Windows phone

Play with pictures and video

The Pictures & Videos and My Files folders let you view picture and video files on your device. You can also adjust settings for sending pictures in e-mail or for setting up slide shows. You can access pictures and videos through the Recent Photos list.

These how-to instructions are for touch screen and non-touch screen phones with Windows Mobile 5. To find help and how-to for Windows Mobile 6 and later versions, go to the main Help & how-to section.

Not sure what type of phone or version of Windows Mobile you have? Identify your Windows Mobile phone.

5.0 Touch Screen5.0 Non-Touch Screen

Pictures and video

Take a picture

  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos > Camera.
  • Tap Menu > Still Mode if you have been recording video clips.
  • If you do not see the Recording toolbar, tap Menu > View Recording Toolbar.
  • Press ENTER.
    • The picture is automatically saved to the default storage location.
Tips

To delete the picture you've just taken, tap Menu > Delete.

To take another picture, tap Camera.

Save a copy of a picture

Before you edit a picture, you may want to save a copy of the original.
  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos.
  • Tap the picture you want to copy.
  • Tap Menu > Edit.
  • Tap Menu > Save As.
  • Enter a new name and tap OK.

Record a video clip

  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos > Camera.
  • Tap Menu > Video Mode.
  • Press ENTER to begin recording.
  • Press ENTER again to stop recording.

    The video clip is automatically saved to the default storage location.

Tip

You can record sounds with your video clips. From within Pictures & Videos, simply tap Menu > Options. On the Video tab, select the Include audio when recording video files check box.

Copy a picture or video clip to your device

You can copy pictures from your PC and view them on your device.
  • Copy the pictures from your PC or a storage card to the My Pictures folder on your device.
  • For more information on copying files from your PC to your device, see ActiveSync Help on your PC.
Tip

You can also copy pictures from your PC to your device using a memory card. Insert the memory card into the memory card slot on your device and then copy the pictures from your PC to the folder you created on the memory card.

Edit a picture

You can rotate, crop, and adjust the brightness and color contrast of your pictures
  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos.
  • Tap the picture you want to edit.
  • Tap Menu > Edit, and do any of the following:
    • To rotate a picture 90 degrees counterclockwise, tap Rotate.
    • To crop a picture, tap Menu > Crop. Then, tap and drag to select the area to crop. Tap outside the box to stop cropping.
    • To adjust the brightness and contrast levels of a picture, tap Menu > AutoCorrect.
Tips

To undo an edit, tap Menu > Undo.

To cancel all unsaved edits you made to the picture, tap Revert to Saved.

View pictures as a slide show

You can view your pictures as a slide show on your device. Pictures are shown in full screen view with 5-second intervals between slides.
  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos.
  • Tap Menu > Play Slide Show.
Tips

You can specify how pictures are scaled to optimize their display in a slide show. Tap Menu > Options and on the Slide Show tab, tap Portrait Pictures or Landscape pictures.

Tap anywhere on the screen to display the Slide Show toolbar, which you can use to stop or pause the slide show, rotate the view, and more.

Press NAVIGATION right or left to move forward or backward through the slides.

Rename a picture or video clip

You may find it helpful to rename a picture or video clip with a more meaningful name.
  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos.
  • Select the picture or video clip you want to rename and tap Menu > Properties.
  • In Name, enter a new name, and tap OK.

Set a picture as the background

You can use a picture as the background on the Today screen.
  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos.
  • Select the picture you want to set as the background.
  • Tap Menu > Set as Today Background.
  • In Transparency level, select a higher percentage for a more transparent picture or a lower percentage for a more opaque picture.
  • Tap OK.

Resize pictures for faster e-mail transfer

You can make pictures smaller for sending them in e-mail because your mail server or your recipient's mailbox may have size limitations.
  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos.
  • Tap Menu > Options.
  • On the Options tab, tap the size you want.
Note

Only the picture sent in the e-mail message is resized. The original picture remains unchanged.

Zoom in and out while viewing a picture

Zoom in to see a portion of a picture in more detail, and zoom out to see the entire picture again.
  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos.
  • Select the picture you want to view.
  • Tap Menu > Zoom.
  • From the thumbnail, select zoom icon, and the portion of the picture you want to zoom to.
Tip

To view a portion of the picture that is not visible on the device screen during zooming, simply tap the picture and drag it up, down, or to either side until the portion of the picture you want to see is visible.

View pictures and launch video clips

  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos.
  • Tap the picture or video clip you want to see.
  • To view pictures or launch video clips stored on a storage card, tap the folder list (labeled My Pictures by default), and tap the appropriate storage card option.
  • To view pictures or launch video clips stored in the My Pictures folder on your device, tap My Pictures.
Tip

To quickly assign a picture to a contact while viewing a picture, tap Menu > Save to contact, tap the name of the contact, and tap OK.

Manage pictures and videos

Sort pictures and video clips

If you store a large number of pictures or video clips on your device, you may find it helpful to sort them to quickly find a specific picture or clip. You can sort by name, date, and size.
  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos.
  • Tap the sort list (labeled Date by default), and select the item you want to sort by.

Create a new Pictures folder

You may find it helpful to create your own folders for organizing your pictures.
  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos.
  • Tap Menu > Edit > New Folder.

Delete a Pictures folder

You may want to delete a folder that you no longer use.
  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos.
  • Tap and hold the folder you want to delete and tap Delete.

Adjust picture and video quality

Select video quality

You can specify the quality and size of the video clips you record.

  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos > Camera.
  • Tap Menu > Video Mode.
  • Tap Menu > Quality, and then tap the setting you want.
Note

Video clips of higher quality require more memory.

Select picture compression

You can set the compression level for the pictures you take. Note that selecting a high quality picture increases the size of the file significantly.

  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos > Camera.
  • Tap Menu > Options > Camera tab.
  • In the Still image compression level box, tap the desired compression level.

Adjust the brightness for pictures and video clips

  • Tap Start > Programs > Pictures & Videos > Camera.
  • Tap Menu > Brightness, and then tap the brightness level you want.
  • By default, the brightness level is set to 0. The higher the number, the brighter the picture. The lower the number, the darker the picture.
Notes

The brightness setting is applied when taking pictures or recording video clips.

The brightness level is also applied to pictures and video clips when they are saved.

Listen to music and watch videos

Copy music and video files to your Pocket PC

Use the Sync feature in the desktop version of Windows Media Player to synchronize (copy) digital media files from your computer to your Pocket PC. Using Sync ensures that protected files and album art are copied to your device correctly.

To synchronize content to your device automatically, do the following:

  • On your computer, start Windows Media Player 10.
  • Insert a 32 MB or larger storage card into your Pocket PC, and then connect your device to your computer.
  • In the wizard, click Automatic, select the Customize the playlists that will be synchronized check box, and then select the playlists that you want to synchronize.
  • Click Finish
    The files begin synchronizing to your device. The next time you connect your device to your computer while the desktop version of Windows Media Player is running, synchronization will start automatically.
For more information about the Sync feature, start the desktop version of Windows Media Player 10, and then press F1.

Notes

  • Always use the desktop version of Windows Media Player to synchronize (copy) files to your Pocket PC. For example, do not use Windows Explorer to drag and drop files from your computer to your Pocket PC.
  • Always synchronize files to a storage card that is inserted into your Pocket PC. Do not synchronize to a storage card that is inserted into a storage card reader.
  • The desktop version of Windows Media Player is only available for computers running Windows XP. If you are not running Windows XP on your desktop computer, use the Copy to CD or Device feature of Windows Media Player 9 Series to copy your audio files and video files to your device.

    The desktop version of Windows Media Player 9 Series is not as full-featured as the desktop version of Windows Media Player 10. For example, the desktop version of Windows Media Player 9 Series does not support automatic synchronization, synchronization of playlists, synchronization of album art, or synchronization of TV shows recorded by computers running Windows XP Media Center Edition.

    For more information about the Copy to CD or Device feature, start the desktop version of Windows Media Player 9 Series, and then press F1.

Audio files copy faster if the desktop Player is configured to automatically set the quality level for audio files copied to your Pocket PC. For more information, see the desktop Player Help.

Play items on your device

Use the library to find and play songs, videos, and playlists that are stored on your Pocket PC or removable storage card.
  • If you are not on the Library screen, tap Menu > Library.
  • If necessary, on the Library screen, tap the Library arrow (near the top of the screen), and then tap the library that you want to use (for example, Storage Card).
  • Tap a category (for example, My Music or My Playlists), tap and hold the item that you want to play (such as a song, album, or artist name), and then tap Play or Queue Up.
Note

To play a file stored on your device but that is not in a library, on the Library screen, tap Menu > Open File. Tap and hold the item that you want to play (such as a file or a folder), and then tap Play or Queue Up.

Play items repeatedly

Use the Repeat command to play all items in the Now Playing playlist repeatedly. A check mark appears next to the command name when repeat play is turned on.
  • If you are not on the Playback screen, tap OK to display the Playback screen.
  • On the Playback screen, to turn on or turn off repeat play, tap Menu > Shuffle/Repeat > Repeat.
Tip

You can also access the Repeat command from the menu on the Now Playing screen.

Play items in a random order

Use the Shuffle command to play the items in the Now Playing playlist in a random order. A check mark appears next to the command name when shuffle play is turned on.
  • If you are not on the Playback screen, tap OK to display the Playback screen.
  • On the Playback screen, to turn on or turn off shuffle play, tap Menu > Shuffle/Repeat > Shuffle.
Tip

You can also access the Shuffle command from the menu on the Now Playing screen.

Adjust the volume

  • Tap Volume Up to increase the volume or tap Volume Down to decrease the volume of Windows Media Player Mobile.

Note

  • You can also use the NAVIGATION up and down controls to adjust the volume.
  • To turn the sound on or off quickly, tap Mute. If your device has a hardware keypad, you can also press # to turn the sound on or off quickly.
  • If your device has a dedicated volume control, you can also use it to adjust the volume. However, that control will affect all sounds on your device, not just the sounds from Windows Media Player Mobile.

Update a library

In most cases, Windows Media Player Mobile automatically updates your libraries as necessary. However, you can manually update a library to ensure that it has links to any new files that you might have recently copied to your Pocket PC or a removable storage card.
  • If you are not already on the Library screen, tap Menu > Library.
  • On the Library screen, tap Menu > Update Library.
  • Wait for the files to be added, and then tap Done.

Delete an item from a library

  • If you are not already on the Library screen, tap Menu > Library.
  • Tap and hold an item that you want to delete (such as a song, video, or playlist), and then tap Delete from Library.

    The item is deleted from the library, but not from your device or removable storage card. If you want to also delete the file from your device or storage card, tap Yes when you are prompted.

Add items to the Now Playing playlist

  • If you are not on the Library screen, tap Menu > Library.
  • If necessary, on the Library screen, tap the Library arrow (near the top of the screen), and then tap the library that you want to use (for example, Storage Card).
  • Tap a category (for example, My Music or My Playlists), tap and hold the item that you want to add to Now Playing (such as a single file or an album name), and then tap Queue Up.
Tip

On the Now Playing screen, tap Add to switch to the Library screen and find items to add to the Now Playing playlist.

Modify the Now Playing playlist

  • If you are on the Library screen, tap the Now Playing category to display the Now Playing screen. If you are on the Playback screen, tap Now Playing to display the Now Playing screen.
  • On the Now Playing screen, do any of the following.

    To Do this
    Move the selected item up in the playlist. Tap Move Up.
    Move the selected item down in the playlist. Tap Move Down.
    Display the Library screen so you can add items to the Now Playing playlist. Tap Add.
    Remove the selected item from the playlist. Tap Remove.
    Show the file properties of the selected item. Tap Properties.

Notes

  • Tap and hold an item in a playlist to see a list of actions you can perform.
  • To quickly add a group of files to the Now Playing playlist, tap and hold an item in the library (such as an album name, artist name, or genre name), and then tap Queue Up.
  • To move an item up or down in the Now Playing playlist, you can also tap and drag the item to the desired location.

Clear the Now Playing playlist

The Now Playing playlist displays the currently playing file and any files that are queued up to play next. You can quickly remove all items from the playlist by clearing it.

  • If you are on the Library screen, tap the Now Playing category to display the Now Playing screen. If you are on the Playback screen, tap Now Playing to display the Now Playing screen.
  • On the Now Playing screen, tap Menu > Clear Now Playing.

Overview of the default hardware button assignments

By default, these hardware buttons are assigned to Windows Media Player Mobile functions. In some cases, the manufacturer of your device may have changed these button assignments.

Hardware Button Player Function
ENTER Play/Pause
NAVIGATION left Previous
NAVIGATION right Next
NAVIGATION up Volume Up
NAVIGATION down Volume Down
# Mute
0 Full Screen
* Rating
NAVIGATION right (hold) Fast Forward
NAVIGATION left (hold) Rewind

Pictures and video

Use the Pictures & Videos program to take, view, and edit pictures as well as record and launch video clips stored on your device or on a storage card. You can also send pictures and video clips to others, or set a picture as the background on the Home screen. You can see your pictures individually, as thumbnails, or as part of a slide show. You can edit your pictures by cropping, rotating, and adjusting the brightness and contrast.

Edit a picture

  • On the Home screen, click Start > Pictures.
  • Select the picture to edit, and click View.
  • Click Menu > Edit, and do any of the following:
    • To rotate a picture 90 degrees counterclockwise, click Menu > Rotate.
    • To crop a picture, click Menu > Crop. Then, position the selection cursor to mark the upper left corner of the picture, click Next, and then position the cursor to mark the lower right corner of the picture. Click Finish to see the cropped picture.
    • To auto correct a picture, click Menu > Auto Correct.
  • Click Done.

Tips

  • To undo an edit, click Menu > Undo.
  • To cancel all unsaved edits made to the picture, click Menu > Cancel.

View pictures on your phone

  • On the Home screen, click Start > Pictures.
  • Select the picture to view and click View.

Tip

To view pictures located on a storage card, click Start > Pictures. Click Menu > Storage Card. (You may need to scroll to view this option.)

View pictures as a slide show

  • On the Home screen, click Start > Pictures.
  • Click Menu > Play Slide Show.

Tips

  • To stop the slide show, click to display the Slide Show toolbar and click the Close button. You can also pause the slide show and rotate the view using the toolbar.
  • To move forward or backward through the slides, press NAVIGATION right or left.

Set a picture as the Home screen

  • On the Home screen, click Start > Pictures.
  • Select the picture to set as the background.
  • Click Menu > Use as Home Screen.
  • Use NAVIGATION to select the portion of the picture you want to use, and click Next.
  • Under Adjust the transparency, select a higher percentage for a more transparent picture or a lower percentage for a more opaque picture.
  • Click Finish.

Send a picture

  • On the Home screen, click Start > Pictures.
  • Select the picture to send.
  • Click Menu > Send.
  • Select the account to use and click Select.
    • A new message is created with the picture attached.
  • Enter the recipient name and subject, and click Send.
    • The message will be sent the next time you synchronize your phone with your PC.

Save a copy of a picture

  • On the Home screen, click Start > Pictures.
  • Click the picture to save and click Menu > Edit.
  • Click Menu > Save As.
  • Enter a name for the picture and click Done.

Tip

  • To cancel all unsaved changes, click Menu > Cancel.

Create a Pictures folder

  • On the Home screen, click Start > Pictures.
  • Click Menu > Edit > New Folder.

Listen to music and watch videos

Copy music and video files to your phone

Use the Sync feature in the desktop version of Windows Media Player to synchronize (copy) digital media files from your computer to your phone. Using Sync ensures that protected files and album art are copied to your device correctly.

To synchronize content to your device automatically, do the following:

  • On your computer, start Windows Media Player.
  • Insert a 32 MB or larger storage card into your phone, and then connect your device to your computer.
    On your computer, the Device Setup Wizard opens.
  • In the wizard, click Automatic, select the Customize the playlists that will be synchronized check box, and then select the playlists that you want to synchronize.
  • Click Finish
    The files begin synchronizing to your device. The next time you connect your device to your computer while the desktop version of Windows Media Player is running, synchronization will start automatically.
For more information about the Sync feature, start the desktop version of Windows Media Player, and then press F1.

Notes

  • Always use the desktop version of Windows Media Player to synchronize (copy) files to your phone. For example, do not use Windows Explorer to drag and drop files from your computer to your phone.
  • Always synchronize files to a storage card that is inserted into your phone. Do not synchronize to a storage card that is inserted into a storage card reader.
  • The desktop version of Windows Media Player is only available for computers running Windows XP. If you are not running Windows XP on your desktop computer, use the Copy to CD or Device feature of Windows Media Player 9 Series to copy your audio files and video files to your phone.
  • The desktop version of Windows Media Player 9 Series is not as full-featured as the desktop version of Windows Media Player. For example, the desktop version of Windows Media Player 9 Series does not support automatic synchronization, synchronization of playlists, synchronization of album art, or synchronization of TV shows recorded by computers running Windows XP Media Center Edition.
  • For more information about the Copy to CD or Device feature, start the desktop version of Windows Media Player 9 Series, and then press F1.
  • Audio files copy faster if the desktop Player is configured to automatically set the quality level for audio files copied to your phone. For more information, see the desktop Player Help.

Play items on your phone

Use the library to find and play songs, videos, and playlists that are stored on your phone or removable storage card.
  • If you are not on the Library screen, click Menu > Library.
  • If necessary, on the Library screen, click Menu > Library, and then select the library that you want to use (for example, Storage Card).
  • Select a category (for example, My Music or My Playlists), select the item that you want to play (such as a song, album, or artist name), and then click Play.
Note

To play a file stored on your device but that is not in a library, on the Library screen, click Menu > Open File. click and hold the item that you want to play (such as a file or a folder), and then click Play or Queue Up.

Play an item on a network

Use the Open URL command to play a song or video that is stored on the Internet or on a network server.
  • If you are not on the Library screen, click Menu > Library.
  • click Menu > Open URL.
  • In the URL box, enter a network address.

    - or -

    In the History box, click a URL that you have previously used.

Note

To play an item on a network, your device must be connected to a network. For more information about connecting your device to a network, see Smartphone Help or the documentation that came with your device.

Play items in a random order

Use the Shuffle command to play the items in the Now Playing playlist in a random order. A check mark appears next to the command name when shuffle play is turned on.
  • If you are not on the Playback screen, press BACK to display the Playback screen.
  • On the Playback screen, to turn on or turn off shuffle play, click Menu > Shuffle/Repeat > Shuffle.
Tip

You can also access the Shuffle command from the menu on the Now Playing screen.

Play items repeatedly

Use the Repeat command to play all items in the Now Playing playlist repeatedly. A check mark appears next to the command name when repeat play is turned on.
  • If you are not on the Playback screen, press BACK to display the Playback screen.
  • On the Playback screen, to turn on or turn off repeat play, click Menu > Shuffle/Repeat > Repeat.
Tip

You can also access the Repeat command from the menu on the Now Playing screen.

Adjust the volume

  • Press NAVIGATION up to increase the volume or NAVIGATION down to decrease the volume of Windows Media Player Mobile.Notes
  • If your phone has a dedicated volume control, you can also use it to adjust the volume. However, that control will affect all sounds on your phone, not just the sounds from Windows Media Player Mobile.
  • To turn the sound on or off (mute) quickly, press the # key

Update a library

In most cases, Windows Media Player Mobile automatically updates your libraries as necessary. However, you can manually update a library to ensure that it has links to any new files that you might have recently copied to your phone or a removable storage card.

  • If you are not already on the Library screen, click Menu > Library.
  • On the Library screen, click Menu > Update Library.
  • Wait for the files to be added, and then click Done.

Delete an item from a library

  • If you are not already on the Library screen, click Menu > Library.
  • On the Library screen, select the item that you want to delete (such as a song, video, or playlist), and then click Menu > Delete from Library.

    The item is deleted from the library, but not from your phone or removable storage card. If you want to also delete the file from your phone or storage card, click Yes when you are prompted.

Add items to the Now Playing playlist

  • If you are not on the Library screen, click Menu > Library.
  • If necessary, on the Library screen, click Menu > Library, and then select the library that you want to use (for example, Storage Card).
  • Select a category (for example, My Music or My Playlists), select the item that you want to add to Now Playing (such as a single file or an album name), click Menu > Queue Up.

Modify the Now Playing playlist

  • If you are on the Library screen, click the Now Playing category to display the Now Playing screen. If you are on the Playback screen, click Now Playing to display the Now Playing screen.
  • On the Now Playing screen, do any of the following.
To Do this
Move the selected item up in the playlist. Tap Move Up.
Move the selected item down in the playlist. Tap Move Down.
Display the Library screen so you can add items to the Now Playing playlist. Tap Add.
Remove the selected item from the playlist. Tap Remove.
Show the file properties of the selected item. Tap Properties.

Note

To quickly add a group of files to the Now Playing playlist, select an item in the library (such as an album name, artist name, or genre name), and then click Menu > Queue Up.

Clear the Now Playing playlist

The Now Playing playlist displays the currently playing file and any files that are queued up to play next. You can quickly remove all items from the playlist by clearing it.
  • If you are on the Library screen, select the Now Playing category to display the Now Playing screen. If you are on the Playback screen, select Now Playing to display the Now Playing screen.
  • On the Now Playing screen, click Menu > Clear Now Playing.

Overview of the controls

By default, these hardware buttons are assigned to Windows Media Player Mobile functions. In some cases, the manufacturer of your phone may have changed these button assignments.

Press To do this
ENTER Play or pause a file
NAVIGATION left Skip to a previous file
NAVIGATION right Skip to the next file
NAVIGATION up Increase the volume

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