====== Using Device Profiles ======

Device profiles are .PRF files that define the capabilities of devices that Mezzmo server streams to.  They are very important for:

  * Identifying your device when it connects to Mezzmo server.
  * Determining what video formats are supported by your device and when to transcode your video files so they can be played on your device.
  * Determining what subtitle formats are supported by a device and when to transcode your subtitle files so they can be viewed on your device.
  * Determining what music formats are supported by a device and when to transcode your music files so they can be played on your device.
  * Determining what image formats are supported by a device and when to transcode your image files so they can be displayed on your device.

===== Changing the device profile used by a device =====

By default, Mezzmo auto-assigns a device profile to your device when you first connect, browse and stream Mezzmo server using the device.  Typically, Mezzmo auto-selects the best device profile and no changes are required.

However, sometimes a device may be wrongly detected and you may need to check the device profile assigned to your device and select another device profile.  To view and change the device profiles assigned to your devices, go to the **Media Devices dialog**.

{{:mediadevices.png?nolink|Media Devices dialog}}

===== Location of Device Profiles =====

All device profiles for Mezzmo are stored in the following folder on your computer:

<code>
Windows 10: C:\ProgramData\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows 10: C:\Users\All Users\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows 8.1: C:\ProgramData\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows 8.1: C:\Users\All Users\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows 8: C:\ProgramData\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows 8: C:\Users\All Users\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows 7: C:\ProgramData\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows 7: C:\Users\All Users\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows Vista: C:\Users\All Users\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows Vista: C:\ProgramData\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows Server 2003: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS\Application Data\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows Server 2008: C:\ProgramData\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows Server 2012: C:\ProgramData\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
Windows Server 2012 R2: C:\ProgramData\Conceiva\Mezzmo\DeviceProfiles
</code>

**Note:** The above folder may be hidden on your computer.  In this case, copy-and-paste the above folder into Windows Explorer on your computer and press the Enter key.  It should take you to the folder.

===== Replacing a device profile file (.PRF) =====

When replacing a device profile .PRF file into your DeviceProfiles folder, you should delete or rename the old device profile.  

If you wish to keep the existing .PRF file as another file name, then do __not__ keep the .PRF file extension on the old device profile.  Duplicate device profiles may confuse Mezzmo & you may get strange results.  You should change the file extension to (say) .BAK.

**Example:**  Conceiva customer support staff provide you with a new **SamsungJ.PRF** file to try.  You should rename your existing **SamsungD.PRF** to **SamsungD.BAK**.  Do __not__ rename it like **Samsung_OLD.PRF**!

===== What happens to device profiles when you upgrade Mezzmo to a new version? =====

A backup copy of your DeviceProfiles folder is saved when a new Mezzmo version is applied.  So if you have any custom device profiles, they will be copied to **DeviceProfiles.bak** folder.  This folder is located in the same directory as the DeviceProfiles folder.