NowPlayin

Sync your Slack status with the currently playing track in Music.app.

macOS 14+ (Sonoma) required for the native app. For older macOS versions, use the Python CLI.

Get Your Slack Token

1. Visit https://slack.nowplayin.workers.dev
2. Click Add to Slack
3. Authorize for your workspace (see Slack Permissions for what we do and don't access)
4. Copy the token displayed (starts with xoxp-)

Multiple workspaces? Repeat these steps for each Slack workspace you want to sync.

Install

1. Download from Releases:
   • DMG (recommended): Open and drag to Applications
   • ZIP: Unzip and drag NowPlayin.app to Applications
2. Launch NowPlayin — it appears in your menu bar (no dock icon)
3. Click the menu bar icon → Preferences → Workspaces → Add Workspace
4. Paste your token and click Add
5. Click Start Syncing

The app is signed and notarized — no Gatekeeper warnings.

Keychain access: The app requests keychain access to securely store your Slack tokens. Tokens never leave your Mac except to communicate with Slack. See PRIVACY.md for details.

Usage

Click the menu bar icon to:

• Start/Stop Syncing — toggle status updates
• Preferences — configure token, polling interval, and options

Preferences

• Workspaces — add, remove, and manage your Slack workspaces
• Polling Interval — how often to check Music.app (5-60 seconds)
• Keep status when paused — don't clear status when music is paused
• Launch at Login — start automatically when you log in

Behavior

• Updates Slack status to "🎵 Song - Artist" across all configured workspaces
• Clears status when playback stops or pauses (unless "keep when paused" is enabled)
• Clears status when you quit the app

Building from Source

Requires Xcode 15+ and macOS 14+.

git clone https://github.com/mbradley/nowplayin.git
cd nowplayin/NowPlayin
open NowPlayin.xcodeproj
# Set your Team in Signing & Capabilities, then Build & Run

For distribution builds:

# Set signing team in Xcode first, then:
export APPLE_ID="your@email.com"
export TEAM_ID="XXXXXXXXXX"
export APP_PASSWORD="xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx"
./scripts/build-release.sh

Python CLI (alternative)

For older macOS versions or terminal-based usage:

# Install
pipx install git+https://github.com/mbradley/nowplayin.git

# Save token (get yours at https://slack.nowplayin.workers.dev)
nowplayin --token xoxp-your-token

# Run
nowplayin              # foreground
nowplayin --daemon     # background
nowplayin --stop       # stop daemon
nowplayin --status     # check if running

# Options
nowplayin --interval 30      # poll every 30s
nowplayin --keep-on-pause    # keep status when paused