What Happened to Zune?

2006–2012 Consumer electronics/MP3 Players • United States

ℹ️ Fate: Discontinued

Microsoft’s Zune media-player ecosystem launched in 2006 and expanded through the late 2000s, peaking with the well-reviewed Zune HD in 2009. The product line struggled against iPod/iTunes and the rapid shift to smartphones. Zune hardware was discontinued in 2011, and the Zune brand was sunset in 2012, with remaining services and technology transitioning into Microsoft’s later music offerings.

Zune was Microsoft’s end-to-end music platform—portable players, the Zune desktop app, Marketplace, and the Zune Pass subscription. It introduced Wi-Fi track sharing and a distinctive, typography-forward UI. The lineup evolved from the original Zune 30 to later HDD and flash models, culminating in the Zune HD (2009), which earned strong reviews for its hardware and interface. As iPod/iTunes dominance and smartphones reshaped the market, Zune’s momentum faded. Microsoft discontinued Zune hardware in 2011, and sunset the Zune brand in 2012; remaining services and underlying tech continued transitioning into Microsoft’s later music offerings before those services were eventually retired.

Timeline

2006
Zune launches (Zune 30) with Wi-Fi sharing and the Zune Marketplace.
2007
Second-gen HDD models (80/120) and flash models (4/8/16) ship; Zune Pass gains attention.
2009
Zune HD debuts with an OLED display and refined touch UI.
2011
Zune hardware is discontinued; the product line winds down.
2012
The Zune brand is sunset; remaining services/tech continue transitioning into Microsoft’s later music offerings.