Set up your Xbox 360 as an Extender

Using Windows Media Center plus an Xbox 360, you can enjoy all your home entertainment – on your home TV. Here’s an overview of what is needed to do make it work and get your family busy having fun.

This overview explores the following:

• What’s an extender?

• Setting up a home network

• Configuring your Xbox 360

• Using your remote

What’s an extender?

An extender enables you to access all the media you store on your PC—even your pictures, music, and videos—on your TV screen.

By connecting an Extender like the Xbox 360 to a wired or wireless home network, you can stream media from your main computer to your television set. You can connect up to five Extenders to your wired or wireless home network, and stream content from your PC to other rooms in the house.

Setting up your home network

The first thing you need is a home network. You’ll connect your PC running Windows Media Center and your Xbox 360 to that network.

Learn more: Setting up a home network

Configuring your Xbox 360

If you have an Xbox 360 connected to a home network that also has a PC running Windows Media Center, you can add your Xbox 360 as an Extender for Windows Media Center – so you can enjoy your digital media from your PC on your TV. You can connect your Xbox 360 to a wireless or a wired network (using an Ethernet cable). Xbox 360 must have the optional wireless adaptor for wireless connectivity.

Learn more: Configuring your Xbox 360

Using your remote to access content

Although you can use the Windows Media Center remote, many people prefer to use the Xbox 360 Universal remote – because it provides the most functionality and lets you control the volume.

Note: Some features in Windows Media Center, such as slide show visualizations, may not be available using an Extender for Windows Media Center.

Learn more: Which remote should you use?