How to Play Your Content on Xbox One

rush to get Xbox One On store shelves, Microsoft seems to have left more than a few features of its next-generation entertainment console. While a few of the highlights such as the Kinect Sesame Street are not to be missed, there is a growing number of users for local video and audio playback to return.

Unlike the Xbox 360, the Xbox One seems to have no idea what a USB storage device is. Therefore, users cannot upload video or audio to a flash drive and play it on their television. Instead, Microsoft hopes users will skip native content playback for something it calls Play To. Essentially, Play To creates a direct link between the computer on which the user is playing media and the Xbox One itself.

Here’s how to play your content on Xbox One using Play To.

in Windows 8.1

For users with a machine running Windows 8.1, streaming directly to Xbox One is simple. Microsoft has integrated the Play To functionality with the Charms Bar.

Navigate to on your Windows 8.1 or Windows PC by tapping the Windows Key on your keyboard or at the bottom of your convertible screen.

take your place Then click Charms. The talisman represented by the gear at the bottom of the Charms Bar. You can also open the buttons by swiping from right to left on your touchscreen device.

Click inside the Settings Menu.

Click or tap inside the settings menu

Click or tap .

Click the arrow next to it. so that Windows 8.1 can find it on your home network. Both devices must be on the same wifi network for Play to stream to work.

Once Windows has finished setting up and testing the connection between the Xbox One, which is called LIVINGROOM in our example, it will add the console to the list of devices it can stream content from.

Now, while playing media content on your Windows 8.1 device, you can send it directly to the Xbox One connected to your TV.

While your media is playing. If you have a touchscreen, move or slide your cursor from the right edge of the screen to the left edge.

Click or tap Charm while your video is still playing.

Click or tap .

Click or tap the name of the Xbox One you previously added to your Windows 8 installation. By default, all Xbox Ones will be used as their name only.

in Windows 7

Turn on your Xbox One.

Click and select from the Menu.

Click or under the Hardware and Devices Menu in Control Panel.

Select yourself from the list of devices found by the Add Device Wizard and click Next. When the wizard is complete it will automatically close the window.

Go to and open it.

With Windows Media Player open, select a video or audio file from the navigation menu on the right side of the window.

on your song or video to reveal a drop-down menu.

Hover over the option in the menu. Select your Xbox One from the list of available devices for streaming.

You have successfully played your local content on Xbox One. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a way to enable the functionality on computers running operating systems older than Windows 7. Play To stream works in almost any file format that Windows understands natively. This includes WMV, MP4 and AVI. Play To can also stream music on video from Windows Store apps. Xbox One is currently on store shelves for $499.