Codec

Self-hostedmusic player.

Keep your music on a server you run. Listen on your iPhone, iPad, or in your browser.

Set up Codec View GitHub

iPhone · iPad · Web

Codec Library with illustrated playlists and access to saved music
Codec playing aura horizon by Zane Little Music, with a background colored by The Great Wave artwork

The app

Browse your library, make playlists, and play music.

Codec Home with recently played playlists and recently added albums

Home

Recently played playlists and new music.

Codec Search browsing the licensed music collection

Search

Search by song, artist, or album.

Codec’s live visualizer using the blue and cream colors of the song’s artwork

Visualizer

Reacts to the audio using colors from the cover art.

More screenshots

Use it across
your devices.

Connect your devices to the same server. Switch where music is playing without rebuilding your queue.

Codec’s iPad layout with a wide row of playlists and a grid of albums
Codec on iPad

Downloads and appearance

Save music for offline listening. Change the app’s colors.

Downloaded music saved in Codec on iPhone

Downloaded music

Play songs saved on your iPhone or iPad without a server connection.

Codec’s appearance picker with its collection of color palettes

Color palettes

33 palettes, including Graphite, shown here.

More screenshots

How to set it up

You’ll need music files and a computer or cloud server to keep them on.

  1. Run the server

    Run the Codec server on a computer at home or a small cloud server. Keep it on when you want to stream.

    Read the setup guide

  2. Add music

    Import your files through the web player. Your server stores the music, playlists, and artwork.

    Read the format guide

  3. Connect the app

    Enter your server address and auth token in Codec. To stream away from home, your server needs to be reachable over the internet.

    Connect away from home

Questions

Does Codec come with music?

No music catalog is included. Codec plays the files you add to your own server. The screenshots show a separate licensed demonstration collection.

Do I need to run a server?

Yes. Your server stores the music and keeps your devices in sync. You can run it on a computer you already have, or rent a small cloud server. The browser player comes with it.

Can I listen without internet?

Yes, with music you’ve downloaded to your iPhone or iPad. Other songs need a connection to your server.

How do I set it up?

Follow the hosting guide to install the server and web player, then connect your devices with your server address and token.

Set up your server

The hosting guide covers downloads, installation, and connecting your devices.

Read the hosting guide