PlayTo is an Xbox feature that enables your Xbox 360 or Xbox One console to play streamed media from compatible devices and apps in Windows 10.
Note: PlayTo is available only on devices that have Digital Living Network Alliance, compliant playback capabilities, such as computers and some phones. You can only use PlayTo with your Xbox console if you’re running Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 on your computer.
Contents
Requirements
- A Xbox One or Xbox 360 console with PlayTo enabled.
- A computer or other device that’s running Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 along with Groove or Xbox Video.
- The computer or device must be on the same network as the console.
Method one
Windows 10 lets you stream a media file from your PC to the big screen. And it’s never been easier for Xbox owners.
There are situations where you want to stream a video from your laptop to the big screen. If you have Xbox connected to it, you can wirelessly play media on your local PC to the Xbox console.
Both Windows 10 and Xbox have gained a lot of features and new functionality. Today, it’s simple to stream video and other media files over your network to the console.
Casting Media from Windows 10 to Xbox One
For music and videos, you will need to install the Movies & TV and Groove Music apps on your Xbox One. If you don’t have them already, you will be prompted to install it on your console.
To stream individual local files, browse to the location of the video you want to play. Right-click on it and choose “Cast to Device” and then Xbox One from the context menu.
Once the video starts playing on your Xbox, you will get a small Windows Media Player screen come up. There you can add more files that you want to play including photos or music. You’ll also have basic playback controls for the music or video that’s playing.
Depending on the media you cast to the Xbox, the appropriate app will open to play it. For example, if you play a video file, Movies & TV launches or for an MP3, Groove Music will launch. You can also control the media playback using your Xbox controller.
You can also stream content directly from the Movie & TV or Groove app from your PC to Xbox. For example, launch the Movies & TV app on your PC and start playing a video. Click the ellipsis icon in the lower-right corner of the screen and click “Cast to Device” and then select your Xbox One
Method two
Ensure that your XBox One console is powered on. Note that this apply to all steps below.
Cast to Device
This method is the easiest of them all.
Select the video or multimedia file you wish to stream to your XBox on your PC’s
Right click on the file
On the list of menu/options, identify and click “Cast to Device”
Select “Xbox One” afterwards
You should have the selected video playing on your XBox One. Read on if you wish to learn another way to send files to stream on your XBox One. If this fails out, follow to the next step.
Streaming via Films & TV App
Sending media to the Films & TV app is another easy way to stream media to your XBox One but not as easy and straightforward as the “Cast to Device” method.
Select video or multimedia to be streamed
Right click on the content and select “Open with” from the list of pop-up menu.
Afterwards, select the “Films and TV” app and your content should begin playing
On the bottom-placed menu of the Films & TV app, click on the three-dotted icon and select “Cast to Device”
On the list of devices, find and click on “XBox One” and your media should begin playing on your console.
This method is the longest of the but also gets the job done.
Open your PC’s Control Panel and click on the “Network and Internet” menu
Next, click the “choose homegroup and sharing options”
Click on “Create Homegroup” and proceed to set permissions for the type multimedia for example Music, Videos, Pictures, and Documents. you want to stream on your Xbox. Anyone who uses your Xbox One could access those files so it’s wise to Set a password and click on “Finish”
On the other hand of your Xbox, in the Games & Apps menu, launch the “Media Player App”
Click the folder named after your PC and locate the sub-folder where the media you want to stream is located as specified earlier on your computer.
If you do not grant certain folders “Shared” permission as shown above in, they will not be accessible or be displayed by your Xbox One Media Player.
This step is a surefire way by which you can stream on Xbox One from your Windows 10 PC and utilize the home entertainment capabilities of your console to the fullest potentials.
Image Credit: Gp