Do I need an administrator account?
No. A regular account on the server is enough for the playlist, playback and downloads. Subscribing to a podcast, browsing its whole feed and importing or exporting an OPML file are reserved to administrators by Audiobookshelf: the app only shows these actions to them.
How do I set up my own Audiobookshelf server?
Audiobookshelf runs on a computer or server that stays on: a small home server, a NAS or a rented server. The guide Installing Audiobookshelf with Docker and Caddy walks through a complete setup, with an HTTPS address. In the meantime, you can try the app on our demo instance.
The app refuses my server
The message tells you why. The most common causes:
- version too old: you need Audiobookshelf 2.4.0 or later;
http://address or certificate refused: tick the matching option under “Advanced options” when signing in (see Getting started);- access denied: a firewall in front of your server may block a request. The app does not retry on its own, so as not to get your address banned; check with the person who runs the server.
Where does the “Up next” playlist live?
On your server: it is an Audiobookshelf playlist of your account, named “PodcastShelf”, one per library. You find it in the web interface and on your other devices, in the same order.
Do not rename it or edit its description: the app finds it by its name, and its description keeps track of the latest episodes that arrived.
Is offline listening lost?
No. Without a network, or for a downloaded episode, your listening is kept on the phone and sent to the server as soon as it can be reached. Your progress stays the same from one device to another.
I deleted a download and it does not come back
That is on purpose: an episode is downloaded only once, when it enters the playlist. A file you delete yourself does not come back on its own. To get it back, download it again from the playlist.
Can I listen to audiobooks?
No: Podcast Shelf is made for Audiobookshelf podcast libraries. One library at a time; you switch in the settings, and each one has its own playlist.
Podcast Shelf does not show up in Android Auto
An app installed outside the Play Store only shows up in Android Auto with the “Unknown sources” option, in Android Auto's developer settings. Also sign in once on the phone first.
Does my data go anywhere else?
No. The app only talks to your server: no account with us, no ads, no analytics. The details are in the privacy policy.