Control Spotify On Headless Linux

---
name: control-spotify-on-headless-linux
description: "Spotify CLI for headless Linux servers. Control Spotify playback via terminal using cookie auth (no OAuth callback needed). Perfect for remote servers without localhost access."
category: "Media"
author: community
version: "1.2.0"
icon: image
---

# Spogo - Spotify CLI for Linux Servers

Control Spotify from headless Linux servers using cookie-based auth. No OAuth callback needed - perfect for remote servers.

## Why This Skill?

The original `spotify-player` skill by `steipete` on ClawHub assumes local browser access for cookie import (`spogo auth import --browser chrome`). On headless Linux servers without a local browser, this doesn't work.

This skill documents the cookie-based workaround - copy 2 browser cookies and you're done. No OAuth, no localhost needed.

## Requirements
- Spotify Premium account
- Go 1.21+ installed
- User's Spotify browser cookies

## Installation (Linux)

### 1. Install Go (if not installed)

```bash
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y golang-go

# Or download latest from https://go.dev/dl/
wget https://go.dev/dl/go1.23.4.linux-amd64.tar.gz
sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.23.4.linux-amd64.tar.gz
echo 'export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin:~/go/bin' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
```

### 2. Install spogo

```bash
go install github.com/steipete/spogo/cmd/spogo@latest
```

This installs to `~/go/bin/spogo`. Add to PATH if needed:
```bash
echo 'export PATH=$PATH:~/go/bin' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
```

### 3. Verify

```bash
spogo --version
# spogo v0.2.0
```

## Setup (Cookie Auth)

Since OAuth requires localhost callback (impossible on remote servers), we use cookie auth instead.

### 1. Get cookies from browser

Have the user open DevTools → Application → Cookies → `open.spotify.com` and copy:
- `sp_dc` - Main auth token (long string, required)
- `sp_t` - Device ID (UUID format, required for playback)

### 2. Create config

Create `~/.config/spogo/config.toml`:
```toml
default_profile = "default"

[profile.default]
cookie_path = "~/.config/spogo/cookies/default.json"
market = "IL"
language = "en"
```

### 3. Create cookies file

Create `~/.config/spogo/cookies/default.json`:
```json
[
  {
    "name": "sp_dc",
    "value": "USER_SP_DC_VALUE",
    "domain": ".spotify.com",
    "path": "/",
    "expires": "2027-01-01T00:00:00Z",
    "secure": true,
    "http_only": true
  },
  {
    "name": "sp_t",
    "value": "USER_SP_T_VALUE",
    "domain": ".spotify.com",
    "path": "/",
    "expires": "2027-01-01T00:00:00Z",
    "secure": false,
    "http_only": false
  }
]
```

### 4. Verify

```bash
spogo auth status
# → "Cookies: 2 (file)"
```

## Commands

```bash
# Search
spogo search track "query"
spogo search track "query" --json --limit 5

# Play
spogo play spotify:track:ID
spogo play                    # Resume
spogo pause
spogo next / spogo prev

# Devices
spogo device list --json
spogo device set "DEVICE_ID"

# Status
spogo status
spogo status --json
```

## "missing device id" Error - Browser Fallback

spogo needs an active Spotify session. If no device played recently, you can start one via the browser.

> **Note:** This is optional and only needed when `spogo device list` returns no active devices.
> It opens `open.spotify.com` in the agent's isolated browser profile (not the user's personal browser).
> The agent only navigates to Spotify and clicks Play — no other browser state is accessed.

1. **Open track in browser**:
```
browser open https://open.spotify.com/track/TRACK_ID profile=openclaw
```

2. **Click Play** via browser automation

3. **Transfer to target device**:
```bash
spogo device set "DEVICE_ID"
```

The Spotify session stays active for hours after playback.

## Rate Limits

- Connect API (default): No rate limits ✓
- Web API (`--engine web`): Rate limited (429 errors)
- For library access when rate limited → use browser automation

## Troubleshooting

### "missing device id"
No active Spotify session. Use browser fallback (see above) to start playback first.

### "401 Unauthorized"
Cookies expired. Get fresh cookies from browser and update the JSON file.

### Commands work but no sound
Check `spogo device list` - playback might be on wrong device. Use `spogo device set "DEVICE_ID"` to switch.

## Security & Privacy

- **Cookie handling**: `sp_dc` and `sp_t` are stored locally in `~/.config/spogo/cookies/` — treat them as secrets, never log or share them
- **Network access**: spogo only communicates with Spotify APIs (`api.spotify.com`, `open.spotify.com`)
- **Browser fallback**: Optional — only used when no active Spotify device exists. Uses the agent's browser profile to open `open.spotify.com` and click Play. This does NOT extract additional cookies or access other browser state
- **Install source**: `go install` from the official [steipete/spogo](https://github.com/steipete/spogo) GitHub repository — open source, auditable

## Notes

- **Cookie expiry**: ~1 year, but may invalidate if user logs out or changes password
- **Premium required**: Free accounts can't use Connect API
- **Market setting**: Change `market` in config for correct regional availability (IL, US, etc.)