Use Spotify in Your Linux Terminal with ncspot

ncspot lets you browse and play Spotify from a terminal user interface (TUI) on Linux. It is a current Rust client built on librespot, but it needs an existing Spotify Premium subscription because its playback features are unavailable to free accounts. Install the packaged build for your distribution, sign in when ncspot starts, then use the keyboard to search, queue, and control playback.

Choose ncspot when a terminal client fits

ncspot is for keyboard-driven music control while you work in a shell, tmux session, or lightweight desktop. It is not a replacement for every Spotify feature, and it is not the same job as customizing the official Spotify client with Spicetify.

You need a Spotify Premium account and a working audio setup before playback can start. If you only need Spotify’s graphical app, use the Spotify on Linux installation options instead.

Install ncspot from a maintained package

Flatpak is the most portable route when your distribution has Flatpak and the Flathub remote configured. The application ID matters because Flatpak installs applications by ID, not by the display name.

flatpak install flathub io.github.hrkfdn.ncspot

Start it with the matching Flatpak ID:

flatpak run io.github.hrkfdn.ncspot

If Flatpak is not installed, add it through your distribution’s package manager first. Package management on Linux explains how repositories and package tools differ across distributions.

Arch Linux ships ncspot in the Extra repository, so install it with pacman rather than an AUR helper:

sudo pacman -S ncspot

Then launch the installed binary:

ncspot

Sign in without creating a developer app

On first launch, ncspot opens its login flow and stores its authorization data in your user configuration. Follow the prompt in the terminal and complete the browser approval with your own Spotify account.

The normal ncspot setup does not require a Spotify developer application, a client ID, or a client secret.

Use the keyboard to control playback

After authentication, ncspot presents your library and search views inside the terminal, with its in-app help screen listing the key bindings available in your build.

1. Open search and enter an artist, album, playlist, or track.
2. Move through the result list with the navigation keys and select an item to play or queue it.
3. Open the help view when you need the command for queue management, volume, repeat, or device control.

For a separate local music library with no Spotify account, compare ncspot with CMUS, a terminal music player for local files.

Fix common startup and playback problems

If ncspot rejects playback, confirm that the account has Spotify Premium. A free account can sign in to Spotify services but cannot use the playback capability that ncspot requires.

If you installed through Flatpak and the command is missing, run it with flatpak run and the full application ID. If Flatpak reports that Flathub is unavailable, add the remote using your distribution’s Flatpak instructions, then repeat the install command.

If the application starts but there is no sound, test audio with another local application first. ncspot can browse Spotify while your Linux audio service, output device, or permissions still prevent audible playback.

If you are setting up a new terminal workflow, the Linux command line primer covers navigation, files, and the shell conventions behind these commands. You can also learn how to edit files from Linux before changing any application configuration.

Keep ncspot updated

Update ncspot through the same system that installed it. Flatpak updates applications from their configured remotes, while pacman updates the Arch package with the rest of the system.

flatpak update io.github.hrkfdn.ncspot

Use the upstream ncspot project for current release notes, supported installation methods, and issue reports. Its package page is the source for client-specific behavior when a distribution package lags behind upstream.

Install ncspot through Flatpak or your distribution package manager, then sign in with a Premium account and use the in-app help screen to learn the controls available in your build.