Spotify MCP Server (Streamable HTTP / OAuth / Remote)
Streamable HTTP MCP server for Spotify exposes tools to search the catalog, read player status, control playback and devices, manage playlists, and manage your saved songs.
Author: overment.
Warning
This warning applies only to the HTTP transport and OAuth wrapper (Authorization Server / Resource Server) included for convenience. They are intended for personal/local use and are not production‑hardened. The bundled HTTP server exists solely to make it easy to connect your agent or UI.
The MCP tools and schemas themselves are implemented with strong validation, slim outputs, clear error handling, and other best practices.
If you plan to deploy remotely, replace the OAuth/HTTP layer with production infrastructure: proper token validation/introspection, secure storage, TLS termination, strict CORS/origin checks, rate limiting, audit logging, persistence for sessions/tokens, and compliance with Spotify’s terms.
Motivation
At first glance, a "Spotify MCP" may seem unnecessary—pressing play or skipping a song is often faster by hand. It becomes genuinely useful when you don’t know the exact title (e.g., “soundtrack from [movie title]”), when you want to “create and play a playlist that matches my mood”, or when you’re using voice. This MCP lets an LLM handle the fuzzy intent → search → selection → control loop, and it returns clear confirmations of what happened. It works well with voice interfaces and can be connected to agents/workflows for smart‑home automations.
Example:
Note: This UI ^ is Alice, a desktop app. That’s one of my projects.
This UI ^ is Claude Desktop.
Installation
- Clone and install
git clone https://github.com/overment/mcp.git
cd mcp/servers/spotify
bun install
- Prepare environment
Edit .env and set at minimum:
PORT=3030
HOST=127.0.0.1
AUTH_ENABLED=true
# Spotify developer app credentials
SPOTIFY_CLIENT_ID=<your_client_id>
SPOTIFY_CLIENT_SECRET=<your_client_secret>
# Redirect URIs Allowlist
OAUTH_REDIRECT_ALLOWLIST=https://claude.ai/api/mcp/auth_callback,https://claude.com/api/mcp/auth_callback
# Authorization Server callback (this server) used to receive Spotify code
REDIRECT_URI=http://127.0.0.1:3031/spotify/callback
# Spotify endpoints (defaults)
SPOTIFY_API_URL=https://api.spotify.com/v1
SPOTIFY_ACCOUNTS_URL=https://accounts.spotify.com
- Configure Redirect URIs in Spotify Dashboard
In your Spotify Developer Dashboard → App → Redirect URIs, add:
alice://oauth/callback - that's for Alice app if you use it.
http://127.0.0.1:3031/spotify/callback
- Run the server
bun dev
# MCP endpoint: http://127.0.0.1:3030/mcp
# Authorization Server: http://127.0.0.1:3031
- Connect your agent/UI
Point your bridge/client to the MCP endpoint, for example http://127.0.0.1:3030/mcp (see “Client configuration” below for Claude Desktop).
What the model sees (server instructions)
The server advertises a concise description to clients so models can use it effectively without loading the full schema. This description summarizes tools, key rules, and usage patterns.
Design notes (LLM-friendly by intent):
- Tools do not mirror Spotify’s API 1:1. Interfaces are simplified and unified to reduce confusion.
- Wherever possible, operations are batch-first (e.g.,
queries[], operations[]) to minimize tool invocations and make intent explicit. - Every tool returns human-friendly feedback that clearly states what succeeded and what didn’t, with next-step guidance.
- For player control, the server performs best‑effort background verification (e.g., checking device, context, and current track) because Spotify’s API can be ambiguous about immediate state.
MCP identity
- Name:
Spotify Music - Instructions (shown to the model):
Note
Server description below is what clients present to the model as the MCP Server’s "instructions." It’s designed to give a clear mental model of the server’s capabilities without diving into every schema detail.
Use these tools to find music, get the current player status, control and transfer playback, and manage playlists and saved songs.
Tools
- search_catalog: Find songs, artists, albums, or playlists. Inputs: queries[], types[album|artist|playlist|track], optional market (2-letter), limit (1-50), offset (0-1000), include_external['audio']. Returns per-query ordered items (slim fields like id, name, uri; tracks include artists).
- player_status: Read current player, available devices, queue, and current track. Use this first to discover device_id before control.
- spotify_control: Batch control with operations[]. action ∈ {play,pause,next,previous,seek,volume,shuffle,repeat,transfer,queue}. Provide matching params (position_ms, volume_percent, repeat, device_id, context_uri/uris, offset, queue_uri, transfer_play). Optional parallel=true runs operations concurrently. The tool automatically fetches player status after actions and reports whether playback is active, the target device, and current volume. Before transfer, call player_status to pick a device; if no active device exists, ask the user to open Spotify.
- spotify_playlist: Manage playlists. action ∈ {list_user,get,items,create,update_details,add_items,remove_items,reorder_items}.
- spotify_library: Manage saved songs. action ∈ {tracks_get,tracks_add,tracks_remove,tracks_contains}.
Notes
- If a call returns Unauthorized, ask the user to authenticate and retry.
- Prefer small limits and minimal polling unless asked to do otherwise.
- Use player_status to pick device_id before control. If no active device is found, prompt the user to open Spotify and/or transfer to a listed device.
- After control actions, the tool includes a concise status. For full details, you can still call player_status. If not playing, ask the user to open Spotify or transfer to a listed device.
- Batch-only where applicable:
queries: string[] for search; operations[] for control. - Deterministic slim outputs: fixed shapes with minimal fields (
id, uri, name, etc.). - Every tool returns a human-readable
_msg summary. Control verifies context/track and device when possible. - Error handling: whole-call errors set
isError: true; batch results include per-item { ok, error? } and an aggregate summary.
Returned messages
- Each tool returns a concise human message in two places:
structuredContent._msg (or structuredContent.error on failure)content: [{ type: "text", text: "<same message>" }, ... ]
These are intended to be shown directly to users, with one of them designed for older MCP clients.
search_catalog
- Description: Search songs, artists, albums, and playlists. Inputs:
queries[], types[album|artist|playlist|track], optional market, limit(1-50), offset(0-1000), include_external['audio']. - Auth/annotations: readOnlyHint=true, openWorldHint=true (app token; no user OAuth).
- Input shape:
{
queries: string[];
types: ("album"|"artist"|"playlist"|"track")[];
market?: string; // 2-letter
limit?: number; // 1..50 (default 20)
offset?: number; // 0..1000 (default 0)
include_external?: "audio";
}
- Output shape (SpotifySearchBatchOutput, slim):
{
_msg: string;
queries: string[];
types: ("album"|"artist"|"playlist"|"track")[];
limit: number;
offset: number;
batches: Array<{
inputIndex: number;
query: string;
totals: Record<string, number>;
items: Array<SlimTrack|SlimAlbum|SlimArtist|SlimPlaylist>;
}>;
}
player_status
- Description: Read the current player state, devices, queue, and current track. Use this to learn
device_id before control. - Auth/annotations: readOnlyHint=true, openWorldHint=true (user OAuth required).
- Input shape:
{ include?: ("player"|"devices"|"queue"|"current_track")[] }
- Output shape (SpotifyStatusOutput):
{
_msg: string;
player?: {
is_playing: boolean;
shuffle_state?: boolean;
repeat_state?: "off"|"track"|"context";
progress_ms?: number;
timestamp?: number;
device_id?: string;
context_uri?: string|null;
};
current_track?: SlimTrack | null;
devices?: SlimDevice[];
devicesById?: Record<string, SlimDevice>;
queue?: { current_id?: string | null; next_ids: string[] };
}
spotify_control
- Description: Control Spotify playback: play, pause, next/previous, seek, shuffle, repeat, volume, transfer, and queue. Batch interface; optional
parallel=true. Verifies device/context/track when possible and returns a concise status. - Auth/annotations: readOnlyHint=false, openWorldHint=true (user OAuth required).
- Input shape:
{
operations: Array<{
action: "play"|"pause"|"next"|"previous"|"seek"|"volume"|"shuffle"|"repeat"|"transfer"|"queue";
device_id?: string;
position_ms?: number;
volume_percent?: number;
shuffle?: boolean;
repeat?: "off"|"track"|"context";
context_uri?: string;
uris?: string[];
offset?: { position?: number; uri?: string };
queue_uri?: string;
transfer_play?: boolean;
}>;
parallel?: boolean;
}
- Output shape (SpotifyControlBatchOutput):
{
_msg: string;
results: Array<{
index: number;
action: string;
ok: boolean;
error?: string;
note?: string;
device_id?: string;
device_name?: string;
from_device_id?: string;
from_device_name?: string;
}>;
summary: {
ok: number;
failed: number;
}
}
Notes:
- For play, set either
context_uri (with optional offset) or uris, not both. - After actions, a concise status is included; use
player_status for full details.
spotify_playlist
- Description: Manage playlists for the current user.
- Actions:
list_user, get, items, create, update_details, add_items, remove_items, reorder_items. - Auth/annotations: readOnlyHint=false for mutating actions; true for reads; openWorldHint=true (user OAuth required).
- Input shape:
// List current user's playlists
{ action: "list_user"; limit?: number; offset?: number }
// Get playlist details
{ action: "get"; playlist_id: string; market?: string; fields?: string }
// Get playlist items
{
action: "items";
playlist_id: string;
market?: string;
limit?: number;
offset?: number;
fields?: string;
additional_types?: string;
}
// Create playlist
{
action: "create";
name?: string;
description?: string;
public?: boolean;
collaborative?: boolean;
}
// Update playlist details
{
action: "update_details";
playlist_id: string;
name?: string;
description?: string;
public?: boolean;
collaborative?: boolean;
}
// Add items to a playlist (URIs like spotify:track:ID)
{ action: "add_items"; playlist_id: string; uris: string[] }
// Remove items from a playlist
{
action: "remove_items";
playlist_id: string;
tracks: { uri: string; positions?: number[] }[];
snapshot_id?: string;
}
// Reorder items within a playlist
{
action: "reorder_items";
playlist_id: string;
range_start: number;
insert_before: number;
range_length?: number;
snapshot_id?: string;
}
// Generic envelope used by all actions
type SpotifyPlaylistOutputObject = {
ok: boolean;
action: string;
_msg?: string; // concise human message
error?: string; // present when ok=false
code?:
| "unauthorized"
| "forbidden"
| "rate_limited"
| "bad_response"
| "invalid_arguments";
data?: unknown; // varies by action (see below)
};
// list_user → playlists summary
type ListUserData = {
limit: number;
offset: number;
total: number;
items: Array<{ id: string; uri: string; name: string; type: "playlist" }>;
};
// get → full playlist details (slimmed)
type GetData = {
id: string;
uri: string;
name: string;
description?: string;
owner_name?: string;
public?: boolean;
collaborative?: boolean;
tracks_total?: number;
};
// items → tracks with zero-based positions and the playlist context_uri
type ItemsData = {
playlist_id: string;
playlist_uri: string; // spotify:playlist:...
limit: number;
offset: number;
total: number;
items: Array<{
type: "track";
id: string;
uri: string;
name: string;
artists: string[];
album?: string;
duration_ms?: number;
position: number; // zero-based position for play offset
}>;
};
// create → details of the created playlist
type CreateData = GetData;
// update_details → confirmation only
type UpdateDetailsData = { updated: true };
// add_items/remove_items/reorder_items → snapshot id for resulting state
type SnapshotData = { snapshot_id?: string };
- Notes:
- Success responses set
{ ok: true, action, _msg?, data? }; failures set { isError: true, structuredContent: { ok:false, action, error, code? } }. items annotates each returned track with zero-based position and includes playlist_uri for precise spotify_control.play with { context_uri, offset: { position } }.
spotify_library
- Description: Manage saved songs (Your Library).
- Actions:
tracks_get, tracks_add, tracks_remove, tracks_contains. - Auth/annotations: readOnlyHint=true for reads; false for writes; openWorldHint=true (user OAuth required).
- Input shape:
// List saved tracks
{ action: "tracks_get"; limit?: number; offset?: number; market?: string }
// Save tracks by ID
{ action: "tracks_add"; ids: string[] } // track IDs (not URIs)
// Remove saved tracks by ID
{ action: "tracks_remove"; ids: string[] }
// Check if tracks are saved
{ action: "tracks_contains"; ids: string[] }
// Generic envelope used by all actions
type SpotifyLibraryOutputObject = {
ok: boolean;
action: string;
_msg?: string; // concise human message
error?: string; // present when ok=false
code?:
| "unauthorized"
| "forbidden"
| "rate_limited"
| "bad_response"
| "invalid_arguments";
data?: unknown; // varies by action (see below)
};
// tracks_get → saved tracks
type TracksGetData = {
limit: number;
offset: number;
total: number;
items: Array<{
type: "track";
id: string;
uri: string;
name: string;
artists: string[];
album?: string;
duration_ms?: number;
}>;
};
// tracks_add → confirmation
type TracksAddData = { saved: number; ids: string[] };
// tracks_remove → confirmation
type TracksRemoveData = { removed: number; ids: string[] };
// tracks_contains → lookup results
type TracksContainsData = { ids: string[]; contains: boolean[] };
- Notes:
- Success responses set
{ ok: true, action, _msg?, data? }; failures set { isError: true, structuredContent: { ok:false, action, error, code? } }. - Use track IDs for library actions; use full track URIs for playlist add/remove.
HTTP Endpoints
POST /mcp — JSON-RPC 2.0 messages over Streamable HTTP. Initializes sessions and handles requests.GET /mcp — Server-to-client notifications stream for an existing session; requires Mcp-Session-Id header.DELETE /mcp — End a session; requires Mcp-Session-Id header.GET /health — Health probe.GET /.well-known/oauth-authorization-server — AS metadata (points to port PORT+1). Alias also at /mcp/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server.GET /.well-known/oauth-protected-resource — RS metadata when AUTH_ENABLED=true. Alias also at /mcp/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource.
Security middleware validates Origin and MCP protocol version headers, attaches a session ID when needed, challenges with WWW-Authenticate on 401, and maps RS tokens to Spotify tokens for session hydration.
Client configuration (Claude Desktop)
Claude Desktop connects to remote MCP servers through a local stdio bridge. Example configuration:
{
"mcpServers": {
"spotify": {
"command": "bunx",
"args": [
"mcp-remote",
"http://127.0.0.1:3030/mcp",
"--transport",
"http-only"
],
"env": { "NO_PROXY": "127.0.0.1,localhost" }
}
}
}
If you enable local HTTPS in front of the server, change the URL to https://localhost:3030/mcp and ensure your client trusts the certificate.
End-to-end example session
This walkthrough shows a complete flow using all tools with actionable _msg outputs the AI can rely on.
What's playing?
Narration: I'll check what's currently playing on your Spotify account.
Tool: player_status
Request
{
"include": ["player", "devices", "current_track"]
}
Response
'Come With Me - Radio Mix' is playing on device 'Adam’s MacBook Pro'. Context: spotify:playlist:2mMPIccnFiOd2xgkO0iABm.
Assistant: You're currently listening to "Come With Me - Radio Mix" on your MacBook Pro. The track is playing from a playlist. Would you like me to get more details about the current track or help you control playback in any way?
Play "Protected" from this playlist
Narration: I'll help you play "Protected" from your current playlist. Let me first get the playlist details to find that specific track.
Tool: spotify_playlist
Request
{
"action": "items",
"playlist_id": "2mMPIccnFiOd2xgkO0iABm",
"limit": 50
}
Response
Loaded 50 items from 'Nora' (context: spotify:playlist:2mMPIccnFiOd2xgkO0iABm).
- #0 Come with Me - Radio Mix — spotify:track:2FxwTax2LGVybNIrreiwXv
- #1 Spring Embers — spotify:track:2slr1WHisMcjKMEz0RJ8u2
- #2 Come With Me - Radio Mix — spotify:track:1Ht4NJdY8adMsW540P5vG0
- #3 Senses of Comfort — spotify:track:79HByFhZMjYkMGRT5xQiDl
- #4 Life on Hold — spotify:track:0uTkVCAf8PxMo8NJ3tFYzH
- #5 Birthright — spotify:track:24KBMWfxD8l3z9JwfgU9oL
- #6 I Love You Always Forever (Nora's Version) — spotify:track:4eMaX3oR9aD0JTwZOrNQ9Y
- #7 Protected — spotify:track:1cRRIRrUiPnLOvsnWNhoH9
- #8 Indulgence — spotify:track:038yuRmrY7Vk8d6c3PDs7Q
- #9 Aquatic — spotify:track:4PJaGVVVYNSN9EZJmMLtfK
- #10 Tears In Your Eyes — spotify:track:4xs3eeuZb1WofrjlUp65QP
- #11 Do No More — spotify:track:21YVPtVHmvpodDiy7GyhUU
- #12 Sherwood Forest — spotify:track:4PweJp1SbwGcCtUWGUKHbw
- #13 Train of Thoughts — spotify:track:1OoJQao2C0rvcUpr2BqgaM
- #14 Hyperreal (Middle of the Night) — spotify:track:1f9H7N9ijHFnV0BqJufUIS
- #15 Memories — spotify:track:6BiBQjBIl8ozwqRihm4hTV
- #16 Polar Lights — spotify:track:485Th9A00AaXGv6CJUEtfi
- #17 In Your Eyes — spotify:track:501sz40LhXSFQHA2LTXMpw
- #18 In The Air Tonight - Croatia Squad Remix — spotify:track:3CdGMGuadrX7Dyw6Zwn1VR
- #19 Pretoria — spotify:track:5ViijhC2983J1B8Bo1wbbo
… and 30 more
Assistant: Perfect! I found "Protected" at position #7 in your playlist. Now I'll play it for you.
Tool: spotify_control
Request
{
"operations": [
{
"action": "play",
"context_uri": "spotify:playlist:2mMPIccnFiOd2xgkO0iABm",
"offset": { "position": 7 }
}
]
}
Response
Successful: play. Status: Now playing on 'Adam’s MacBook Pro'. Current track: 'Protected'. Context verified: spotify:playlist:2mMPIccnFiOd2xgkO0iABm
Assistant: Great! I've started playing "Protected" from your "Nora" playlist on your MacBook Pro. The track should be playing now!
Add current track to favorites
Narration: I'll add "Protected" to your saved tracks (favorites) right away!
Tool: spotify_library
Request
{
"action": "tracks_add",
"ids": ["1cRRIRrUiPnLOvsnWNhoH9"]
}
Response
Saved 1 track:
- Protected — spotify:track:1cRRIRrUiPnLOvsnWNhoH9
Assistant: Perfect! I've added "Protected" to your saved tracks. It's now in your Liked Songs. Great choice!
Switch to "Train of Thoughts"
Narration: I'll play "Train of Thoughts" from your Nora playlist for you!
Tool: spotify_control
Request
{
"operations": [
{
"action": "play",
"context_uri": "spotify:playlist:2mMPIccnFiOd2xgkO0iABm",
"offset": { "position": 13 }
}
]
}
Response
Successful: play. Status: Now playing on 'Adam’s MacBook Pro'. Current track: 'Train of Thoughts'. Context verified: spotify:playlist:2mMPIccnFiOd2xgkO0iABm
Assistant: Done! "Train of Thoughts" is now playing on your MacBook Pro. I can see from the playlist that this is position #13 in your "Nora" playlist.
Turn the volume up to 100%
Narration: I'll turn the volume up to 100% for you!
Tool: spotify_control
Request
{
"operations": [{ "action": "volume", "volume_percent": 100 }]
}
Response
Successful: volume. Status: Now playing on 'Adam’s MacBook Pro'. Current track: 'Train of Thoughts'. Volume: 100%
Assistant: Perfect! I've cranked the volume up to 100% on your MacBook Pro. "Train of Thoughts" should now be playing at full volume.
Troubleshooting
- Missing user token: complete the OAuth flow. The server will log mapping/attachment events.
- Unknown RS token: restart or mapping loss triggers a new OAuth prompt; the client should re-auth automatically.
- No devices: open Spotify on a device, then use
player_status to list devices or spotify_control → transfer.
Development
bun dev # start with hot reloading
bun run test:client # run the included MCP test client
bun run lint # code style
bun run format # formatting
bun run typecheck # TypeScript validation
bun run build # production build
bun start # start production server
Architecture (high level)
src/
├── config/ # env + auth helpers
├── core/ # MCP server bootstrap, context, session
├── http/ # Hono app, routes, security, auth-proxy
├── tools/ # spotify_* and search_catalog tools
├── services/ # Spotify API clients
├── schemas/ # Zod input/output schemas
├── utils/ # logging, security, rate limiting
└── index.ts # entry point
License
MIT — see LICENSE.