Sync Handheld

To set up sync for your device, go to:

• Tools > Options > Handheld

And select your device from the drop-down list at the top of the dialog.

If your device isn't detected, ensure that it has been plugged in and drivers have been installed. You can also manually rescan for devices at the bottom of the dialog. And lastly you can click Add device which will let you set up any drive, folder, or other filesystem location as a handheld in MC (like a "virtual handheld" on disk).

Choosing What Files to Sync

Once you've added a device to Media Center, you need to choose which files to sync to it. There are two ways to transfer files to a Handheld/Portable Device:

• Manually by drag and drop
• Automatically based on lists

Manually Adding Files

To add files manually to any detected device:

1. In the Action Window, select Sync Handheld.
2. Select the Device (assuming there are more than one).
3. Select files and drag them onto the open Handheld Action Window.
4. Select Transfer.

If you prefer to view a list of queued files first, select “Details” in the Action Window. The content pane on the right displays both the files that are already on the device, as well those queued for transfer. Click on the Status column to sort.

You can delete files from the queue (by right-clicking). When you are ready to transfer the files, select the 'Transfer’ button.

Other manual ways to transfer files to your player:

• Drag and drop files or playlists onto the handheld device item under Drives & Devices in the Tree
• Right-click on the files or playlist and select Send To > Drives & Devices > and select your Device

Sync Lists

In addition to syncing files manually to a device, Media Center provides a managed approach to maintaining files on your device. You can choose from any of your playlists and have Media Center automatically synchronizes the files on the device with these playlists.

To select what lists you want to sync to a device, open Tools > Options > Handheld. The right-hand side of the Handheld Options panel shows all of your playlists in MC, as well as checkboxes for All Audio, Video, and Image files (if you want to sync your entire Library to the handheld).

To include a particular list in the sync to the device, just check the box next to the item you wish to have included. If you select smartlists the files to be included will be recalculated with every sync to the device.

Media Center's Handheld Options panel.

Once you've selected one or more items to include in the sync, you will get a few new options on the right-hand side including Auto-sync on connect.

Sync Options

• Auto-sync on connect: This will automatically sync to the device using the selected lists whenever you connect the device to the computer while Media Center is running. This option only appears if you've selected at least one item in the Sync List section to the right.

• Delete from handheld any files not in sync list: By default, Media Center will add new files to your device, but does not remove any files that it already finds there. If you want Media Center to completely manage the device, and remove any files that don't match the Sync Lists selected, then check this option. Warning: if you have any files on your device, the next sync can delete files and they may not be recoverable. This option only appears if you've selected at least one item in the Sync List section to the right.

• Enable album artwork support if possible: If you want MC to try to include album art (embedded in the file and as sidecars) with the files it syncs.

• Resync if Date Modified has changed: Normally Media Center will only add or remove a file if it is added or removed from the Sync Lists. If a file already exists on the handheld, then Media Center won't re-sync it (even if the original source has subsequently changed). If you want to make sure that files get updated as they change, you can check this box. However, because internal tags (like Number of Plays) change frequently, this can increase your sync times with a slow device.

• Descriptions of additional options can be found in the Handheld Advanced Options article.

Syncing and Viewing the Sync List

Once you've selected some files to sync to your device you can start the sync on demand by:

• Select Sync Handheld in the Action Window, choose your device, and click Sync.
• Select your handheld under Drives & Devices in the Tree and click Sync Now.

Viewing the device under Drives & Devices in the Tree will allow you to view what files will be synced to the device, and progress while the sync is underway. You can also manage individual files on the device including manually removing them, or transferring them from the device into your Media Center Library.

Showing a device ready to sync in Media Center.

More

• Handheld Advanced Options: information regarding configurable options, including file paths, statistics, and conversion modes.