How To: Use the Video App in Windows 8.1

The best thing you can do, while travelling, is to watch a great movie on your computer. If you are a Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 user, you should know how easy it is to watch movies by using the Video app. This useful app not only allows you to watch any movie you want on your device, but you can also organize your movies in a digital library. In this guide you will find out how to use the Video app to watch your favorite movies.
Open the Video App in Windows 8.1

The easiest way to launch the Video app in Windows 8.1 is by searching it in Start screen.

• Therefore, in case you do not have a tile for the application in the Start screen, type video and then select the Video result from the list.

An alternative way to open the Video app is from the Apps view.

• Go to the Start screen and move the cursor to the bottom left corner of the screen, right below the last tile on the first column.
• Click the down facing arrow icon in order for the application list to appear. In case you want to open the application on a touch-screen device, go to the Start screen and simply slide upwards to access the Apps view.
• After this, click or tap the Video app shortcut, which is in the Music & Video folder.

When you launch the Video App for the first time, you will see different things according to your region and to whether you have an Xbox gamer tag or not. If you are not based in U.S, U.K and other regions, where the Xbox services are available, or you do not have an Xbox gamer tag, the Video app will will navigate you to the Personal videos section.  You will see a dark screen with instructions on how to add videos to the app. You can either add specific folders to your library or you can open specific video files without even adding them to your library.

If you are based on U.S, U.K and other regions, where the Xbox services are available and you have an Xbox gamer tag, you will be able to see the Xbox Video store. As a result, you can purchase and view movies, TV series and more. You can also play your own local videos.


However, in this tutorial we are going to focus on the users, who want to use the Video app to  play their own local videos and movies.
Add Content to the Video App Library
The Video app organizes your Video library by default. You will automatically see the videos from that folder on the home screen of the Video app.

• If you want the Video app to automatically add content to its library, click or tap the Choose where we look for videos on this PC button.

• Then, click or tap the Add folder button. Once you do it, a list of folders will display on your device, asking you to select the folder you want to add to the library.

• You can possibly add folders from your Windows 8.1 device, from your OneDrive storage or from a network location. You can select the network location by clicking on the location area in the upper left corner of the screen. Then you can choose the desired source from the drop-down list.

• When you find the folder you want to add to the library,  click or tap on it and then click or tap the Add this folder to Videos button in the lower right corner of the screen.

NOTE: Every time you add new content to a folder, which you have added to the library, the Video app will also show you the new content.

• When you finish the process of adding contents, click or tap OK in the bottom right corner of your screen.

Every time you launch the Video app, you will be able to see the videos, which are inside the folders you added to the application.
From now on, you can add new folders to the Video app library by using the Settings charm.

• Click or tap Preferences.

• Then click or tap Choose where we look for videos on this PC. Follow the instructions above to select new locations.

Play Videos in the Video App
Since you have filled your library with the videos you want, it is time for you to watch them. Let’s see how you can do this.

• Open the Video app and click or tap the video you want to play.
• Alternatively, you can right-click or swipe down its tile in the application and then click or tap the Play button, which is in the bottom left corner of the screen.

• When the video starts playing, you will have the following playback options by right-clicking on the playback screen or swiping upwards:

1. Previous: you will open the previous video.
2. Pause: you will pause the video that is playing.
3. Next: you will open the next video.
4. Volume: you will open a scroll bar, in which you can adjust the volume of the video.
5. Playback options: you will be able to set the repeating options of the video.

• In case you want to play a video that you haven’t added to the library yet, right-click on the home screen of the Video app or swipe upwards.
• Click or tap the Open file button, which is in the bottom left corner of the screen. Browse to the folder, where the video is stored and open it.

Delete Videos from the Videos App Library
NOTE: When you delete a video from the library of the Video App, this particular video will also be deleted from your hard drive. 

• Open the Video app and on the home screen, right click or swipe across the video you want to delete. Once you do it, a checkmark will appear in the upper right corner of the video tile.

• Click or tap the Delete button in the bottom left corner of the screen. Then you will be asked to confirm your decision. Press Delete to do it.

Search videos in the Video app
The Video app library will get bigger every time you add videos in it. As a result, you will have to scroll through your whole library in order to find a video. Fortunately for you, the Video app makes it easier to find a video by simply searching it in the box that is in the upper right corner of the screen.

• Open the Video app and click or tap the search icon in the upper right corner of the window.

• Once you do it, a search box will appear, in which you can type the name of the video you want to find.

• After this, you will see the list of the search results, from which you can choose the desired video.

Set the Video App as the Default Video Player in Windows 8.1
If you are quite satisfied from the features Videos app offers you, it could be a good idea to set the application as you default video player in Windows 8.1 . This decision could be very convenient, if you are planning to see videos on your tablet.
In order to find out how you can set the Video app as your default video player in Windows 8.1, go to this link and read our tutorial.
As you noticed from this tutorial, the Video app is a very easy to use application, which offers you many benefits. Go ahead and use it to watch your favorite movies.

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