API rate limits

Woofer loads library and catalogue data through Spotify's Web API, which is rate-limited per app. By default, Woofer shares a public app with several other open-source players. When that app reaches its limit, requests are delayed and the top bar shows a spinner.

An app of your own gives supported requests a separate Development Mode quota. Woofer cannot ship one for everyone, but making yours is free and takes a few minutes.

Shared coverage stays active

Spotify keeps a personal app in Development Mode, and since February 2026 that mode omits Spotify-owned playlists and reads playlist items only for playlists you own or collaborate on. Artist top tracks, related artists, recommendations, and some catalog fields are unavailable too. Woofer uses the shared app for the complete playlist library, playlist-bearing search, external playlist metadata and items, and those unavailable operations. Your app accelerates supported work without replacing shared coverage.

Make a Spotify app

1. Open the Spotify developer dashboard and sign in with your Spotify account. Spotify asks that it be a Premium account.

2. Click Create app. Any name and description will do; nobody else sees them.

3. Under Redirect URIs, add exactly:

   http://127.0.0.1:8989/login

4. Tick Web API, accept the terms, and save.

5. The app's page shows its Client ID. Copy it.

Use it in Woofer

1. Open Settings, find Make it even faster, and paste the Client ID.
2. Click Authorize. Your browser opens Spotify's sign-in for your app. Woofer verifies that it belongs to the same Spotify account, then shows Personal acceleration is ready.

That is all. Playing music on this computer is unaffected. Select Remove to delete only the personal grant; the shared session stays signed in.