How to Play Spotify Music on the Raspberry Pi

Are you a fan of both music and technology? Do you own a Raspberry Pi, a popular single-board computer known for its versatility and affordability? If so, you may be wondering how you can integrate your love for music with your Raspberry Pi. Look no further – in this article, we will show you how to play Spotify music on your Raspberry Pi, allowing you to enjoy your favorite tunes while tinkering with your device.

Understanding the Raspberry Pi

What is a Raspberry Pi?

Before diving into how to play Spotify music on the Raspberry Pi, let’s first understand what it is. The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card-sized computer designed to promote the teaching of basic computer science in schools. However, due to its low cost and small size, it has become popular among hobbyists and tinkerers as well. It runs on various operating systems, including Linux-based ones like Raspbian and Ubuntu.

Setting up Your Raspberry Pi for Audio Output

To play Spotify music on your Raspberry Pi, you will need to set it up for audio output. This is because most Raspberry Pi models come without a built-in sound card. To do this, you will need a USB sound card or a Bluetooth speaker. Simply connect your chosen audio output device to your Raspberry Pi and configure it as the default output device in your operating system’s settings. You can also use an HDMI cable to output audio if your Raspberry Pi is connected to a monitor with built-in speakers.

Configuring USB Sound Card on Raspbian

If you are using Raspbian as your operating system, follow these steps to configure your USB sound card:

Open a terminal window and type sudo nano /etc/asound.conf to create a new configuration file.
Paste the following text into the file and save it: pcm.!default {type hw card 1} ctl.!default {type hw card 1}
Reboot your Raspberry Pi for the changes to take effect.

Configuring Bluetooth Speaker on Ubuntu

If you are using Ubuntu as your operating system, follow these steps to configure your Bluetooth speaker:

Make sure your Bluetooth speaker is turned on and in pairing mode.
Click on the Bluetooth icon in the top-right corner of your screen and select “Bluetooth Settings”.
Click on “Add Device” and wait for your Bluetooth speaker to appear in the list.
Select your Bluetooth speaker and click “Pair”. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the pairing process.
Once your Bluetooth speaker is connected, click on the sound icon in the top-right corner of your screen and select your Bluetooth speaker as the output device.

Playing Spotify Music on Your Raspberry Pi

What is Spotify?

Spotify is a popular music streaming service that offers a vast collection of songs, podcasts, and videos from various artists. It has both free and paid subscription options, with the paid option providing ad-free listening, higher audio quality, and other premium features. To play Spotify music on your Raspberry Pi, you will need a Spotify account.

Installing Spotify on Your Raspberry Pi

To install Spotify on your Raspberry Pi, simply follow these steps:

Open a terminal window and type sudo apt-get update to update your system’s packages.
Type sudo apt-get upgrade to upgrade any outdated packages.
Type sudo apt-get install spotify-client to install the official Spotify client for Linux.
Wait for the installation to complete.

Controlling Spotify Through the Terminal

Once Spotify is installed, you can control it through the terminal using the following commands:

spotify – opens Spotify
spotify --uri="spotify:track:TRACKID" – plays a specific track by its Spotify URI
spotify --search "QUERY" – searches for a track or artist on Spotify
spotify --play – plays the last played track
spotify --pause – pauses playback
spotify --next – plays the next track in the queue
spotify --previous – plays the previous track in the queue
spotify --shuffle – toggles shuffling of tracks
spotify --repeat – toggles repeating of tracks

Playing Spotify Music Through a Web Browser

Alternatively, you can also play Spotify music through a web browser on your Raspberry Pi. Simply open your preferred web browser and go to the Spotify web player website. Log in with your Spotify account and start playing music just like you would on any other device.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues while trying to play Spotify music on your Raspberry Pi, here are some troubleshooting tips:

Make sure your audio output device is properly connected and configured.
Check that your system’s sound settings are set to use the correct audio output device.
If using a USB sound card, make sure it is recognized by your operating system. You may need to install additional drivers.
If using a Bluetooth speaker, make sure it is properly paired and connected to your Raspberry Pi.
If you are experiencing choppy playback, try reducing the audio quality in the Spotify settings.
If you are unable to control Spotify through the terminal, make sure the commands are properly formatted and spelled correctly.

FAQs

How do I control Spotify on my Raspberry Pi remotely?

You can control Spotify on your Raspberry Pi remotely using a mobile app called “Raspotify”. It allows you to control playback, adjust volume, and even manage playlists from your smartphone.

Can I use Spotify Connect to play music on my Raspberry Pi?

Yes, you can use Spotify Connect to play music on your Raspberry Pi. Simply connect your Raspberry Pi to the same network as your other devices and select it as the output device on the Spotify app.

Can I use my Raspberry Pi to record and stream music from Spotify?

Technically, yes, but it is not recommended as it may violate Spotify’s terms of service. There are also better tools available for recording and streaming music.

Are there any alternative methods for playing Spotify music on my Raspberry Pi?

Yes, there are various third-party tools and software that allow you to play Spotify music on your Raspberry Pi, such as Mopidy, Volumio, and Pi MusicBox.

Can I use my Raspberry Pi to control Spotify on a separate device?

Yes, you can use your Raspberry Pi as a remote control for Spotify on another device by installing the “Spotify Remote” plugin for the LIRC (Linux Infrared Remote Control) package.

Conclusion

With the steps outlined in this article, you should now be able to play Spotify music on your Raspberry Pi without any hassle. Whether you prefer to use a USB sound card or a Bluetooth speaker, or even control it through the terminal or a web browser, you can enjoy your favorite tunes while tinkering with your Raspberry Pi. So why wait? Go ahead and turn up the music on your Raspberry Pi now!