How to stream your own music

Three ways to play a music library you own from your phone, and what each one requires.

Free account: 50 MB of storage.

Copying the files onto the phone

Free, works offline, no account. Each addition means a transfer from the computer, the storage on the phone fills up, and nothing is shared between devices.

Running a media server at home

Plex, Jellyfin, Navidrome, Subsonic and Airsonic all read your library from your own disks, with no storage limit and no subscription in their base version.

They require a machine that stays on, remote access to configure on the router or through a relay service, and updates to install. Playback stops when the machine or the home connection does.

Uploading to a hosted service

Nothing to install or maintain, and playback does not depend on your home connection. Storage is limited and usually paid for beyond a free tier.

YouTube Music accepts uploads. Stream My Music is another option, without a catalogue and without advertising.

With Stream My Music, step by step

1. Check the tags on your computerWhat the files contain is what the library will show. A tag editor fixes an incomplete artist or album field before the upload rather than after.
2. Upload folders from the websiteDrag a folder; sub-folders are included. The app can upload as well, though the browser handles a large library more comfortably.
3. Check the coversMissing artwork is searched for and added when the artist and the title both match. What stays empty can be filled in by hand.
4. Create your playlistsPlaylists are shared between the website and the app.
5. Download for offline playbackIn the Android app, the arrow next to a track keeps it on the device.
6. In the carOver Bluetooth, with the track title and the controls on the dashboard.

Common questions

Are my files shared with anyone? No. They are not analysed and not offered to other people. A share link gives one person access to one track, and only if you create it.

What happens if I stop paying? The account moves back to the free plan. Your files stay; uploading is blocked until you are under the free limit again.

Can I get my files back? Yes. The account can also be deleted in one operation, with its files, playlists and statistics, from the app or from the website.

Does it work on iPhone? There is no iOS app so far. The website works in Safari.