It’s a great time to own Xbox One, Microsoft’s latest all-in-one entertainment system. However, this is not a good time to own a console and want to watch videos not purchased from the Xbox Video Store or available on Netflix. Today, the Xbox One lacks the ability to read hard drives and allow users to play videos directly from them. It’s a strange omission, a hole in which millions of users’ likely hope will be tied to an upcoming Xbox One update. Fortunately, users can stream video from their Windows 8 tablets, desktops, and laptops to the Xbox One. Here’s how.
First, you’ll need the video you’re trying to stream. Videos purchased from the iTunes Store, Google Play, and Amazon Instant cannot be transferred to Xbox One. This is because each of these stores has locked this content so that it can only be played through official methods. Video ripped from a DVD or downloaded via peer-to-peer websites is usually playable if their format matches what’s available for playback on Xbox Video.
For our example we use the trailer of the BBC show Sherlock.
Navigate to by pressing the Windows Key on your keyboard or the Windows button at the bottom of your tablet or convertible screen.
If you have it pinned to your Start Screen, click or tap the tile. If you don’t, place your finger anywhere on the Start Screen and swipe up to see the list of installed apps. Mouse and keyboard users can click the downward facing arrow in the lower left corner of their screen to open a list of installed apps.
Right click at the bottom of your screen. Now click on Videos option.
Here you need to check to make sure that the video you are trying to play is in the Videos folder. If not, right-click the folder icon again and open Downloads, find it and drag it to the Videos folder.
Go back and open Xbox Video by pressing the Windows Key or the Windows button at the bottom of your device’s touchscreen.
with a controller or saying “Xbox On”
In Xbox Video, go to the far left of your screen. If your video is something it understands, Xbox Video will display it under the hood. Tap or click on it to start playing.
While the video is playing, hover your mouse over your c screen or swipe from the right edge to the left to bring up the Charms Bar. Now click or tap on the tagged talisman.
Click or tap on it.
Tap or click on the menu. If you don’t see Xbox One here, you may need to restart your Windows 8 device or Xbox One and try again.
Here you got it. You are now streaming content from your device to Xbox One. It is important to remember a few things when using this function. First, the streaming will stop if you put your device to sleep or turn it off. It’s also important to note that some videos may not play properly due to formatting issues. Of course, your Windows 8 device and Xbox One must be on the same network for streaming to work.
