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[doc] Add note for playback on iOS devices
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hacketiwack committed Jul 20, 2024
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# Streaming

You can listen to audio being played by OwnTone by opening this network
stream address in pretty much any music player:
The streaming option is useful when you want to listen to audio played by
OwnTone in a browser or a media player of your choice (see note [^1] and
[^3]).

[http://owntone.local:3689/stream.mp3](http://owntone.local:3689/stream.mp3)
or
http://SERVER_ADDRESS:3689/stream.mp3
Moreover, Apple Remote or the web interface can be used to control the
playback.

This is currently the only way of listening to your audio on iOS devices, since
Apple does not allow AirPlay receiver apps, and because Apple Home Sharing
cannot be supported by OwnTone. So what you can do instead is install a
music player app like VLC, connect to the stream and control playback with
Remote.
## Listening to Audio in a Browser

In the speaker selection list, clicking on the icon should start the stream
playing in the background on browsers that support that.
To listen to audio being played by OwnTone in a browser, follow these
steps:

Note that MP3 encoding must be supported by ffmpeg/libav for this to work. If
it is not available you will see a message in the log file. In Debian/Ubuntu you
get MP3 encoding support by installing the package "libavcodec-extra".
1. Start playing audio in OwnTone.
2. In the web interface, activate the stream in the output menu by clicking
on the icon :material-broadcast: next to HTTP Stream.
After a few seconds, the audio should play in the background (see note [^2]).

## Listening to Audio in a Media Player

To listen to audio being played by OwnTone in a media player, follow these
steps:

1. Start playing audio in OwnTone.
2. In the web interface, activate the stream in the output menu by clicking
on the icon :material-broadcast: next to HTTP Stream.
After a few seconds, the audio should play in the background.
3. Copy the URL behind the :material-open-in-new: icon next to HTTP Stream.
4. Open the copied URL with the media player, e.g., VLC.
The URL is usually
[http://owntone.local:3689/stream.mp3](http://owntone.local:3689/stream.mp3)
or http://SERVER_ADDRESS:3689/stream.mp3

## Notes

[^1]: On iOS devices, the streaming option is the only way of listening to your
audio, since Apple does not allow AirPlay receiver apps, and because
Home Sharing cannot be supported by OwnTone.

[^2]: On iOS devices, playing audio in the background when the device is locked
is not supported in a private browser tab.

[^3]: For the streaming option to work, MP3 encoding must be supported by
`libavcodec`. If it is not, a message will appear in the log file.
For example, on Debian or Ubuntu, MP3 encoding support is provided by the
package `libavcodec-extra`.

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