TV & movies

Windows 8, Windows RT

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	Watch TV, movies, & video
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Watch TV, movies, and video

With Windows 8 and Windows RT, you can watch TV and movies the way that works for you—whether it’s streaming a movie from your PC to your TV for family night, or relaxing in bed with a recent episode of your favorite TV show on your tablet.

Watch TV and movies with the Video app

Use the Video app to watch your movies and TV shows that you bought from Xbox Video, or ones that you already own and moved into your Videos library.

Here's how:

Open the Search charm, enter video, tap or click Apps, and then tap or click Video.
Scroll to the left, tap or click my videos, and then tap or click a video to watch it.

Watch it on your TV

Watch it on the big screen! You can play movies, TV shows, or anything else that's on your PC on your TV.

If you have an Xbox 360 or a TV that's compatible with Play To, you can stream from your PC to your TV or Xbox 360 without cables.

You can also use a cable to connect your PC to your TV. The type of cable you use depends on the type of TV you have and the type of output ports on your PC.

After you’ve connected the cable, here’s how to play on your TV:

Open the Devices charm, and then tap or click Second screen.
Tap or click Duplicate if you want the same content on both your PC and your TV, or tap or click Extend so you can work on your PC while you stream a movie to your TV.

Use your PC as a remote control

If you have an Xbox 360, you can get the Xbox SmartGlass app (it's free) to turn your PC running Windows 8 or Windows RT into a remote control. Interact with your favorite TV shows, movies, and sports, and get new entertainment related to what you're watching. And, if you start watching on your PC, you can use SmartGlass to move what you're watching over to your TV.

Play DVDs

If you want to play DVDs on your PC, all you need is the right app. You can browse the Windows Store to buy apps that play DVDs, or if you've already bought the Windows Media Center Pro Pack or the Pro Pack Upgrade, then you're all set.

Note

Windows Media Center isn't available for Windows RT. Which Windows operating system am I running?

Here's how to play DVDs with Windows Media Center:

Open the Search charm, enter Windows Media Center, tap or click Apps and then tap or click Windows Media Center.
Make sure Media Center is in full-screen mode, and then insert your DVD into your PC.
If you don't see the main DVD title menu, scroll to Movies, and then tap or click Play DVD.
Use the playback controls to fast-forward, rewind, skip forward or backward, pause, change volume, and mute.