You can play MP3 files from your iPod on any Xbox 360 console. To listen to music stored in the Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) format, you need to download the free Optional Media Update from Xbox Live (see the steps below).

• How to listen to music on your Xbox 360 console Play music You can listen to music on your Xbox 360 console by connecting a portable media player, inserting a CD, or playing music from your console’s hard drive.
• Best Answer: Get a USB connecting thing (it should come with any MP3) and simply plug it into the Xbox 360 console. Something should show up on the screen, prompting you to take action.

Similar to Spotify and other streaming music providers, Xbox Music was launched quite recently in 2012. But the unique feature of Xbox is that it is designed exclusively for Windows 8 users and also supports some of the devices like Windows phone 8 and Xbox 360 that are Non-PC devices.

Note The Xbox 360 console can only play AAC files that are not protected by DRM (digital rights management). Protected AAC files will appear grayed out in the Xbox Dashboard.

How To Download Music To Your Xbox 360

Before you can download non-DRM AAC files, you need to install the Optional Media Update.

Here’s how:

1. Go to Bing, and search for 'Optional Media Update.'
   
2. Select Optional Media Update.
   
3. Select Optional Media Update again.
   
4. Select Confirm Download. The download is free.
   
5. Once your download is complete, select Continue, and then return to the Xbox Dashboard.

Important If you are using a friend's console and you have already downloaded the Optional Media Update on your console, you won’t be able to download the Optional Media Update again. The Optional Media Update can only be downloaded by a gamertag once. To listen to your non-DRM AAC files at a friend's house, your friend needs to download the Optional Media Update.

The Xbox 360 is a gaming console that plays a large library of video games, as well as storing different types of data in its hard drive. Some examples of content that the Xbox 360's hard drive can hold are demos, videos, games, pictures and even music. The Xbox 360 has several methods of moving music into its hard-drive memory: by direct CD ripping, manual transferring or using the Content Transfer Wizard.

Transfer from a CD

Press the power button on your Xbox 360 to turn it on without any disc inside the tray. Afterwards, press the eject button to open the tray.

Place your music CD into the tray, then close it by pressing the eject button again. The Music Player will appear automatically on screen.

Use your controller to choose the 'Rip CD' function. Alternatively, you can opt to select individual tracks before ripping them into your hard drive rather than the entire CD's contents.

Transfer From a Storage Device

Connect the storage device into the Xbox 360's proper port. For example, a thumb drive would be inserted into the console's USB slot.

Turn on your Xbox 360 and navigate to 'My Xbox.' After that, choose 'System Settings.'

Select the 'Memory' option to go to the storage-device menu. Highlight and select the storage device that contains the music you wish to transfer.

Select 'Music' as the content type, then select a music file. When asked which action you wish to take, select 'Move,' then select the Xbox 360 hard drive.

Alternative Method: Transfer Content Wizard

Insert the storage device that contains your music files into the proper port of the Xbox 360. Turn your system on and navigate to 'My Xbox.'

Go to 'System Settings' and then 'Memory.' Choose the storage device that holds your music.

Select 'Music' as the content type, then press the 'Y' button. You will enter the Transfer Content Wizard.

Select 'Hard Drive' as the destination device you want to transfer the music into. After that, choose the music files for transfer.

Highlight the 'Start' option and then press the 'A' button to begin the transferring process.

Tips

If you are using the Transfer Content Wizard, you may encounter insufficient memory space in the hard drive for the amount of music you want to move. In this case, you will have to individually select or remove enough files from your batch of songs for them to fit into the hard drive.

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