Synchronising Windows Phone on a Windows PC or Mac

Windows Phone Tool

How does 1 synchronise content between a Windows Telephone and a Windows PC or Mac? Microsoft is continuously developing ii separate clients, one for each platform, enabling consumers to charge, synchronise, update and backup their Windows Telephone. While both clients are not identical in features and functionality, bones tasks tin can still be completed.

Moving content betwixt smartphones and computers on competing mobile platforms is pretty much identical to Windows Phone. Apple makes use of iTunes for its direction of the iPhone (likewise as media players and other devices), while Android opts for a more than integrated experience through the use of a file manager.

And then how does 1 get started with available clients?

Windows Phone for Windows

There are two apps bachelor for Windows, one which is bachelor on the Windows Shop, while another is adult for the desktop (just available for Windows 7 & 8). The latter is the full synchronisation client for Windows Telephone and the former is a mere client to manage content. Should y'all not be requiring the number of features nowadays in the full desktop version, the client bachelor on the shop is a lightweight solution.

As well every bit the latest version of Windows, the desktop version is as well bachelor for Windows 7 only the customer is currently in beta and users may encounter some issues. Information technology's good to note that Microsoft doesn't restrict support for the more recent editions of its desktop platform.

Windows Client

When Microsoft launched Windows 8 earlier this twelvemonth the visitor also released a synchronisation client soon afterward for its new Windows Phone eight platform. Much like the functionality that was present in the Zune media player, the Windows Phone clients open up a number of doors for consumers who are using Windows 8.

The post-obit features are present in the Windows Store app:

Check charge condition and internal storage report
Import media from the connected device
Browse highlighted apps pulled from the Windows Phone Store with links to more

The desktop version of the Windows client sports the following:

Check charge status and internal storage study
Manage media stored on the device (music, photos, videos, movies, podcasts and ringtones)
Synchronise content from iTunes

Synchronising content using the desktop app enables consumers to select and cull desired playlists, genres, artists for music, also as photos, videos, podcasts and ringtones. It'south still a stripped down successor when compared to the Zune media role player, but it's a step upwardly from the Windows Store app if you lot're running Windows viii. Be sure to unlock your Windows Phone (lockscreen PIN) when connecting information technology to a PC if one is configured.

Besides equally managing what'due south synchronised from the PC to the Windows Phone, owners are able to manage directly what is stored on the handset using Windows Explorer. When plugging in a Windows Phone it will announced as removable storage in the Desktop app, and is then set for browsing. Documents, music, photos, ringtones and videos tin all be managed through a familiar interface.

Windows Explorer Windows Phone

When launching the Windows Phone customer for Windows 8 (or the desktop app) with a Windows Phone plugged in, one will be able to view all current options and features in a familiar view. Content is brought upwards when the app is loading the Windows Telephone and the storage report is viewed by hitting the pointer that's situated side by side to the total capacity readout.

There's not a lot more than to the app, autonomously from what's listed in the features list. There's no option to check for updates since in that location's at present the functionality to do then on a Windows Phone and updates are to be delivered OTA, simply it gets the job done when moving content across from a Windows 8 auto to the smartphone.

Y'all can download the Windows Phone for Windows customer from the Windows Shop.

Windows Phone for Mac

Windows Phone on OS Ten (previously branded as Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac) is the only officially supported aqueduct for Windows Phone owners to move content to and from a device on a Mac. It's a rich client with a number of features, ensuring that those who reside in an Apple dominated ecosystem don't miss out on anything should they enjoy the Windows Phone experience.

The app has been ahead of solutions developed for Windows during the transition from Zune to standalone clients in Windows RT and viii.

Mac Client

We've been using the Windows Phone client since it was released on the App Shop and have praised Microsoft for doing a superb job in creating a synchronising app that's actually fairly functional (when it works). What ever you may think of Apple products, every bit a small mobile platform we require every consumer Microsoft can concenter.

The customer itself contains a number of features, including the following:

Bank check charge status and internal storage report
Manage media stored on the device (music, photos, videos, movies, podcasts and ringtones)
Browse the device to import stored media to connected Mac
Synchronise content from iTunes
Backup and restore images made of the device should issues arise
Bank check for and install software updates (will be obsolete with OTA updates)

1 of the most intuitive features of the app is Apple software integration. Should you be an avid iTunes user with a large music collection, the Windows Phone app volition pull downward all stored songs, movies / Telly shows and podcasts from the iTunes library. This includes playlists, genres and private artists / songs. The same goes for iPhoto with photos and videos.

Mac Client Main

Equally with the Windows clients, we'll non become into too much particular as the interface is incredibly direct forward. When plugging in a Windows Telephone to a Mac with the app already open should automatically kick off the connection - if your Windows Phone is PIN locked, yous'll need to unlock the device and remain on the starting time screen for the app to access the device.

In one case the device is connected, the above screen will be displayed. Storage report is visible at the lesser with the "Sync" option. Options in the left sidebar are for media management on the device. Owners can configure which playlists, filters, or individual files are synchronised to the Windows Phone from the Mac, while the "Browse Device" area enables one to pull content from the smartphone.

Do annotation that some (including ourselves on rare occasions) are still experiencing an issue with device connectivity / detection. Should the app find a Windows Phone plugged into one of the ports, it may not be able to admission the device and throw the post-obit error:

Mac Client Error

It's a known issues and the easiest way to solve information technology temporarily is to disconnect and reconnect the device after shutting the app downwards. If this does not work when re-opening the Windows Phone client, attempt to reboot the machine. Thankfully it's nowhere near as common since subsequent updates.

You tin download the Windows Phone for Mac customer from the App Store.

Backing upwards is achieved automatically using Microsoft's cloud services. Such functionality can be configured on the Windows Phone without the requirement of a PC or Mac. We have published a detailed overview on backing up in Windows Phone, which is well worth checking out.

So there y'all have it, folks. Be sure to check out our other tutorials and render at a later date for more useful articles.

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