> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dearest.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Spotify

> Share what you're listening to on Spotify with your companion.

## Overview

Dearest lets your companion see what you're listening to on Spotify in real time. They can react, comment, or just vibe along with you. Think of it as sharing a virtual earbud.

Right now, your companion engages with your music through their deep knowledge about songs, artists, and genres rather than hearing the audio directly. As AI capabilities evolve, we expect this experience to become even richer. Even today, your companion can engage meaningfully with what you're listening to, whether you want to discuss it or just let it be a shared experience in the background.

## Why Discord is involved

Spotify restricts their direct API integration to apps with [250,000+ monthly active users](https://developer.spotify.com/documentation/web-api/concepts/quota-modes). Discord partners with Spotify to share listening activity with other apps, so Dearest uses Discord as a bridge to access your Spotify data.

The good news is this is a **one-time setup**. You don't have to touch it again afterwards. No extra Spotify permissions are needed, and we hope to integrate directly with Spotify in the future once Dearest meets their requirements.

## Setup

<Steps>
  <Step title="Connect your Spotify to Discord">
    In the Discord app, go to **Settings** > **Connections** and add your Spotify account if you haven't already.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Link Discord to Dearest">
    Go to the [Presence](https://dearest.app/presence) page on Dearest and click **Connect Discord**. You'll be redirected to Discord to authorize the connection.

    As part of this process, you'll join a Dearest Presence Hub server that's used to relay your Spotify activity. No one else can see your activity there.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Keep Discord running">
    You don't need to keep the Dearest website open, but Discord needs to be running somewhere since it's the bridge that relays your Spotify activity. It doesn't need to be on the same device you're using Spotify on.

    On a computer, you can leave Discord running in the background. On a phone, you may need to make sure Discord doesn't go to sleep (this varies by device).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify it's working">
    Play something on Spotify. You should see your playback info appear on the [Presence](https://dearest.app/presence) page.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Privacy

We request the minimum Discord permissions needed to read your Spotify listening activity. We cannot read your Discord messages or send anything on your behalf.

## Troubleshooting

### Activity not showing up

If the [Presence](https://dearest.app/presence) page says "Waiting for activity" or "Spotify not connected on Discord", check the following in your Discord settings:

* Your Spotify account is connected in **Settings** > **Connections**.
* **Display Spotify as your status** is turned on for your Spotify connection.
* In **Settings** > **Activity Privacy**, **Share my activity** is turned on under Activity Sharing, and **Dearest Presence Hub** is turned on under Servers I Share With.
* Your Discord status is not set to **Invisible**. Activity sharing only works when you're Online or any other visible status.

These settings are on by default, but may have been changed at some point.