transfer_playback
Transfer active Spotify playback between devices while preserving playback position, queue, and settings for continuous listening across different locations.
Instructions
Seamlessly transfer active playback from one device to another while maintaining playback state.
🎯 USE CASES: • Move music from phone to home speakers when arriving home • Switch from desktop to phone when leaving office • Transfer playback to car system when starting drive • Move music between rooms using different smart speakers • Continue listening on different devices without interruption
📝 WHAT IT RETURNS: • Confirmation of successful transfer • New active device information • Preserved playback position and queue • Current track information on new device • Transfer success status and any error details
🔍 EXAMPLES: • "Transfer playback to my bedroom speaker" • "Move music to my phone" • "Switch playback to device ID: 1a2b3c4d5e6f" • "Continue playing on my laptop"
🔄 TRANSFER FEATURES: • Maintains exact playback position • Preserves queue, shuffle, and repeat settings • Keeps volume level appropriate for target device • Option to start playing immediately or stay paused • Seamless transition with minimal interruption
💡 SMART HANDOFFS: • Perfect for multi-room audio setups • Enables mobility without losing music context • Great for smart home automation scenarios • Supports lifestyle-based listening patterns
⚠️ REQUIREMENTS: • Valid Spotify access token with user-modify-playback-state scope • Target device must be available and online • User must have control permissions for target device
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| token | Yes | Spotify access token for authentication | |
| deviceId | Yes | The ID of the device to transfer playback to | |
| play | No |
Implementation Reference
- src/spotify.ts:714-724 (handler)Core handler function in SpotifyService that makes the API call to transfer playback to the specified device_id, optionally starting playback.
async transferPlayback( token: string, deviceId: string, play: boolean = false ): Promise<void> { const data = { device_ids: [deviceId], play: play, }; return await this.makeRequest<void>("me/player", token, {}, "PUT", data); } - src/mcp/tools/playback.ts:485-494 (schema)Input schema definition using Zod for the transfer_playback tool, validating token, deviceId, and play parameters.
schema: createSchema({ token: commonSchemas.token(), deviceId: z .string() .describe("The ID of the device to transfer playback to"), play: z .boolean() .default(false) .describe("Whether to start playing immediately after transfer"), }), - src/mcp/tools/playback.ts:444-499 (registration)Tool registration object defining transfer_playback, including title, description, schema, and handler that invokes SpotifyService.transferPlayback.
transfer_playback: { title: "Transfer Playback", description: `Seamlessly transfer active playback from one device to another while maintaining playback state. 🎯 USE CASES: • Move music from phone to home speakers when arriving home • Switch from desktop to phone when leaving office • Transfer playback to car system when starting drive • Move music between rooms using different smart speakers • Continue listening on different devices without interruption 📝 WHAT IT RETURNS: • Confirmation of successful transfer • New active device information • Preserved playback position and queue • Current track information on new device • Transfer success status and any error details 🔍 EXAMPLES: • "Transfer playback to my bedroom speaker" • "Move music to my phone" • "Switch playback to device ID: 1a2b3c4d5e6f" • "Continue playing on my laptop" 🔄 TRANSFER FEATURES: • Maintains exact playback position • Preserves queue, shuffle, and repeat settings • Keeps volume level appropriate for target device • Option to start playing immediately or stay paused • Seamless transition with minimal interruption 💡 SMART HANDOFFS: • Perfect for multi-room audio setups • Enables mobility without losing music context • Great for smart home automation scenarios • Supports lifestyle-based listening patterns ⚠️ REQUIREMENTS: • Valid Spotify access token with user-modify-playback-state scope • Target device must be available and online • User must have control permissions for target device`, schema: createSchema({ token: commonSchemas.token(), deviceId: z .string() .describe("The ID of the device to transfer playback to"), play: z .boolean() .default(false) .describe("Whether to start playing immediately after transfer"), }), handler: async (args: any, spotifyService: SpotifyService) => { const { token, deviceId, play = false } = args; return await spotifyService.transferPlayback(token, deviceId, play); }, }, - src/mcp/tools/index.ts:22-36 (registration)Aggregates all tools including playbackTools (containing transfer_playback) into allTools registry used by ToolRegistrar for MCP.
export const allTools: ToolsRegistry = { ...albumTools, ...artistTools, ...trackTools, ...playlistTools, ...playbackTools, ...userTools, ...searchTools, };