Xbox.com account. (Windows Live used to be called Passport Network.)

To create a Windows Live ID, you need an e-mail account. If you don't have an e-mail account, go to Windows Live Hotmail to create one with a Windows Live ID.

If you can't read the characters, try clicking the refresh button to the right of the picture. If you want to hear the characters spoken aloud, click the speaker icon.

If you want to build a big collection of great songs to listen to on your Zune—especially if you like to stay on top of new music—a Zune Pass is the way to go. But if you want fewer songs or you want to be able to burn your own CDs, you'll want to buy the songs with either Microsoft Points or song credits. Zune Pass subscriptions come with 10 song credits per month.

Of course, you can do both—try out all the great music you want with a Zune Pass and then buy your favorites to burn to CD.

You can buy Microsoft Points or a Zune Pass with a credit card, or you can redeem the code from a prepaid card purchased at retail. To buy Microsoft Points or a Zune Pass, you need a U.S. billing address.

A Zune Pass is a subscription that lets you download as many songs as you like from Zune Marketplace and listen to them for as long as your subscription is valid.

Songs you download on a Zune Pass can't be burned to CD. To get burn rights for a song, buy the song with either Microsoft Points or song credits. Zune Pass subscriptions come with 10 song credits per month

As long as your Zune Pass subscription is valid, you can:

• Download an unlimited number of songs on up to three computers.
• Play the songs an unlimited number of times.
• Sync the downloaded songs an unlimited number of times with up to three devices.
• Keep 10 songs every month for your permanent collection.

Songs that you download with your Zune Pass can't be burned to CD unless you've bought them with song credits. If you choose not to renew your Zune Pass after the subscription period ends, you won't be able to play the songs you've downloaded, though they will still appear in your Zune collection. Songs acquired using song credits are an exception: you can enjoy them indefinitely, even if your subscription lapses.

When you buy anything at Zune Marketplace or Xbox LIVE Marketplace, you use Microsoft Points. First, you buy Microsoft Points for your account and then use them to get songs, videos, and other items.

Here's what you can do with songs you buy from Zune Marketplace:

• Download the song on up to five computers.
• Play the song an unlimited number of times.
• Sync the song an unlimited number of times with an unlimited number of devices.
• Burn the song to CD up to seven times.What are the benefits of buying videos with Microsoft Points?

Here's what you can do with videos you buy from Zune Marketplace:

• Download the videos on up to five computers.

• Play the videos an unlimited number of times.

• Sync the videos an unlimited number of times with an unlimited number of devices.

You'll find step-by-step instructions for buying a Zune Pass at Get a Zune Pass.

A Zune Pass is available for a monthly charge of U.S.$14.99 plus tax. For more, see Get a Zune Pass.

No. Any applicable taxes will also be charged.

The next time you sign into Zune software and visit Zune Marketplace, you'll see download buttons next to most songs. Click the download button for each song or album you want to download.

To manage your subscription, click Settings, Account.

Once you sign into your account, click Settings, Account, and then click Redeem code. Then just enter your 25-digit code and click Redeem.

See Get Music at Zune Marketplace for step-by-step instructions on buying music with Microsoft Points and song credits with a Zune Pass.

Not all songs have subscription-based rights, but you may be able to buy the songs instead.

No, videos can't be downloaded with a Zune Pass.

Yes, all pages in Zune software—including those at Zune Marketplace—are secure.

Your Zune Pass is automatically renewed through your credit card so that you can continue to enjoy its benefits without interruption. You can choose to have your credit card charged monthly or quarterly (every three months).

Yes.

The date of the month of the original transaction is your renewal date. For example, if you bought your Zune Pass on March 15, you'd be automatically billed on April 15, May 15, June 15, and so on—or, if you bought a quarterly pass, on June 15, September 15, December 15, and so on.

Not at all! You can listen to your Zune Pass music on up to three Zune players.

Sure! You can listen to music downloaded with your Zune Pass on up to three computers.

No, your Zune Pass must be kept current to continue to play the music downloaded with it. Your Zune Pass downloads automatically expire if you don't renew your Zune Pass.

If your child is younger than 13, Zune asks for valid credit card information to prove that you are an adult. No charges are made to your credit card. The information is used only to validate that you are of legal age. Your credit card information isn't saved.

Your new settings will take effect the next time your child signs into their Zune account.

Music that you purchase in the MP3 format has no associated media usage rights—you can back it up, use it on other computers and devices, and burn it to CD. Music that you download from Zune Marketplace using a Zune Pass subscription is protected with media usage rights, which specify what you can do with the songs. For more information, see Media Usage Rights FAQ.

The bitrate of the music available at Zune Marketplace varies according to file format. Most MP3 files are either 256 kbps or 320 Kbps, and most WMA files are 192 Kbps. For more information on audio formats and quality, see Adjusting the Quality of Ripped Audio.