• Set Up Your System
• Family Settings (Xbox Live)
• Connectivity Video
• Join Xbox Live

Use a Portable Audio Player with Xbox 360

Just because they call it a portable audio player doesn't mean you can't enjoy it in the comfort of your living room or bedroom. Plug it right into your Xbox 360™ console for instant enjoyment of your music through your TV or stereo system's speakers.

To stream music from a portable audio player to your console

1. Connect a USB cable (not provided) between the device and a controller port on your console.
2. Configure the device to play through the USB port.
3. Select Media, Music, Portable Device.
4. Select the music or playlist you want to listen to.

Most players don't play files that are protected by DRM (digital rights management).

To listen to music from your Apple iPod, see Use an Apple iPod with Xbox 360.

Play Music from a Portable Audio Player in Place of a Game's Soundtrack

Games all have music soundtracks. The great thing about Xbox 360 games is that a game's music soundtrack is actually optional: if you'd rather hear music from your favorite bands while you game in addition to the game's sound effects and your conversations with other gamers on Xbox LIVE you can.

Listen to tunes you've ripped from your CDs to your Xbox 360 hard drive, or plug in a portable audio device.

To supplant a game's music with music from your portable audio player

1. Turn on your Xbox 360 console and load an Xbox 360 game.
2. Plug your portable music player's USB cable into a controller port on the Xbox 360 console. Make sure your player is on.
3. Once the game is running, press the Xbox Guide button and select Select Music.
4. Choose your portable device from the list of available options and select the artist, album, or playlist you want to listen to.

   Note

   While you're in a game, the maximum number of playable audio files is 100.

   
   
5. Press the Xbox Guide button to return to your game. Your selected music will play in place of the game soundtrack.

To balance the level of your secondary audio source against the non-music elements of a game

1. After you've started your music as described above, select the sound-level (speaker) icon from the Xbox Guide.
   
   
2. Use the left stick to raise or lower the music level relative to the game's non-music elements.
3. Press the Xbox Guide button to return to your game.

For More Info

To learn about creating and saving playlists using the Xbox 360 music player, see Listen to Music.

To find out if your digital audio player or camera is compatible with Xbox 360, see our list of Supported Devices.