PlayStatus for MAC
Free, open-source menu bar player for Mac: control Apple Music and Spotify, with lyrics, play history, Last.fm scrobbling and Shortcuts.
PlayStatus Overview
PlayStatus is a native SwiftUI app that lives in the Mac menu bar and controls Apple Music and Spotify, so you can play, skip and search without keeping a full music window open. It has three player layouts: a regular player with artwork, search, lyrics and credits, a compact mini player, and a detached floating window that can stay on top of other windows.
PlayStatus is made by Nikhil Bolar and is free and open source under the MIT license. It controls Music and Spotify through AppleScript, so macOS asks for Automation permission on first use. It needs macOS 15 or later and runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel. Play history stays on your Mac and is never uploaded, and nothing goes to Last.fm unless you connect an account. Lyrics come from Apple Music or LRCLIB, so they may be incomplete or unavailable for some songs. Favoriting a track works with Apple Music only.
Key Features
PlayStatus puts your music controls one click away.
- Two music apps: control Apple Music, Spotify or both.
- Three layouts: regular, mini and detached floating player.
- Lyrics and credits: open inside the player, with the active line called out.
- Play history: recent tracks stored on your Mac, up to 5,000 plays.
- Last.fm scrobbling: sign in on Last.fm's site, with offline plays queued.
- Themes: six presets, animated artwork and artwork motion styles.
- Global hotkeys: play, skip, favorite and show the player from anywhere.
- Automation: Shortcuts actions, Spotlight phrases and a playstatus:// URL scheme.
What’s New in Version 3.1.3
PlayStatus 3.1.3 fixes menu bar and playback problems, mainly on macOS 27.
- Clicking the menu bar item works again on macOS 27 when nothing is playing
- The detached player can be dragged again on macOS 27
- The menu bar Play button now starts playback when Music is stopped
- Play starts the playlist you are viewing when Music is stopped
- Play is offered on Apple Music pages that can play
PlayStatus FAQ
Is PlayStatus free?
Yes. PlayStatus is free and open source under the MIT license.
Which music apps does PlayStatus work with?
Apple Music and Spotify. You can use either one or both.
Which macOS version does PlayStatus need?
macOS 15 or later.
Does PlayStatus run on Apple Silicon?
Yes. The app is universal and runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Why does PlayStatus ask for Automation permission?
It controls Music and Spotify through AppleScript, which macOS allows only with Automation permission. You can check it in System Settings, Privacy & Security, Automation.
Does PlayStatus show lyrics?
Yes. Lyrics can come from Apple Music or LRCLIB, depending on availability. They are third-party content and may be incomplete or unavailable.
Does PlayStatus upload my play history?
No. Play history is stored on your Mac and never uploaded. It holds up to 5,000 plays and can be cleared in Settings.
Can PlayStatus scrobble to Last.fm?
Yes, once you connect an account. Sign-in happens on the Last.fm site in your browser, so the app never sees your password. A track scrobbles after half of it or four minutes has played, whichever comes first.
Can I install PlayStatus with Homebrew?
Yes, from the developer's own tap: brew install --cask nbolar/playstatus/playstatus.
Where does the PlayStatus download on playstatus.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official PlayStatus releases on GitHub at https://github.com/nbolar/PlayStatus/releases/latest. playstatus.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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FULLMAC.app does not host this app. Download buttons lead to the developer’s own pages.