BitChord is an Android YouTube Music client, not a server. To stream your own music privately, install the signed Android app and run the separate bitchord-selfhosted-addon in Docker. The addon publishes a Plex or Jellyfin music library as a BitChord source over HTTPS. You supply the server, storage, network access and security; BitChord supplies the Android playback interface.
Understand the architecture before you install anything
There are two independent parts. The BitChord Android application is the client you operate on a phone or tablet. It can use YouTube Music and can also open sources exposed by the self-hosted addon. The addon is a small Docker service that connects to an existing Plex or Jellyfin music server and presents that library to BitChord.
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Installing the APK does not create a home server, import music or make a YouTube Music catalogue private. Likewise, running the addon does not supply music by itself and is not a replacement for Plex or Jellyfin. You need an already populated library in one of those systems.
The project’s own disclaimer is explicit: “BitChord is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to YouTube or Google in any way.” Treat BitChord as an independent client and check the terms that apply to any service or media you access through it.
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What you need
- An Android device on which you are allowed to install an APK outside the device’s app store.
- The latest signed BitChord APK from the project’s official GitHub Releases page. Release versions change, so read the release notes immediately before downloading.
- A host running Docker and Docker Compose for the private-library portion.
- A reachable Plex server or a Jellyfin server running version 10.9 or newer, with music already indexed.
- A DNS name or other stable hostname and HTTPS termination. The addon documentation recommends a reverse proxy such as Caddy, Traefik or nginx, or a Cloudflare Tunnel.
- A persistent directory for the addon’s
/datavolume. The service stores settings, server tokens and its secret there. - A network design that lets the Android device reach the HTTPS endpoint. This can be limited to your home network, a private VPN or an intentionally exposed public endpoint protected by your proxy and authentication.
No particular phone, mini PC, Raspberry Pi, NAS or other physical model is required or endorsed by the project. Any hardware that meets the Docker, storage and network requirements can host the addon.
Install the BitChord Android client
- Open the official release page. Start at the BitChord project repository and follow its link to GitHub Releases. Select the current signed APK rather than an old version or an unverified mirror.
- Read the release notes. Do this before relying on a version number in documentation. The project can publish new releases, change requirements or correct installation issues.
- Download the APK. Use the browser or file manager on the Android device, or transfer the file from a computer using a method you trust.
- Allow installation from that app. Android normally blocks sideloading until you grant the browser or file manager permission. In Settings, search for Install unknown apps, select the app that opened or downloaded the APK and enable its permission. Wording varies by Android manufacturer and release.
- Install and launch BitChord. Open the downloaded file, approve the package installation and start the app. If Android reports that the source is not allowed, return to the previous step and grant permission to the correct browser or file manager.
- Revoke the permission when finished, if appropriate. Leaving unknown-app installation enabled broadens what that app can install. Turning it off does not remove BitChord; it only prevents future sideloads through that source.
The APK is the client installation only. Do not expect a server address, library scanner or web administration page to appear on the Android device after these steps.
Deploy the self-hosted addon with Docker
The official bitchord-selfhosted-addon documentation uses Docker Compose. Start from its compose.example.yml or add the service to your existing compose.yml. Use the published container image and service settings shown by that project rather than inventing an image tag; image names and tags are part of the project’s release process.
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Choose a directory on the Docker host that is included in your backup plan. The Compose service must mount that directory to /data inside the container. The mount is not optional: the addon writes its settings, Plex or Jellyfin tokens and secret there. If the container is recreated without the same contents, you lose its configuration and must set it up again.
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Before starting the service, make the host directory writable by container user 65532. Apply ownership or permissions using the method appropriate to your operating system and storage volume. Verify that the container can create files there; a read-only mount or an ownership mismatch commonly causes startup or save failures.
2. Attach the service to the reverse-proxy network
Your Compose definition needs the persistent /data volume and a connection to the network used by your reverse proxy. The addon listens on container port 8080. The proxy should forward the HTTPS hostname to that port over the Docker network. Do not publish the container directly to the internet on an unencrypted port when a proxy can terminate TLS in front of it.
If you already operate several Compose projects, confirm that both the addon and the proxy can resolve one another on the same Docker network. If the proxy runs outside Docker, use the host address and port mapping documented by your deployment instead, while still keeping HTTPS in front of the public endpoint.
3. Start the container
From the directory containing your Compose file, run:
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docker compose up -dCheck the service status and logs using your normal Docker workflow. A running container alone does not prove that the endpoint is usable: the proxy must have a valid certificate, the hostname must resolve to the proxy and the proxy must be able to reach port 8080.
4. Claim the setup page immediately
Open your HTTPS hostname followed by /setup, for example:
https://your-host/setupSet the addon password as soon as the page is reachable. The README warns that an unset setup page can be claimed by anyone who can reach it. If you exposed the hostname before completing setup, restrict access at the proxy or firewall first, then set the password. Do not share the setup URL or password in screenshots, tickets or public configuration files.
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After securing the setup page, use the addon’s administration interface to add a library server. The exact fields differ slightly between Plex and Jellyfin, but the sequence is the same: identify the server, provide the requested address or token, authenticate if prompted and save the entry.
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Plex
- Choose the option to add a Plex server in the addon administration page.
- Enter the address the addon can reach from its Docker network. A browser-only address that is inaccessible from the container will not work.
- Complete the requested Plex authentication or paste the token generated by your Plex account, following the addon’s current prompts.
- Save the server and wait for the addon to validate the connection and discover the music library.
Jellyfin
- Choose the Jellyfin option in the addon administration page.
- Enter the reachable Jellyfin URL and provide the authentication token requested by the addon.
- Use a Jellyfin server running version 10.9 or newer, as required by the addon documentation.
- Save the entry and verify that the expected music libraries are returned.
The addon exposes libraries; it does not download tracks, transcode media or create a catalogue. Keep the underlying Plex or Jellyfin permissions as restrictive as practical and give the addon only the access needed to read the intended music library.
Copy the generated source into BitChord
- In the addon administration interface, locate the server entry you just saved.
- Copy the generated server link exactly. Do not alter its path, punctuation or embedded credentials.
- Open BitChord on Android and go to Sources.
- Add a source and paste the generated link.
- Save it, open the source and search for an artist or album that you know exists in the Plex or Jellyfin library.
- Start a track and confirm that playback continues beyond the initial search response.
Generated source links function as bearer secrets: anyone who possesses a usable link may be able to stream that library. Send them only through protected channels, avoid publishing them in issue trackers and rotate or recreate them if you believe one has leaked.
Choose a deployment that fits your network
| Choice | Installation complexity | HTTPS and exposure | Persistence and backup | Library compatibility | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Android client only | Low: install a signed APK and permit the selected installer | No server endpoint is created by the app | Android app data follows the device; no addon volume | YouTube Music client features | Install new APK releases as needed |
| Addon on a private home network | Moderate: Docker, proxy or tunnel and server authentication | Can remain LAN-only, but HTTPS is still required by the addon documentation | Back up the persistent /data directory |
Plex or Jellyfin music libraries | Update the container, proxy and host |
| Addon on a remotely reachable host | Higher: DNS, certificates, firewall and proxy hardening | HTTPS and deliberate internet exposure are essential | Back up /data and protect generated links |
Plex or Jellyfin music libraries reachable by the host | Monitor certificates, updates, logs and access |
The official setup material provides deployment guidance, not independent throughput or latency benchmarks. Choose the smallest exposure that meets your needs rather than assuming a public endpoint is faster.
Secure the endpoint and protect the library
- Use HTTPS. Terminate TLS at Caddy, Traefik, nginx or a Cloudflare Tunnel as documented for your environment. Confirm that the Android device sees a valid certificate and the expected hostname.
- Complete setup before opening access. The unclaimed setup page is a takeover risk. Restrict it until a password is set.
- Keep
/dataprivate. It contains configuration, tokens and the addon secret. Do not serve that directory through the web server or commit it to source control. - Back up the volume. A backup should include the contents and permissions of the persistent directory. Test that you can restore it to a stopped container.
- Limit server privileges. Use a Plex or Jellyfin account/token with access to the intended music libraries, not a broader administrative credential when the platform allows a narrower choice.
- Use network controls. Firewall rules, VPN access or proxy authentication can reduce exposure. If the service must be public, monitor logs and keep the host, proxy and container current.
- Treat source links like credentials. Anyone holding one may be able to stream the associated library, even if they never see the addon administration page.
Troubleshoot the common failure points
The APK will not install
- Return to Android Settings and enable Install unknown apps for the exact browser or file manager that opened the file.
- Redownload the current signed release from the official GitHub Releases page if Android reports a damaged or incomplete package.
- Remove an older conflicting installation only if Android reports a signature or package conflict, and preserve any data you still need.
The setup page does not load
- Confirm that the container is running and that Docker reports no restart loop.
- Check that the proxy forwards to port
8080on the addon service and that both containers share the expected network. - Validate DNS and the TLS certificate from the Android device, not only from the Docker host.
- Make sure the host directory mounted at
/datais writable by user65532.
The setup page is reachable but saving fails
Inspect container logs for permission errors and verify that the persistent mount is present. A container that can read its image but cannot write /data cannot retain the password, tokens or secret. Correct ownership, restart the service and repeat setup.
The server saves, but no music appears
- Test the Plex or Jellyfin URL from inside the addon’s network path; the address must be reachable by the container, not merely by your desktop browser.
- For Jellyfin, verify that the server meets the documented 10.9-or-newer requirement.
- Confirm that the authenticated account or token can see the music library and that the library has finished indexing.
- Re-copy the generated source link into BitChord without changing characters.
Search works but playback fails
This symptom usually points to the streaming path rather than catalogue discovery. The addon README specifically advises disabling nginx response buffering and request buffering and using a long read timeout. Apply equivalent settings if you use another proxy, then reload the proxy and retry a track. Also verify that the proxy can maintain a long-lived HTTPS connection and that firewall rules are not terminating idle or large responses.
The configuration disappears after a recreation
Check the Compose volume declaration and confirm that the same host directory is mounted to /data every time. Recreating a container with an empty or different directory removes the settings, tokens and secret from the running instance. Restore the backed-up data before starting a replacement container when possible.
Update and recovery procedures
Updating BitChord
Watch the official release notes, download the newest signed APK and install it over the existing client when Android permits an in-place update. Recheck the Sources entry after an update and remove obsolete source links only after confirming the replacement works.
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Updating the addon
Read the addon’s current Compose example and release notes, back up /data, pull the published image specified by the project and recreate the service with Docker Compose. Keep the same volume and proxy configuration. After the restart, open the administration page, verify the saved Plex or Jellyfin server and test a search and a full track.
Recovering after host failure
- Install Docker and the reverse proxy on the replacement host.
- Restore the addon’s persistent
/datadirectory with its original permissions, including writability for user65532. - Restore the Compose service and attach it to the proxy network.
- Start the service and verify HTTPS before changing the Android source.
- Test the existing generated link. If the hostname and data were preserved, BitChord may not need reconfiguration; otherwise generate a new link and replace the old one.
Optional: build a source for another catalogue
Developers who have a different catalogue can use the official addon development guide. It documents three small JSON endpoints that allow a compatible service to expose catalogue and playback information to BitChord. Every media URL and artwork URL returned by those endpoints must include both a scheme and a host, such as a complete HTTPS URL rather than a relative path.
This extension route is not required for a normal Plex or Jellyfin installation. Use it only when you are implementing and operating another catalogue service, and validate the endpoint responses against the current guide because the contract can evolve.
Final installation checklist
- BitChord was installed from the current signed APK release.
- Unknown-app permission was granted only to the installer that needed it.
- The addon runs in Docker with a persistent
/datamount writable by user65532. - A reverse proxy or tunnel provides HTTPS and routes to addon port
8080. - The
/setuppage was claimed with a password before broader access was allowed. - Plex or Jellyfin was added with a reachable address and appropriately scoped authentication.
- The generated source link was copied into BitChord and treated as a secret.
- A known track was searched and played successfully through the complete proxy path.
- The
/datadirectory is included in tested backups.
With those pieces in place, BitChord remains the Android interface while your Docker-hosted addon securely exposes the private Plex or Jellyfin music library you control.
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