> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://rockboxzig.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# MPD clients

> Rockbox speaks the Music Player Daemon protocol on port 6600.

`rockboxd` runs a built-in MPD server on port **6600**, so any of the dozens
of MPD clients work out of the box — `mpc`, `ncmpcpp`, MALP, M.A.L.P.,
Cantata, Mopidy, Volumio's UI, etc.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/rockboxzig/OhfsoY76lvww6rEV/images/mpd-preview.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=OhfsoY76lvww6rEV&q=85&s=a4465e430421cfd3a2fd33f4c1092146" alt="Rockbox MPD client" width="3121" height="1784" data-path="images/mpd-preview.png" />
</Frame>

```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"catppuccin-latte","dark":"min-dark"}}
mpc -h localhost -p 6600 status
mpc -h localhost -p 6600 update
mpc -h localhost -p 6600 search title "money"
mpc -h localhost -p 6600 add /Music/Pink\ Floyd/Money.mp3
mpc -h localhost -p 6600 play
```

## Compatibility

The implementation lives in `crates/mpd/`. It targets the standard MPD
protocol version. Coverage:

* ✅ Status, current/next song, elapsed time
* ✅ Playback control: play/pause/next/previous/seek/stop
* ✅ Queue (`add`, `addid`, `delete`, `clear`, `shuffle`, `move`)
* ✅ Library (`list`, `find`, `search`, `lsinfo`)
* ✅ Saved playlists (`load`, `save`, `rm`, `playlistadd`)
* ✅ Volume, repeat, random, single, consume
* ✅ `idle` notifications (player, playlist, mixer, etc.)
* ⚠️ Sticker database — partial
* ⚠️ Outputs — single output exposed (the active sink)

## Configuring the bind address

```toml theme={"theme":{"light":"catppuccin-latte","dark":"min-dark"}}
mpd_host = "0.0.0.0"
mpd_port = 6600
```

## Recommended clients

| Client    | Platform                | Notes                                |
| --------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| `mpc`     | CLI                     | Scripting, smoke-testing             |
| `ncmpcpp` | TUI                     | The classic terminal client          |
| MALP      | Android                 | Material Design, modern feel         |
| M.A.L.P.  | Android (F-Droid)       | F-Droid build of MALP                |
| Cantata   | Linux / Windows / macOS | Full GUI client                      |
| Mopidy    | Linux                   | Acts as an MPD-compatible aggregator |

## Idle subscriptions

```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"catppuccin-latte","dark":"min-dark"}}
mpc -h localhost -p 6600 idle player playlist mixer
```

Returns one event per change. The `subscribe`/`channels` channel commands
are also implemented for client-to-client messaging.

## Library updates

`update` triggers a full rescan of `music_dir` exactly like the
[GraphQL `scanLibrary` mutation](/api-reference/graphql/library). New files
appear in MPD listings as soon as the scan finishes.