The pad lets users of this device scroll through their song list with the use of their finger, then press the button to select tracks or change the volume.

The Zune Pad allows the user to coast after flicking the list and to accelerate through the list with repeated flicks, unlike direct content manipulation interfaces in which a touch immediately grabs and stops the onscreen content.

The user can thus move through a large list at high speed with just the flick gesture.

Directional pad functions are simulated by determining where the user's finger is when pressing the button.

The user cannot adjust the sensitivity and scroll speed, but can choose to turn it off and use the button as a standard directional pad instead.