[GH-ISSUE #336] FR: `spotify_player playback start` #1119

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opened 2026-03-14 13:31:42 +03:00 by kerem · 4 comments

kerem commented

2026-03-14 13:31:42 +03:00

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Originally created by @chrisgrieser on GitHub (Jan 15, 2024).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/aome510/spotify-player/issues/336

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
spotify_player playback play does continue playback if you have a paused playback. However, it does not start playback if you currently have no playback.

Describe the solution you'd like
Add a command spotify_player playback start. Alternatively, have spotify_player playback play automatically start playback if there is no paused playback.

Describe alternatives you've considered
Starting playback via the web-interface, then immediately running spotify_player playback pause results in a state where you can use play.

Additional context
Using the interactive client (just spotify_player, then space) works to start a playback.

Originally created by @chrisgrieser on GitHub (Jan 15, 2024). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/aome510/spotify-player/issues/336 **Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.** `spotify_player playback play` does *continue* playback if you have a paused playback. However, it does not *start* playback if you currently have no playback. **Describe the solution you'd like** Add a command `spotify_player playback start`. Alternatively, have `spotify_player playback play` automatically start playback if there is no paused playback. **Describe alternatives you've considered** Starting playback via the web-interface, then immediately running `spotify_player playback pause` results in a state where you can use `play`. **Additional context** Using the interactive client (just `spotify_player`, then `space`) works to start a playback.

kerem

2026-03-14 13:31:42 +03:00

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kerem commented

2026-03-14 13:31:58 +03:00

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@aome510 commented on GitHub (Jan 16, 2024):

I have trouble understanding this feature request. If there is no playback, what kind of playback should the player starts? Note that spotify_player does provide playback start context/liked/radio subcommands that starts a specific playback.

@aome510 commented on GitHub (Jan 16, 2024): I have trouble understanding this feature request. If there is no playback, what kind of playback should the player starts? Note that `spotify_player` does provide `playback start context/liked/radio` subcommands that starts a specific playback.

kerem commented

2026-03-14 13:32:03 +03:00

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@chrisgrieser commented on GitHub (Jan 16, 2024):

If there is no playback, what kind of playback should the player starts?

The last playback that was active. Assuming I am starting the day, and just want to continue whatever playback I had the day before:

When I do spotify_player and press space, it correctly resumes the last playback from the day before.
If I say "Alexa, continue" to my Alexa device, it resumes the last playback from the day before.
spotify_player playback play, however, does not behave that way, it errors with Bad request: no playback found

Note that spotify_player does provide playback start context/liked/radio subcommands that starts a specific playback.

Apart from the fact that playback play should behave like its counterpart, spotify_player playback start context also does not work for me to start a specific playback:

> spotify_player playback start context playlist --name "Sunny Beats"
Bad request: no playback found

@chrisgrieser commented on GitHub (Jan 16, 2024): > If there is no playback, what kind of playback should the player starts? The last playback that was active. Assuming I am starting the day, and just want to continue whatever playback I had the day before: - When I do `spotify_player` and press `space`, it correctly resumes the last playback from the day before. - If I say "Alexa, continue" to my Alexa device, it resumes the last playback from the day before. - `spotify_player playback play`, however, does not behave that way, it errors with `Bad request: no playback found` --- > Note that spotify_player does provide playback start context/liked/radio subcommands that starts a specific playback. Apart from the fact that `playback play` should behave like its counterpart, `spotify_player playback start context` also does not work for me to start a specific playback: ```bash > spotify_player playback start context playlist --name "Sunny Beats" Bad request: no playback found ```

kerem commented

2026-03-14 13:32:08 +03:00

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@aome510 commented on GitHub (Jan 16, 2024):

Thanks for the additional context. Normally, if the listening device becomes inactive for a while, you need to manually connect to it before controlling the playback.

The reason why it works for spotify_player is that the app automatically connects to an integrated device if there is no active device on startup. "Alexa, continue" works probably because Alexa itself is a device so it can just connect to itself before controlling the playback. It's difficult from spotify_player CLI's perspective as the CLI cannot know which device you want to start the playback.

spotify_player provides connect command and you will need manually specify a device's id or name to connect to.

no playback found is not a good error message. Instead, it should include a suggestion telling user to run connect command if there is no active playback.

@aome510 commented on GitHub (Jan 16, 2024): Thanks for the additional context. Normally, if the listening device becomes inactive for a while, you need to manually `connect` to it before controlling the playback. The reason why it works for `spotify_player` is that the app **automatically** connects to **an integrated device** if there is no active device on startup. _"Alexa, continue"_ works probably because Alexa itself is a device so it can just connect to itself before controlling the playback. It's difficult from `spotify_player` CLI's perspective as the CLI cannot know which device you want to start the playback. `spotify_player` provides `connect` command and you will need manually specify a device's id or name to connect to. `no playback found` is not a good error message. Instead, it should include a suggestion telling user to run `connect` command if there is no active playback.

kerem commented

2026-03-14 13:32:13 +03:00

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@chrisgrieser commented on GitHub (Jan 16, 2024):

Oh see, thank you. That clears it up.

@chrisgrieser commented on GitHub (Jan 16, 2024): Oh see, thank you. That clears it up.