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Android integration: controlling SoundCloud playback from a cross-service playlist app #595

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Android integration: controlling SoundCloud playback from a cross-service playlist app#595
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@ExplodingWater
ExplodingWater
opened on Oct 6, 2026

Hi SoundCloud team,

Bowie from your SoundCloud support suggested I open this question here and mentioned that one of your developers has an idea for Android.
I’m planning a mobile app where users connect their own music-service accounts and build a playlist containing tracks from both SoundCloud and other services altogether.

My intended workflow is:

  1. The user presses Play in my app.
  2. The selected track plays through its source service.
  3. When the track finishes, my app starts the next track, which may come from another service.

My app would display the track title, cover art, playback progress, SoundCloud attribution, and a link back to SoundCloud. I’d also like play/pause, next/previous, and seeking controls. Tracks would play sequentially without crossfading, overlap, or modification.
Bowie however confirmed that SoundCloud’s mobile apps don’t expose playback functionality. What supported approach could I use on Android? Would I need to integrate SoundCloud playback directly into my app using the API?
I’d also appreciate guidance on detecting track completion, playback while the screen is locked, and whether a similar approach is available for iOS.

I’m still planning the implementation and will submit the integration to SoundCloud for review before commercial launch.

Thanks,
Martin

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  1. dpreussler commented on Oct 7, 2026

    @dpreussler
    dpreussler
    on Oct 7, 2026
    Contributor

    Hi @ExplodingWater

    Our Android app is hooking into the system's MediaSession. Any app can control that to pause/play
    We also implemented onPlayFromSearch and onPlayFromMediaId (where the id is a SoundCloud urn)

    Check out Google's https://github.com/googlesamples/android-media-controller for more

    I'll check back with our iOS team if they have sth similar.

  2. dpreussler
    added
    questionFurther information is requested
    on Oct 7, 2026

  3. ExplodingWater commented on Oct 7, 2026

    @ExplodingWater
    ExplodingWater
    on Oct 7, 2026 via email
    Author

  4. dpreussler commented on Oct 8, 2026

    @dpreussler
    dpreussler
    on Oct 8, 2026
    Contributor

    reliable way to distinguish a track finishing naturally from the user pausing it?

    I think the only way I'd suggest is when onPlaybackStateChanged transitions to STATE_PAUSED query the current playback position from the PlaybackState and compare it against the total duration from the API.

  5. ExplodingWater commented on Oct 8, 2026

    @ExplodingWater
    ExplodingWater
    on Oct 8, 2026 via email
    Author
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