Guides · Features
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.
SharePlay lets you listen to a book or podcast episode together on a FaceTime call. Play, pause, skipping and speed are shared, so everyone hears the same moment.
Each person plays the audio from their own Audiobookshelf library. SoundLeaf doesn’t send audio to the others, so everyone needs a copy of the same book or episode.
SharePlay is free.
What do I need?
- A FaceTime call with the people you want to listen with.
- SoundLeaf on each person’s iPhone or iPad, signed in to Audiobookshelf.
- The same book or episode in each person’s library.
“The same” means the same recording. If you use the same Audiobookshelf server, make sure everyone’s account can see that library. On different servers, everyone needs the same recording with the same audio files. A different edition or a copy converted to another audio format won’t match.
How do I start SharePlay?
There are two ways.
Press play during a call. While you’re on a FaceTime call, start a book or episode as usual. iOS asks whether to share it with the call or play it just for you.
From the player.
- Open the book or episode in the full player.
- Open Up Next and go to the SharePlay tab.
- Tap Start SharePlay.
If you’re not on a call yet, Start SharePlay opens the iOS sheet for inviting people.
It starts where you are now. The others join from the SharePlay prompt iOS shows them. While SoundLeaf finds their copy, the tab says “Preparing shared audio”.
What is shared?
Play, pause, position and speed. Use the player controls as usual and everyone follows.
Speed is shared for the session only. Your own saved speed for that book stays as it was.
How do I leave?
Open Up Next > SharePlay.
- Leave SharePlay stops it for you. Your friends keep listening.
- End SharePlay for everyone stops it for the whole call.
SharePlay error messages
”Couldn’t find a matching copy in your library. Add the same book or episode to your server, then join again.”
Your library has no copy that matches the one being shared. Add the same book or episode to your Audiobookshelf server. For a podcast, make sure the server has downloaded that episode. Pull to refresh in SoundLeaf, then join again.
If you do have the book, it may be a different edition or have different files. Both people need the same audio files.
”More than one copy in your library matches this audio. SharePlay couldn’t choose one.”
Your library has two or more copies that look the same, for example the same book in two libraries. Remove the extra copy on your server, or have the person who started share from the library you both use.
”Open a book or episode before starting SharePlay.”
Nothing is loaded in the player. Start a book or episode first, then tap Start SharePlay.
”SharePlay couldn’t start. Check your FaceTime call, then try again.”
iOS didn’t start the shared session. Make sure the FaceTime call is still connected, then try again.
”The shared audio couldn’t start. Check your server connection, then join again.”
You matched the book, but SoundLeaf couldn’t play it from your server. Check that SoundLeaf can reach your server (see connection troubleshooting), then join again. A downloaded copy plays even with a weak connection. See downloads.
”The shared audio couldn’t load. Check your server connection, then join again.”
SoundLeaf couldn’t finish loading the shared book or episode, either while looking for your copy or while starting it. Check that SoundLeaf can reach your server, then join again.
”This audio doesn’t have the track information needed for SharePlay. Refresh it from your server, then try again.”
SoundLeaf doesn’t have the file details it needs to line up the audio. Pull to refresh, or open the book’s page while connected so its details load, then try again. If it keeps happening, rescan the book in Audiobookshelf.