Sync music, pictures, contacts, and calendars with a mobile device

There are two ways to sync a mobile phone, portable music player, or other mobile device with your computer. You can install the sync software that many manufacturers include with their devices, or you can use the new Device Stage feature in this version of Windows if your device supports this feature.

Device Stage lets you sync music, contacts, calendars, and other files and information with a compatible mobile device. It also allows you to perform other device-related tasks that vary depending on the device, such as creating ringtones for a mobile phone. What files and information you can sync depends on the type of device you have and what it supports. For example, you may be able to sync contacts and calendars with a smartphone, but not with a portable music player.

To see which types of files and information you can sync with your device, connect the device to your computer. If your device is compatible with Device Stage, this feature will open automatically. (If you've already set up your device to sync, Device Stage will open, but it will appear minimized on your Windows taskbar.) Device Stage will list various tasks you can perform with your device, including sync setup.

The Device Stage sync setup page

Notes

• Device Stage is customized for each device by the manufacturer of that device, and displays different options for different devices. If you have more than one device connected to your computer, you can have more than one instance of Device Stage open at the same time.

• To find out if a device will work with Device Stage, you can also check with the manufacturer or look at the device specifications. For a mobile phone, music player, digital camera, or other mobile device to work with Device Stage, the manufacturer must add compatible software (also called firmware) to the device.