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How to use SoundLeaf

From the first sign-in to the Apple Watch, CarPlay and a server that lives behind Tailscale. Start at the top, or jump to the part you need.

Getting started

4 guides

  1. Connect SoundLeaf to your Audiobookshelf server on iPhone

    Install SoundLeaf, type your Audiobookshelf server address, and sign in with your username and password or OpenID. Then play or download your first book.

  2. What to type as your Audiobookshelf server address in SoundLeaf

    At home, type http:// plus your server's local IP and port, usually :13378, like http://192.168.1.50:13378. Away, use your Tailscale or domain address.

  3. Set up SoundLeaf for your family with Audiobookshelf

    Give each family member their own Audiobookshelf user, send the address and username, then share one iPad or lock down a child's. Pro has Family Sharing.

  4. SoundLeaf Free, Pro and Supporter: what you get with the Audiobookshelf iPhone app

    SoundLeaf is free to use, downloads included. Pro and Supporter only add themes, app icons and a badge. Here's what each one adds, plus restoring purchases.

Features

19 guides

  1. Audiobookshelf on CarPlay with SoundLeaf

    SoundLeaf puts your Audiobookshelf books and podcasts on CarPlay: shelves, Up Next, library and account switching, a downloads-only filter, speed and bookmarks.

  2. Audiobookshelf podcasts on iPhone: discover, organize and download shows in SoundLeaf

    Play your Audiobookshelf podcasts on iPhone, find new shows in Discover, sort them into Favorites and groups, and download episodes. All of it is free.

  3. Download Audiobookshelf books for offline listening on iPhone

    Download Audiobookshelf books and episodes free in SoundLeaf, let Smart Downloads fetch what you're listening to, wait for Wi-Fi and clear finished books.

  4. Browse your Audiobookshelf library in SoundLeaf

    Browse Audiobookshelf books, series, authors, narrators, genres, collections and playlists in SoundLeaf, with filters, sorts, grid views and Home shelves.

  5. SoundLeaf player settings for Audiobookshelf: speed, skip, auto rewind and headphone buttons

    Set playback speed per book, series or podcast, choose skip lengths and auto rewind, and pick what headphone and car buttons do in SoundLeaf for Audiobookshelf.

  6. Listen to Audiobookshelf offline on iPhone (no signal, no server)

    Download the book before you go. SoundLeaf plays it with no signal and no server, and your progress goes up to Audiobookshelf once you're connected again.

  7. Use several Audiobookshelf accounts and servers in SoundLeaf

    Keep several Audiobookshelf users and servers in SoundLeaf on iPhone and switch between them. Each account keeps its own progress, stats and downloads.

  8. Listen to Audiobookshelf on Apple Watch without your iPhone

    Download Audiobookshelf books and podcasts to your Apple Watch with SoundLeaf and listen with the iPhone left at home, or use the watch as a remote.

  9. Up Next, playlists and bookmarks in SoundLeaf for Audiobookshelf

    Queue books and podcast episodes in Up Next, build Audiobookshelf playlists, and save bookmarks from the player, CarPlay, Apple Watch or the ebook reader.

  10. Read Audiobookshelf ebooks on iPhone with Read Along in SoundLeaf

    SoundLeaf reads the EPUBs in your Audiobookshelf library for free, highlights words as the narrator reads them, and keeps your place. Setup and fixes.

  11. Audiobookshelf widgets and Siri Shortcuts on iPhone

    SoundLeaf has nine Audiobookshelf widgets for the Home Screen and Lock Screen, a sleep timer Live Activity, and Siri Shortcuts to resume a book hands-free.

  12. Audiobookshelf sleep timer on iPhone: chapter end, fade out and night hours

    Stop your Audiobookshelf book after a set time, at the end of this or the next chapter or episode, with a fade out and a timer that starts itself at night.

  13. Start an Audiobookshelf book with an NFC tag or QR code on iPhone

    Put a SoundLeaf action on an NFC tag or QR code: resume an Audiobookshelf book, start a podcast, pause, set a sleep timer or bookmark with one scan.

  14. Audiobookshelf listening stats and goals on iPhone

    Track Audiobookshelf listening time, streaks and your year in books in SoundLeaf. Set a daily or weekly listening goal and a yearly goal for books finished.

  15. Connect Calibre, Calibre-Web, BookOrbit and KOReader sync to SoundLeaf for Audiobookshelf ebooks

    You don't need Calibre to read in SoundLeaf. Connect Calibre, Calibre-Web or BookOrbit to find matching EPUBs, and KOReader sync to keep your place.

  16. How SoundLeaf syncs your listening progress with Audiobookshelf

    SoundLeaf sends your place to Audiobookshelf as you listen, keeps offline listening until the server has it, and starts from the newest position on any device.

  17. SoundLeaf on iPad and Mac: Audiobookshelf on a bigger screen

    SoundLeaf runs on iPad, and on Apple silicon Macs as the iPad app. Here's what changes on a bigger screen, like two-page ebooks, and what stays on iPhone.

  18. Themes, fonts and app icons in SoundLeaf for Audiobookshelf on iPhone

    SoundLeaf has 34 themes, separate light and dark choices, seven font styles, seven text sizes and 55 app icons. Here's where to change each one.

  19. Listen together with SharePlay in SoundLeaf for Audiobookshelf

    Listen to an Audiobookshelf audiobook or podcast together over FaceTime. Everyone needs SoundLeaf and the same book or episode on their own server.

Advanced

4 guides

  1. Use Audiobookshelf behind Cloudflare Access on iPhone

    Cloudflare Access blocks apps with its email code sign-in. Make a service token, add a Service Auth policy, then add two headers in SoundLeaf.

  2. Use Audiobookshelf over Tailscale on iPhone

    To use Audiobookshelf over Tailscale on iPhone, turn Tailscale on and sign in to SoundLeaf with http://, the 100.x address or MagicDNS name, and the port.

  3. Set up home and away Audiobookshelf addresses on iPhone

    SoundLeaf can use your local Audiobookshelf address on home Wi-Fi and a Tailscale, tunnel or domain address everywhere else, switching on its own.

  4. Sign in to SoundLeaf with Audiobookshelf OpenID (Authentik, Authelia, Pocket ID, Keycloak)

    SoundLeaf signs in to Audiobookshelf with OpenID. Your server admin adds soundleaf://oauth to Allowed Mobile Redirect URIs, then you tap the sign-in button.

Troubleshooting

2 guides

  1. SoundLeaf can't connect to Audiobookshelf: fixes for iPhone

    SoundLeaf can't reach your Audiobookshelf server? Check the address and http or https, Local Network access, proxy headers and certificates, in that order.

  2. SoundLeaf error messages and how to fix them (Audiobookshelf on iPhone)

    What each SoundLeaf error message means and how to fix it: signing in, connecting to Audiobookshelf, OpenID, downloads, podcasts, the reader and more.