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Version: 1.0

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions for Spotify Controller.

Installation Issues​

Extension not appearing in Activity Bar​

Problem: Spotify icon missing from VS Code sidebar

Solutions:

  1. Restart VS Code completely
  2. Check Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X) - ensure extension is installed and enabled
  3. Right-click Activity Bar → Spotify Controller should be listed
  4. Try reloading window (Ctrl+R / Cmd+R)

Extension installed but commands missing​

Problem: Command Palette doesn't show Spotify commands

Solutions:

  1. Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P)
  2. Search for Extensions: Reload Window
  3. If still missing, uninstall and reinstall the extension

Connection Issues​

"Spotify not detected" message​

Problem: Extension can't find running Spotify

Solutions:

Windows​

  1. Ensure Spotify desktop app is running (not web player)
  2. Play a song in Spotify to activate SMTC
  3. Check Windows Volume Mixer - Spotify should appear
  4. Try restarting Spotify as administrator
  5. Verify Windows 10/11 (older versions not supported)

macOS​

  1. Ensure Spotify desktop app is running
  2. Grant permissions if macOS requests them
  3. Try clicking on Spotify app to give it focus
  4. Restart Spotify and try again
  5. Check System Preferences > Security & Privacy for any blocked permissions

Controls not responding​

Problem: Buttons don't control Spotify playback

Solutions:

  1. Click once on Spotify app window
  2. Play/pause manually in Spotify first
  3. Restart both VS Code and Spotify
  4. Check if another media player is interfering

Track Information Issues​

Track info not updating​

Problem: Song details show old or wrong information

Solutions:

  1. Wait 5-10 seconds (polling interval)
  2. Click play/pause to force refresh
  3. Switch tracks manually in Spotify
  4. Restart the extension (disable → enable)

Missing album artwork​

Problem: No album cover displayed

Solutions:

  1. Album art may not be available for all tracks
  2. Internet connection required for artwork
  3. Try different songs to verify functionality

Platform-Specific Issues​

Windows​

.NET Runtime errors​

Problem: Helper executable fails to start

Solutions:

  1. Extension includes self-contained .NET runtime
  2. Try running VS Code as administrator
  3. Check Windows Defender isn't blocking the helper
  4. Restart Windows if recently updated

SMTC not working​

Problem: System Media Transport Controls unavailable

Solutions:

  1. Update Windows to latest version
  2. Enable Focus Assist settings
  3. Check Windows Media Player integration
  4. Try with different media apps to test SMTC

macOS​

AppleScript permissions​

Problem: Permission denied errors

Solutions:

  1. System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy
  2. Add VS Code to Automation list
  3. Grant permission for VS Code to control Spotify
  4. Restart both apps after granting permissions

Script execution blocked​

Problem: macOS blocks AppleScript execution

Solutions:

  1. System Preferences > Security & Privacy
  2. Click Allow if prompted
  3. Add VS Code to Accessibility if needed
  4. Try right-clicking VS Code → Open to override security

Performance Issues​

High CPU usage​

Problem: Extension using too much CPU

Solutions:

  1. Disable/enable extension to reset
  2. Check VS Code Developer Tools for errors
  3. Restart VS Code with extension disabled, then re-enable
  4. Report issue on GitHub

Slow response times​

Problem: Commands take long time to execute

Solutions:

  1. Close unnecessary VS Code extensions
  2. Restart Spotify to clear cache
  3. Update both VS Code and Spotify to latest versions

Getting Help​

Reporting Issues​

If problems persist:

  1. Check existing issues: GitHub Issues
  2. Create new issue with:
    • Operating system and version
    • VS Code version
    • Spotify version
    • Error messages (if any)
    • Steps to reproduce

Debug Information​

To help with troubleshooting, include:

  • VS Code version: Help > About
  • Extension version: Check Extensions view
  • Console errors: Help > Toggle Developer Tools > Console
  • System info: OS version and Spotify app version

Community Support​

  • GitHub Discussions for questions
  • VS Code Marketplace reviews for feedback
  • Issue tracking for bugs and feature requests