Now Playing IRL
by maxlananass
Now Playing IRL lets Minecraft show the music that is playing in real life on a desktop, from Spotify, VLC or iTunes and Apple Music.
What it does
Once the mod is set up, the track currently playing in a supported desktop application appears inside the game. Spotify desktop, VLC Media Player and iTunes with Apple Music are the sources named by the author. Playback is read from those programs, so the music itself keeps playing where it already plays.
The mod needs Fabric API as a required dependency. Mod Menu is optional and, when installed, opens the config menu with the M key. Now Playing IRL is client-side only, so servers do not need it and players join without installing anything. It is published for Fabric alone, across eight release builds, and is released under the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 license, which is not open source.
Source code, an issue tracker and a wiki are linked from the project, so the mod's behavior can be checked and reported by anyone who wants to look.
Key features
Desktop track display
The track playing in a supported desktop app is shown in the game while the mod is active.
Playback source reading
The mod reads playback from the desktop program, so the music keeps playing in the app where it already runs.
Config menu key
With Mod Menu installed, the config menu opens with the M key, where the playback sources can be set.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Optional 1
Use cases
Playing with a music session
A player who listens to music on the desktop can see the current track while building or exploring, without switching windows.
Who it’s for: Players who keep a music app running on their computer while they play Minecraft, and who want the current track visible in the game.
How it compares
MusicPlayerMod is Fabric only, covers the same range of game versions, is client-side only and is released under All rights reserved, so it is not open source. MusicCraft is Fabric only, built for 1.21.11 alone, client-side only and All rights reserved. System Music Notification Toast runs on Fabric and NeoForge for 1.21.11 – 26.2, is client-side only and is open source under the MIT License.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Now Playing IRL | Fabric | 1.21.4 – 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2026-04-28 |
| MusicPlayerMod | Fabric | 1.21.4 – 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2026-06-14 |
| MusicCraft | Fabric | 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2026-07-24 |
| System Music Notification Toast | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.21.11 – 26.2 | Client-side only | 2026-06-22 |
Questions
Does Now Playing IRL need Fabric API?
Does the server need Now Playing IRL?
Which game versions does Now Playing IRL support?
Does Now Playing IRL work with Mod Menu?
In the catalog
Now Playing IRL is one of 5,392 Social mods on ModsFinder, and one of 4,084 Social mods for Fabric. 19,862 mods support Minecraft 1.21.11.
More from maxlananass
Similar mods
What the author says
Now Playing IRL displays the music you're currently listening to on your PC directly in Minecraft! Supports Spotify, YouTube, VLC, iTunes, foobar2000, and many more players. Open the config menu with M or through Mod Menu.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/now-playing-irl
- Owner
- maxlananass
- Published
- 2025-12-13
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-04-28
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15