Installation
System requirements, how to install SimpMusic on Android and Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), and how updates work.
SimpMusic runs on Android and Desktop. Check the requirements, then pick your platform below.
System requirements
| Platform | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Android | Android 8.0 (Oreo, API 26) or newer — includes Android Auto |
| Windows | Windows 10 or newer, 64-bit |
| macOS | macOS 11 (Big Sur) or newer — Apple Silicon and Intel |
| Linux | A modern distribution able to run AppImages |
Plan for roughly 150 MB of free disk space, plus whatever you cache or download for offline playback. An internet connection is required for streaming.
You can install SimpMusic from any of these sources:
- IzzyOnDroid — apt.izzysoft.de
- F-Droid — f-droid.org
- OpenAPK — openapk.net
- GitHub Releases (direct APK) — github.com/maxrave-dev/SimpMusic/releases
Choosing the right APK
GitHub releases ship several APKs, split by CPU architecture and build flavour:
| APK | For |
|---|---|
arm64-v8a (recommended) | 64-bit ARM — virtually every modern Android phone (most devices since 2017) |
armeabi-v7a | 32-bit ARM — older or low-end phones, typically from before 2017 |
x86_64 | 64-bit Intel/AMD — Android emulators, ChromeOS, a few Intel tablets |
universal | Bundles every architecture — largest file, choose only if you're unsure |
Each architecture comes in two flavours: full (every feature — the right choice for
most people) and foss (all proprietary dependencies stripped; this is what F-Droid
distributes). See FOSS vs Full version.
Not sure about your CPU?
Check Settings → About phone on your device, or use a hardware-info app and look at the
Instruction Sets field. When in doubt, arm64-v8a is almost always right.
Open one of the sources above on your Android device.
Download the latest release (the APK, or add the repo in your F-Droid client).
If prompted, allow installs from this source in your system settings.
Open SimpMusic and start listening.
"Harmful file" warning?
Because SimpMusic isn't distributed through the Play Store, Android may flag the APK as unknown. That's a false positive — the app is built from the open-source code on GitHub, and every release page publishes SHA256 checksums you can verify your download against.
Stable vs Nightly
- Stable builds are tagged releases that get manual testing before being published to GitHub Releases, and they sync to F-Droid and IzzyOnDroid. Recommended for everyday use.
- Nightly builds are produced automatically by GitHub Actions from the latest commit, so they always carry the newest changes — along with possible bugs and unfinished translations. Great for testers and contributors — grab one from simpmusic.org/nightly-download.
Updating
SimpMusic checks for a new version on launch and notifies you when one is available. There are no silent background updates — you download and install the new build yourself. Two settings under Settings → About us control this:
- Automatic check for update — on by default.
- Update channel — SimpMusic GitHub Release (default) or F-Droid. If you installed from F-Droid, switch to the F-Droid channel so update checks match that repo's builds.
See the Settings Reference for details.
