Spotify
Connect Spotify to MuPiBox – create a Web API app for catalogue and covers, set up the Soloist key for playback and add content.
On MuPiBox, Spotify consists of two separate parts: the catalogue (search, albums, playlists, covers via the Spotify Web API) and playback (Spotify Connect on the box). Both are set up under Content → Providers & services → Spotify.
1. Catalogue: create your own Web API app
- Log in to the Spotify Developer Dashboard with the account that should own the app and create an app with Web API.
- Enter exactly
https://app.mupibox.de/oauth/spotify/callback/as the Redirect URI and save. - Enter the Client ID in the admin interface, choose the country and click Connect. Spotify opens in a new window; after you allow access the confirmation returns automatically.
The box uses PKCE: no client secret is needed or stored. app.mupibox.de only serves as the HTTPS return address; the tokens stay on your box. If the automatic return does not work, copy the complete callback address from the browser into the admin interface via Manual return.
To connect a Spotify account other than the app owner's, allow it in the dashboard under Users Management.
2. Playback
| Backend | Properties |
|---|---|
| Spotify Soloist (default) | Spotify's official playback engine via PipeWire, works with Bluetooth. Needs a Soloist API key. |
| go-librespot | Alternative without a Soloist key, plays via ALSA – does not work with Bluetooth headphones or speakers. Only for exceptions. |
Changing the backend takes effect after a restart.
Soloist API key
- Open the official "Spotify Soloist API Key" page (link in the admin interface) and create a key.
- Enter the key in the admin interface. It is not the Web API client ID.
- Select the box once as the playback device in the Spotify app – afterwards it appears under its box name.
Treat the Soloist key like a password. The box watches its 90-day lifetime and downloads the current version of the engine from Spotify by itself 14 days before it expires.
Requests and preloading
Spotify strictly limits the number of requests. The box keeps itself to a very low limit and caches catalogue content so that it does not get blocked. "Preload everything" slowly loads the lists of all added Spotify content in the background so they are there instantly later. If Spotify still reports a block, the page shows until when the box sends no more requests.
Adding content
Under Media & categories choose the source Spotify and search for artist, album, playlist, show/podcast or track. Spotify content can also be linked to RFID cards.
Interactions
- Without internet, Spotify content is hidden on the start page.
- If someone starts Spotify on the box from a phone, the player takes over that playback; local playback pauses Spotify and vice versa.
- Parental control can block Spotify as a source.