ncmpcpp(1)
ncmpcpp is a featureful ncurses-based client for Music Player Daemon (MPD) with a playlist browser and search capabilities.
Synopsis
ncmpcpp [OPTION]... [DIRECTORY]Description
ncmpcpp (ncurses Music Player Client Plus Plus) is a terminal-based client for controlling MPD (Music Player Daemon) over the network. It provides a full-featured interface for browsing your music library, managing playlists, and controlling playback with visual feedback including a spectrum analyzer and album art display.
The client connects to an MPD instance (usually via localhost:6600) and allows you to search, filter, and queue songs with keyboard shortcuts. ncmpcpp stores configuration in ~/.config/ncmpcpp/config and supports customizable key bindings and themes.
Common options
| Flag | What it does |
|---|---|
-h, --host | Specify the host running MPD (default: localhost) |
-p, --port | Specify the port MPD is listening on (default: 6600) |
-P, --password | Password for MPD authentication |
-q, --quiet | Suppress error messages and other non-essential output |
-s, --screen | Start with a specific screen (e.g., 'playlist', 'browser', 'search') |
-?, --help | Display help message and exit |
-v, --version | Show version information and exit |
Examples
Start ncmpcpp and connect to MPD on localhost:6600 with default configuration
ncmpcppConnect to MPD running on a remote host 'music.example.com' on port 6600
ncmpcpp -h music.example.com -p 6600Connect to MPD on a specific IP address with password authentication
ncmpcpp -P mypassword -h 192.168.1.100Start ncmpcpp directly in the file browser view instead of the default playlist view
ncmpcpp -s browserStart ncmpcpp and browse music files in the specified directory
ncmpcpp /music/folderConfigure default MPD host in config file and start ncmpcpp
echo 'host = 192.168.1.50' > ~/.config/ncmpcpp/config && ncmpcpp