Fix iOS stream repository injection

Co-authored-by: Copilot App <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/core/audioplayer/DeviceAudioPlayerQueue.kt

@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@
 package org.spotube.spotube.core.audioplayer
 
 import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.StreamProtocol
+import org.spotube.spotube.PlatformType
+import org.spotube.spotube.getPlatform
 import org.spotube.spotube.core.di.injectLogger
+import org.spotube.spotube.core.server.StreamingUrlRepository
 import org.spotube.spotube.modules.blacklist.BlacklistRepository
 import org.spotube.spotube.modules.library.local_tracks.media.LocalMediaCacheRepository
 import org.spotube.spotube.modules.plugin.PluginProvider
@@ -51,6 +54,7 @@ class DeviceAudioPlayerQueue(
     private val blacklistRepository: BlacklistRepository) : AudioPlayerQueue, KoinComponent {
 
     private val logger by injectLogger<DeviceAudioPlayerQueue>()
+    private val streamingUrlRepository = get<StreamingUrlRepository>()
 
     private val scope = CoroutineScope(Dispatchers.IO + SupervisorJob())
 
@@ -515,7 +519,25 @@ class DeviceAudioPlayerQueue(
     private suspend fun QueueEntry.toMediaItem(): MediaItem? {
         return when (this) {
             is QueueEntry.StreamingTrack -> {
-                val resolvedUrl = url.ifBlank { buildStreamingUrl(track.id, protocol) }
+                val isIos = getPlatform().type == PlatformType.IOS
+                val requiresIosResolution = isIos && (
+                    url.isBlank() ||
+                        url.startsWith("http://127.0.0.1") ||
+                        url.startsWith("https://127.0.0.1") ||
+                        url.startsWith("http://[::1]") ||
+                        url.startsWith("https://[::1]") ||
+                        url.startsWith("http://localhost") ||
+                        url.startsWith("https://localhost"))
+                val resolvedStream = if (requiresIosResolution) {
+                    streamingUrlRepository.resolveStreamInfo(track)
+                } else {
+                    null
+                }
+                val resolvedUrl = if (requiresIosResolution) {
+                    resolvedStream?.url ?: buildStreamingUrl(track.id, protocol)
+                } else {
+                    url.ifBlank { buildStreamingUrl(track.id, protocol) }
+                }
                 if (resolvedUrl.isBlank()) return null
                 MediaItem(
                     title = track.title,
@@ -524,7 +546,7 @@ class DeviceAudioPlayerQueue(
                     duration = track.durationMs.milliseconds,
                     coverURL = artworkUrl.orEmpty(),
                     url = resolvedUrl,
-                    protocol = protocol)
+                    protocol = resolvedStream?.protocol ?: protocol)
             }
 
             is QueueEntry.LocalTrack -> {

composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/core/server/StreamingUrlRepository.kt

@@ -23,11 +23,9 @@ import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.AudioQuality
 import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.AudioStream
 import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.StreamProtocol
 import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.metadata.track.MetadataTrack
-import org.spotube.spotube.PlatformType
 import org.spotube.spotube.core.audioplayer.AudioPlayerQueue
 import org.spotube.spotube.core.audioplayer.QueueEntry
 import org.spotube.spotube.core.di.injectLogger
-import org.spotube.spotube.getPlatform
 import org.spotube.spotube.modules.plugin.AudioPluginSource
 import org.spotube.spotube.modules.settings.UserSettingsSource
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filterNotNull
@@ -80,8 +78,7 @@ class StreamingUrlRepository(
     private val audioPlayerQueue: AudioPlayerQueue,
     private val matchedTracksRepository: TrackSourceRepository,
     private val settingsRepository: UserSettingsSource,
-    private val streamUrlCacheTtlMs: Long = 30.seconds.inWholeMilliseconds,
-    private val platform: PlatformType = currentPlatform) : KoinComponent {
+    private val streamUrlCacheTtlMs: Long = 30.seconds.inWholeMilliseconds) : KoinComponent {
 
     private val logger by injectLogger<StreamingUrlRepository>()
     private val streamUrlCacheMutex = Mutex()
@@ -146,7 +143,7 @@ class StreamingUrlRepository(
             } else {
                 stream.streams
             }
-            return selectPreferredAudioStream(candidates, preferredFormat, preferredQuality, platform)
+            return selectPreferredAudioStream(candidates, preferredFormat, preferredQuality)
                 .also { logSelection(trackId, origin, candidates, preferredFormat, preferredQuality, it) }
         }
 
@@ -256,12 +253,11 @@ class StreamingUrlRepository(
         logger.i {
             "[Resolve $trackId] selecting from ${streams.size} candidates ($origin), " +
                 "want ${preferredFormat.codec}/${preferredFormat.container} $preferredQuality " +
-                "(rank key = unplayable, formatMismatch, qualityTypeMismatch, qualityDistance, channelDistance; " +
+                "(rank key = formatMismatch, qualityTypeMismatch, qualityDistance, channelDistance; " +
                 "lowest wins):\n" +
                 streams.joinToString("\n") { stream ->
                     val marker = if (stream === selected) "  -> " else "     "
-                    "$marker${stream.describeForLog()} key=(${if (stream.isPlayableOn(platform)) 0 else 1}, " +
-                        "${formatMismatchCount(stream, preferredFormat)}, " +
+                    "$marker${stream.describeForLog()} key=(${formatMismatchCount(stream, preferredFormat)}, " +
                         "${if (stream.matchesQualityType(preferredQuality)) 0 else 1}, " +
                         "${stream.qualityDistance(preferredQuality).let { if (it == Long.MAX_VALUE) "inf" else "$it" }}, " +
                         "${stream.channelDistance(preferredQuality)}) ${urlSummary(stream.url)}"
@@ -269,10 +265,6 @@ class StreamingUrlRepository(
         }
         when {
             selected == null -> logger.w { "[Resolve $trackId] no stream selected" }
-            !selected.isPlayableOn(platform) -> logger.w {
-                "[Resolve $trackId] NO PLAYABLE STREAM on $platform; falling back to " +
-                    "${selected.describeForLog()}, which the player will likely reject"
-            }
             formatMismatchCount(selected, preferredFormat) > 0 -> logger.w {
                 "[Resolve $trackId] FORMAT FALLBACK: wanted ${preferredFormat.codec}/${preferredFormat.container}, " +
                     "got ${selected.codec}/${selected.container} (${selected.protocol})"
@@ -400,21 +392,16 @@ internal fun normalizeManifestUrl(url: String, protocol: StreamProtocol): String
     }
 }
 
-internal val currentPlatform: PlatformType by lazy { getPlatform().type }
-
 /**
- * Selects the available stream closest to the user's preferred format and quality.
- * Streams the [platform]'s player can decode always win over ones it can't, whatever the
- * preferences say: e.g. opus/webm is unplayable on iOS.
+ * Selects the available stream closest to the user's preferred format and quality. Every
+ * platform's player (ExoPlayer on Android, VLC elsewhere including iOS) can play any container,
+ * codec and protocol plugins return, so nothing is ruled out up front.
  */
 internal fun selectPreferredAudioStream(
     streams: List<AudioStream>,
     preferredFormat: AudioFormat,
-    preferredQuality: AudioQuality,
-    platform: PlatformType = currentPlatform): AudioStream? = streams.minWithOrNull(
+    preferredQuality: AudioQuality): AudioStream? = streams.minWithOrNull(
     compareBy<AudioStream> { stream ->
-        if (stream.isPlayableOn(platform)) 0 else 1
-    }.thenBy { stream ->
         formatMismatchCount(stream, preferredFormat)
     }.thenBy { stream ->
         if (stream.matchesQualityType(preferredQuality)) 0 else 1
@@ -425,25 +412,6 @@ internal fun selectPreferredAudioStream(
     }
 )
 
-private val MATROSKA_CONTAINERS = setOf("webm", "mkv", "matroska")
-
-// Containers a platform's player can't open, so e.g. YouTube's opus/webm streams fail to load there.
-private val UNSUPPORTED_CONTAINERS: Map<PlatformType, Set<String>> = mapOf(
-    // AVPlayer has no WebM/Ogg/Matroska demuxer.
-    PlatformType.IOS to MATROSKA_CONTAINERS + setOf("ogg", "oga"))
-
-/**
- * Whether [platform]'s player can play this stream. ExoPlayer (Android) and VLC elsewhere handle
- * everything plugins return; AVPlayer (iOS) can't demux WebM/Ogg and can't play DASH.
- */
-internal fun AudioStream.isPlayableOn(platform: PlatformType): Boolean =
-    isContainerPlayableOn(container, platform) &&
-        !(platform == PlatformType.IOS && protocol == StreamProtocol.DASH)
-
-/** Whether [platform]'s player can open [container] at all; see [AudioStream.isPlayableOn]. */
-internal fun isContainerPlayableOn(container: String, platform: PlatformType): Boolean =
-    container.lowercase() !in UNSUPPORTED_CONTAINERS[platform].orEmpty()
-
 private fun formatMismatchCount(stream: AudioStream, preferredFormat: AudioFormat): Int =
     (if (stream.codec.equals(preferredFormat.codec, ignoreCase = true)) 0 else 1) +
         (if (stream.container.equals(preferredFormat.container, ignoreCase = true)) 0 else 1)

composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/modules/settings/SettingsModels.kt

@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@
 
 package org.spotube.spotube.modules.settings
 
-import org.spotube.spotube.core.server.isContainerPlayableOn
-import org.spotube.spotube.core.server.currentPlatform
-import org.spotube.spotube.PlatformType
 import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.AudioFormat
 import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.AudioQuality
 import kotlinx.serialization.SerialName
@@ -101,23 +98,12 @@ const val DEFAULT_JAM_SERVER_URL = "https://spotube-jam.workers.dev"
 internal fun isJamServerUrl(url: String): Boolean =
     Regex("^(https?|wss?)://[^\\s/?#]+(/\\S*)?$", RegexOption.IGNORE_CASE).matches(url.trim())
 
-/**
- * opus/webm wherever the platform's player can open WebM; iOS (AVPlayer) can't, so it streams AAC.
- * TODO: revisit once iOS can play Opus (e.g. remuxing to CAF or a non-AVPlayer backend).
- */
-internal fun defaultStreamingMusicFormat(platform: PlatformType = currentPlatform): AudioFormat {
-    val aac = !isContainerPlayableOn("webm", platform)
-    return AudioFormat(
-        codec = if (aac) "aac" else "opus",
-        container = if (aac) "mp4" else "webm",
+/** opus/webm on every platform: all of their players (ExoPlayer, VLC) can play it. */
+internal fun defaultStreamingMusicFormat(): AudioFormat = AudioFormat(
+    codec = "opus",
+    container = "webm",
     qualities = listOf(
         AudioQuality.Lossy(bitrate = 44_000),
         AudioQuality.Lossy(bitrate = 96_000),
         AudioQuality.Lossy(bitrate = 128_000),
         AudioQuality.Lossy(bitrate = 256_000)))
-}
-
-/** Moves settings saved with a streaming format [platform] can't play (iOS' old opus/webm default) to the default. */
-internal fun UserSettings.withPlayableStreamingFormat(platform: PlatformType = currentPlatform): UserSettings =
-    if (isContainerPlayableOn(streamingMusicFormat.container, platform)) this
-    else copy(streamingMusicFormat = defaultStreamingMusicFormat(platform))

composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/modules/settings/SettingsRepository.kt

@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class SettingsRepository(private val database: Database) : UserSettingsStore {
     override val userSettings: StateFlow<UserSettings> = database.settingsDataStore.data.map { prefs ->
         val json = prefs[SETTINGS_KEY]
         if (json != null) {
-            settingsJson.decodeFromString<UserSettings>(json as String).withPlayableStreamingFormat()
+            settingsJson.decodeFromString<UserSettings>(json as String)
         } else {
             UserSettings() // Default value
         }
@@ -78,6 +78,6 @@ class SettingsRepository(private val database: Database) : UserSettingsStore {
     suspend fun getCurrentSettings(): UserSettings {
         val preferences = database.settingsDataStore.data.first()
         val storedJson = preferences[SETTINGS_KEY] ?: return UserSettings()
-        return settingsJson.decodeFromString<UserSettings>(storedJson).withPlayableStreamingFormat()
+        return settingsJson.decodeFromString<UserSettings>(storedJson)
     }
 }

composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/modules/settings/sections/utils.kt

@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@
 package org.spotube.spotube.modules.settings.sections
 
 
-import org.spotube.spotube.core.server.isContainerPlayableOn
-import org.spotube.spotube.core.server.currentPlatform
 import org.spotube.millennium.composables.MillenniumIcon
 import org.spotube.millennium.composables.MillenniumSeparator
 import org.spotube.millennium.theme.MillenniumTheme
@@ -58,7 +56,6 @@ private val standardLossyQualities = listOf(
     AudioQuality.Lossy(bitrate = 128_000),
     AudioQuality.Lossy(bitrate = 256_000))
 
-// Formats the platform's player can't open aren't offered (iOS: no WebM/Ogg).
 internal val streamingFormatPresets = listOf(
     AudioFormat(
         codec = "opus",
@@ -72,7 +69,7 @@ internal val streamingFormatPresets = listOf(
         codec = "vorbis",
         container = "ogg",
         qualities = standardLossyQualities)
-).filter { isContainerPlayableOn(it.container, currentPlatform) }
+)
 
 internal val downloadFormatPresets = listOf(
     AudioFormat(

composeApp/src/commonTest/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/core/server/StreamingUrlRepositoryBehaviorTest.kt

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.AudioSource
 import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.AudioStream
 import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.StreamProtocol
 import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.metadata.track.MetadataTrack
-import org.spotube.spotube.PlatformType
 import org.spotube.spotube.core.audioplayer.QueueEntry
 import org.spotube.spotube.modules.settings.UserSettings
 import co.touchlab.kermit.Logger
@@ -100,9 +99,7 @@ class StreamingUrlRepositoryBehaviorTest {
             audioPlayerQueue = queue,
             matchedTracksRepository = matchedTracksRepository,
             settingsRepository = settings,
-            streamUrlCacheTtlMs = cacheTtlMs,
-            // Not the host's platform: Windows and iOS don't prefer opus/webm
-            platform = PlatformType.Linux)
+            streamUrlCacheTtlMs = cacheTtlMs)
 
         fun selectPlugin(pluginId: String, audioAPI: FakeAudioAPI = FakeAudioAPI()): FakeAudioPluginService {
             val service = FakeAudioPluginService(pluginId, audioAPI)

composeApp/src/commonTest/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/core/server/StreamingUrlRepositoryTest.kt

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package org.spotube.spotube.core.server
 
-import org.spotube.spotube.PlatformType
 import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.AudioFormat
 import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.AudioQuality
 import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.AudioStream
@@ -14,7 +13,6 @@ import kotlin.test.assertSame
  * Tests for the stream preference selection used by [StreamingUrlRepository].
  *
  * Ordering contract (best first):
- * 0. Playable by the platform's player (iOS: no WebM/Ogg containers, no DASH).
  * 1. Fewest codec/container mismatches against the preferred format.
  * 2. Matching quality family (lossy vs lossless).
  * 3. Closest bitrate / sample rate.
@@ -56,8 +54,7 @@ class StreamingUrlRepositoryTest {
     private fun select(
         streams: List<AudioStream>,
         format: AudioFormat = opusWebm(),
-        quality: AudioQuality = AudioQuality.Lossy(256_000),
-        platform: PlatformType = PlatformType.Linux) = selectPreferredAudioStream(streams, format, quality, platform)
+        quality: AudioQuality = AudioQuality.Lossy(256_000)) = selectPreferredAudioStream(streams, format, quality)
 
     // ---------- empty / single ----------
 
@@ -407,33 +404,20 @@ class StreamingUrlRepositoryTest {
         assertEquals("https://www.youtube.com", normalizeManifestUrl("", StreamProtocol.HLS))
     }
 
-    // ---------- device playability ----------
+    // ---------- no platform restrictions ----------
 
     @Test
-    fun `on iOS a playable m4a stream beats the preferred but unplayable opus webm`() {
+    fun `the preferred opus webm stream wins over aac`() {
         val opus = lossy("opus-160", 160_000)
         val aac = lossy("aac-128", 128_000, codec = "mp4a.40.2", container = "m4a")
-        assertSame(aac, select(listOf(opus, aac), platform = PlatformType.IOS))
+        assertSame(opus, select(listOf(aac, opus)))
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun `on iOS dash manifests are skipped in favour of progressive streams`() {
-        val dash = lossy("dash", 256_000, codec = "mp4a.40.2", container = "m4a", protocol = StreamProtocol.DASH)
+    fun `a dash manifest closest to the preferences is not skipped`() {
+        val dash = lossy("dash", 256_000, protocol = StreamProtocol.DASH)
         val progressive = lossy("aac-128", 128_000, codec = "mp4a.40.2", container = "m4a")
-        assertSame(progressive, select(listOf(dash, progressive), platform = PlatformType.IOS))
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    fun `on iOS an unplayable stream is still returned when nothing else exists`() {
-        val opus = lossy("opus-160", 160_000)
-        assertSame(opus, select(listOf(opus), platform = PlatformType.IOS))
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    fun `off iOS the preferred opus webm stream still wins`() {
-        val opus = lossy("opus-160", 160_000)
-        val aac = lossy("aac-128", 128_000, codec = "mp4a.40.2", container = "m4a")
-        assertSame(opus, select(listOf(opus, aac), platform = PlatformType.Android))
+        assertSame(dash, select(listOf(progressive, dash)))
     }
 
 }

composeApp/src/commonTest/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/modules/settings/StreamingFormatDefaultsTest.kt

@@ -17,39 +17,19 @@
 
 package org.spotube.spotube.modules.settings
 
-import org.spotube.plugin_interfaces.plugin_apis.audio.AudioFormat
-import org.spotube.spotube.PlatformType
 import kotlin.test.Test
 import kotlin.test.assertEquals
-import kotlin.test.assertSame
 
 class StreamingFormatDefaultsTest {
 
-    private val opusWebm = AudioFormat(codec = "opus", container = "webm", qualities = emptyList())
-
     @Test
-    fun `ios defaults to aac in mp4`() {
-        val format = defaultStreamingMusicFormat(PlatformType.IOS)
-        assertEquals("aac" to "mp4", format.codec to format.container)
+    fun `streaming defaults to opus in webm`() {
+        val format = defaultStreamingMusicFormat()
+        assertEquals("opus" to "webm", format.codec to format.container)
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun `other platforms keep opus in webm`() {
-        listOf(PlatformType.Android, PlatformType.Linux, PlatformType.MacOS, PlatformType.Windows).forEach { platform ->
-            val format = defaultStreamingMusicFormat(platform)
-            assertEquals("opus" to "webm", format.codec to format.container, platform.name)
-        }
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    fun `saved opus webm is moved to aac on ios`() {
-        val migrated = UserSettings(streamingMusicFormat = opusWebm).withPlayableStreamingFormat(PlatformType.IOS)
-        assertEquals("mp4", migrated.streamingMusicFormat.container)
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    fun `saved opus webm is kept off ios`() {
-        val settings = UserSettings(streamingMusicFormat = opusWebm)
-        assertSame(settings, settings.withPlayableStreamingFormat(PlatformType.Linux))
+    fun `user settings default to the streaming default`() {
+        assertEquals(defaultStreamingMusicFormat(), UserSettings().streamingMusicFormat)
     }
 }

composeApp/src/iosMain/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/core/audioplayer/AudioPlayer.ios.kt

@@ -15,16 +15,12 @@
  * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-@file:OptIn(ExperimentalForeignApi::class)
-
 package org.spotube.spotube.core.audioplayer
 
-import kotlinx.cinterop.CValue
-import kotlinx.cinterop.ExperimentalForeignApi
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
 import kotlinx.coroutines.SupervisorJob
-import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
+import kotlinx.coroutines.cancel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableSharedFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
@@ -32,41 +28,39 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asSharedFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
-import platform.AVFoundation.AVPlayer
-import platform.AVFoundation.AVPlayerItem
-import platform.AVFoundation.AVPlayerTimeControlStatus
-import platform.AVFoundation.AVPlayerTimeControlStatusPaused
-import platform.AVFoundation.AVPlayerTimeControlStatusPlaying
-import platform.AVFoundation.AVPlayerTimeControlStatusWaitingToPlayAtSpecifiedRate
-import platform.AVFoundation.addPeriodicTimeObserverForInterval
-import platform.AVFoundation.currentItem
-import platform.AVFoundation.duration
-import platform.AVFoundation.loadedTimeRanges
-import platform.AVFoundation.pause
-import platform.AVFoundation.play
-import platform.AVFoundation.rate
-import platform.AVFoundation.replaceCurrentItemWithPlayerItem
-import platform.AVFoundation.seekToTime
-import platform.AVFoundation.timeControlStatus
-import platform.AVFoundation.volume
-import platform.CoreMedia.CMTime
-import platform.CoreMedia.CMTimeGetSeconds
-import platform.Foundation.NSURL
+import kotlinx.coroutines.sync.Mutex
+import kotlinx.coroutines.sync.withLock
 import kotlin.time.Duration
-import kotlin.time.Duration.Companion.seconds
+import kotlin.time.Duration.Companion.milliseconds
 
+/**
+ * iOS player. Playback is done by VLCKit through [NativePlayerEngine]; AVPlayer misreports the
+ * duration of some fragmented MP4 streams (doubling it, which leaves the second half silent).
+ * The engine plays a single URL, so the playlist, loop, shuffle and auto-advance live here.
+ */
 @Suppress("EXPECT_ACTUAL_CLASSIFIERS_ARE_IN_BETA_WARNING")
 actual class AudioPlayer actual constructor(context: Any) : AudioPlayerInterface {
 
     actual val context: Any = context
 
-    private val avPlayer: AVPlayer = AVPlayer()
+    private val engine: NativePlayerEngine = checkNotNull(NativePlayerRegistry.factory) {
+        "NativePlayerRegistry.factory must be set from Swift before the first AudioPlayer is created"
+    }.create()
     private val scope = CoroutineScope(SupervisorJob() + Dispatchers.Default)
+    private val lock = Mutex()
+    private val mediaSession = IosMediaSession()
 
     private var disposed = false
 
+    private val originalPlaylist = mutableListOf<MediaItem>()
     private val currentPlaylist = mutableListOf<MediaItem>()
-    private val urlIndexMap = mutableMapOf<String, Int>()
+    private var currentIndex = -1
+    private var shuffleEnabled = false
+
+    // The engine holds media only after the first play(); until then a requested start position
+    // is kept here and handed over with the media.
+    private var engineHasMedia = false
+    private var pendingStartMs = 0L
 
     private val _playerState = MutableStateFlow(PlayerState.IDLE)
     private val _currentMediaItem = MutableStateFlow<MediaItem?>(null)
@@ -94,97 +88,191 @@ actual class AudioPlayer actual constructor(context: Any) : AudioPlayerInterface
     actual override val completionFlow: Flow<Unit> = _completion.asSharedFlow()
     actual override val errorFlow: Flow<Throwable> = _error.asSharedFlow()
 
-    private var lastTimeControlStatus: AVPlayerTimeControlStatus? = null
+    private val engineListener = object : NativePlayerListener {
+        override fun onState(state: NativePlayerState) {
+            if (disposed) return
+            when (state) {
+                NativePlayerState.IDLE -> _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.IDLE)
+                NativePlayerState.OPENING,
+                NativePlayerState.BUFFERING -> _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.BUFFERING)
+                NativePlayerState.PLAYING -> {
+                    _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.PLAYING)
+                    mediaSession.update(
+                        _currentMediaItem.value,
+                        _position.value.inWholeMilliseconds / 1000.0,
+                        _duration.value.inWholeMilliseconds / 1000.0,
+                        true)
+                }
+                NativePlayerState.PAUSED -> {
+                    _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.PAUSED)
+                    mediaSession.update(
+                        _currentMediaItem.value,
+                        _position.value.inWholeMilliseconds / 1000.0,
+                        _duration.value.inWholeMilliseconds / 1000.0,
+                        false)
+                }
+                NativePlayerState.ENDED -> scope.launch { lock.withLock { onMediaEndedLocked() } }
+            }
+        }
+
+        override fun onTime(positionMs: Long) {
+            if (disposed || positionMs < 0) return
+            _position.tryEmit(positionMs.milliseconds)
+            mediaSession.update(
+                _currentMediaItem.value,
+                positionMs / 1000.0,
+                _duration.value.inWholeMilliseconds / 1000.0,
+                _playerState.value == PlayerState.PLAYING)
+        }
+
+        override fun onDuration(durationMs: Long) {
+            if (disposed || durationMs <= 0) return
+            _duration.tryEmit(durationMs.milliseconds)
+        }
+
+        override fun onBuffered(percent: Float) {
+            if (disposed) return
+            val durationMs = _duration.value.inWholeMilliseconds
+            _bufferingPosition.tryEmit(
+                if (durationMs > 0) (durationMs * (percent.coerceIn(0f, 100f) / 100f)).toLong().milliseconds
+                else Duration.ZERO
+            )
+        }
+
+        override fun onError(message: String) {
+            if (disposed) return
+            _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.IDLE)
+            _error.tryEmit(IllegalStateException("VLC playback error: $message"))
+        }
+    }
 
     init {
-        avPlayer.addPeriodicTimeObserverForInterval(
-            interval = CMTimeMake(1, 4),
-            queue = null
-        ) { time ->
-            if (!disposed) {
-                val seconds = CMTimeGetSeconds(time)
-                _position.tryEmit(seconds.seconds)
-
-                avPlayer.currentItem?.let { item ->
-                    val durationSeconds = CMTimeGetSeconds(item.duration)
-                    if (durationSeconds > 0) {
-                        _duration.tryEmit(durationSeconds.seconds)
-                    }
-                    val loadedRanges = item.loadedTimeRanges
-//                    if (loadedRanges.count() > 0u) {
-//                        val range = loadedRanges.objectAtIndex(0u)
-//                    }
-                }
-            }
+        engine.setListener(engineListener)
+        mediaSession.configure(
+            onPlay = { scope.launch { play() } },
+            onPause = { scope.launch { pause() } },
+            onSeek = { seconds -> scope.launch { seekTo(seconds.milliseconds) } },
+            onNext = { scope.launch { skipToNext() } },
+            onPrevious = { scope.launch { skipToPrevious() } })
     }
 
-        scope.launch {
-            while (!disposed) {
-                syncTimeControlStatus()
-                delay(500)
-            }
-        }
+    /** Loads [currentPlaylist] at [currentIndex] into the engine. Caller holds [lock]. */
+    private fun loadCurrentIntoEngineLocked(autoPlay: Boolean) {
+        val item = currentPlaylist.getOrNull(currentIndex) ?: return
+        val startMs = pendingStartMs
+        pendingStartMs = 0L
+        engineHasMedia = true
+        _position.tryEmit(startMs.milliseconds)
+        _bufferingPosition.tryEmit(Duration.ZERO)
+        _duration.tryEmit(item.duration)
+        engine.load(item.url, autoPlay, startMs)
     }
 
-    private fun syncTimeControlStatus() {
-        val status = avPlayer.timeControlStatus
-        if (status == lastTimeControlStatus) return
-        lastTimeControlStatus = status
-
-        val playerState = when (status) {
-            AVPlayerTimeControlStatusPlaying -> PlayerState.PLAYING
-            AVPlayerTimeControlStatusPaused -> PlayerState.PAUSED
-            AVPlayerTimeControlStatusWaitingToPlayAtSpecifiedRate -> PlayerState.BUFFERING
-            else -> PlayerState.IDLE
-        }
-        _playerState.tryEmit(playerState)
-
-        if (avPlayer.currentItem == null) {
-            _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.IDLE)
-        }
+    /** Switches to [index] and starts it. Caller holds [lock]. */
+    private fun playIndexLocked(index: Int) {
+        currentIndex = index
+        _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(currentPlaylist[index])
+        pendingStartMs = 0L
+        loadCurrentIntoEngineLocked(autoPlay = true)
     }
 
-    private fun resolveState(): PlayerState {
-        return when (avPlayer.timeControlStatus) {
-            AVPlayerTimeControlStatusPlaying -> PlayerState.PLAYING
-            AVPlayerTimeControlStatusPaused -> PlayerState.PAUSED
-            AVPlayerTimeControlStatusWaitingToPlayAtSpecifiedRate -> PlayerState.BUFFERING
-            else -> PlayerState.IDLE
+    private fun onMediaEndedLocked() {
+        if (disposed || currentPlaylist.isEmpty()) return
+        _completion.tryEmit(Unit)
+        when {
+            _loopState.value == LoopState.ONE -> playIndexLocked(currentIndex.coerceAtLeast(0))
+            currentIndex < currentPlaylist.lastIndex -> playIndexLocked(currentIndex + 1)
+            _loopState.value == LoopState.ALL -> playIndexLocked(0)
+            else -> {
+                _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.COMPLETED)
+                engineHasMedia = false
             }
         }
-
-    private fun buildAVPlayerItem(url: String): AVPlayerItem? {
-        val nsUrl = NSURL.URLWithString(url) ?: return null
-        return AVPlayerItem(nsUrl)
     }
 
     actual override suspend fun play() {
-        avPlayer.play()
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed || currentPlaylist.isEmpty()) return
+            mediaSession.activate()
+            if (currentIndex !in currentPlaylist.indices) {
+                currentIndex = 0
+                _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(currentPlaylist[0])
+            }
+            if (engineHasMedia) engine.play() else loadCurrentIntoEngineLocked(autoPlay = true)
+        }
     }
 
     actual override suspend fun pause() {
-        avPlayer.pause()
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed) return
+            engine.pause()
+        }
     }
 
     actual override suspend fun stop() {
-        avPlayer.pause()
-        avPlayer.seekToTime(CMTimeMake(0, 1))
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed) return
+            engine.stop()
+            mediaSession.deactivate()
+            mediaSession.update(
+                _currentMediaItem.value,
+                0.0,
+                _duration.value.inWholeMilliseconds / 1000.0,
+                false)
+            engineHasMedia = false
+            pendingStartMs = 0L
+            _position.tryEmit(Duration.ZERO)
             _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.IDLE)
         }
+    }
 
     actual override suspend fun seekTo(position: Duration) {
-        val seconds = position.inWholeMilliseconds / 1000.0
-        val cmTime = CMTimeMakeWithSeconds(seconds, 1000)
-        avPlayer.seekToTime(cmTime)
-        _position.tryEmit(position)
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed) return
+            val maxMs = _duration.value.inWholeMilliseconds
+            val targetMs = if (maxMs > 0) {
+                position.inWholeMilliseconds.coerceIn(0, maxMs)
+            } else {
+                position.inWholeMilliseconds.coerceAtLeast(0)
+            }
+            if (engineHasMedia) engine.seekTo(targetMs) else pendingStartMs = targetMs
+            _position.tryEmit(targetMs.milliseconds)
+        }
     }
 
     actual override suspend fun loop(state: LoopState) {
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed) return
             _loopState.tryEmit(state)
         }
+    }
 
     actual override suspend fun shuffle(enabled: Boolean) {
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed || currentPlaylist.isEmpty() || shuffleEnabled == enabled) return
+
+            val currentItem = _currentMediaItem.value
+            val rebuilt = if (enabled) {
+                if (currentItem != null) {
+                    listOf(currentItem) + originalPlaylist.filterNot { it.url == currentItem.url }.shuffled()
+                } else {
+                    originalPlaylist.shuffled()
+                }
+            } else {
+                originalPlaylist.toList()
+            }
+
+            currentPlaylist.clear()
+            currentPlaylist.addAll(rebuilt)
+            shuffleEnabled = enabled
             _shuffleMode.tryEmit(enabled)
+            _playlist.tryEmit(currentPlaylist.toList())
+
+            currentIndex = if (currentItem == null) 0 else {
+                currentPlaylist.indexOfFirst { it.url == currentItem.url }.takeIf { it >= 0 } ?: 0
+            }
+            _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(currentPlaylist.getOrNull(currentIndex))
+        }
     }
 
     actual override suspend fun load(
@@ -192,143 +280,186 @@ actual class AudioPlayer actual constructor(context: Any) : AudioPlayerInterface
         autoPlay: Boolean,
         startPosition: Int
     ) {
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed) return
+
+            originalPlaylist.clear()
+            originalPlaylist.addAll(playlist)
             currentPlaylist.clear()
             currentPlaylist.addAll(playlist)
-        urlIndexMap.clear()
-        playlist.forEachIndexed { index, item ->
-            urlIndexMap[item.url] = index
-        }
+            shuffleEnabled = false
+            _shuffleMode.tryEmit(false)
             _playlist.tryEmit(currentPlaylist.toList())
 
-        if (playlist.isEmpty()) {
-            _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.IDLE)
-            _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(null)
+            engine.stop()
+            engineHasMedia = false
+            pendingStartMs = 0L
             _position.tryEmit(Duration.ZERO)
+            _bufferingPosition.tryEmit(Duration.ZERO)
+
+            if (currentPlaylist.isEmpty()) {
+                currentIndex = -1
+                _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(null)
+                _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.IDLE)
                 _duration.tryEmit(Duration.ZERO)
                 return
             }
 
-        val safeIndex = startPosition.coerceIn(0, playlist.lastIndex)
-        val item = playlist[safeIndex]
-        val avItem = buildAVPlayerItem(item.url)
-
-        if (avItem == null) {
-            _error.tryEmit(IllegalArgumentException("Invalid URL: ${item.url}"))
-            _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.IDLE)
-            return
-        }
-
-        avPlayer.replaceCurrentItemWithPlayerItem(avItem)
-        _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(item)
+            currentIndex = startPosition.coerceIn(0, currentPlaylist.lastIndex)
+            _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(currentPlaylist[currentIndex])
+            _duration.tryEmit(currentPlaylist[currentIndex].duration)
+            mediaSession.update(
+                _currentMediaItem.value,
+                0.0,
+                _duration.value.inWholeMilliseconds / 1000.0,
+                false)
 
             if (autoPlay) {
-            avPlayer.play()
+                loadCurrentIntoEngineLocked(autoPlay = true)
+            } else {
+                _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.PAUSED)
+            }
         }
     }
 
     actual override suspend fun addMediaItem(mediaItem: MediaItem) {
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed) return
+            originalPlaylist.add(mediaItem)
             currentPlaylist.add(mediaItem)
-        urlIndexMap[mediaItem.url] = currentPlaylist.lastIndex
             _playlist.tryEmit(currentPlaylist.toList())
+            if (currentIndex == -1) {
+                currentIndex = 0
+                _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(currentPlaylist.firstOrNull())
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     actual override suspend fun insertMediaItemAtNextIndex(mediaItem: MediaItem) {
-        val currentIndex = currentPlaylist.indexOfFirst {
-            it.url == _currentMediaItem.value?.url
-        }
-        val insertIndex = if (currentIndex >= 0) currentIndex + 1 else currentPlaylist.size
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed) return
+            val insertIndex = if (currentIndex >= 0) currentIndex + 1 else 0
+            originalPlaylist.add(insertIndex.coerceAtMost(originalPlaylist.size), mediaItem)
             currentPlaylist.add(insertIndex, mediaItem)
-        urlIndexMap.clear()
-        currentPlaylist.forEachIndexed { index, item ->
-            urlIndexMap[item.url] = index
-        }
             _playlist.tryEmit(currentPlaylist.toList())
+            if (currentIndex == -1) {
+                currentIndex = 0
+                _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(currentPlaylist.firstOrNull())
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     actual override suspend fun removeMediaItem(mediaItem: MediaItem) {
-        val index = urlIndexMap[mediaItem.url] ?: return
-        currentPlaylist.removeAt(index)
-        urlIndexMap.clear()
-        currentPlaylist.forEachIndexed { i, item ->
-            urlIndexMap[item.url] = i
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed || currentPlaylist.isEmpty()) return
+
+            originalPlaylist.removeAll { it.url == mediaItem.url }
+            val currentUrl = _currentMediaItem.value?.url
+            val removedCurrent = currentUrl == mediaItem.url
+            val removalIndices = currentPlaylist.withIndex()
+                .filter { it.value.url == mediaItem.url }
+                .map { it.index }
+            if (removalIndices.isEmpty()) return
+
+            // Items before the playing one shift it down, so keep the index on the same item.
+            val removedBefore = removalIndices.count { it < currentIndex }
+            removalIndices.asReversed().forEach { currentPlaylist.removeAt(it) }
+
+            if (currentPlaylist.isEmpty()) {
+                currentIndex = -1
+                _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(null)
+                engine.stop()
+                engineHasMedia = false
+                _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.IDLE)
+            } else if (removedCurrent) {
+                currentIndex = currentIndex.coerceIn(0, currentPlaylist.lastIndex)
+                _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(currentPlaylist[currentIndex])
+                engine.stop()
+                engineHasMedia = false
+            } else {
+                currentIndex = (currentIndex - removedBefore).coerceIn(0, currentPlaylist.lastIndex)
             }
+
             _playlist.tryEmit(currentPlaylist.toList())
         }
+    }
 
     actual override suspend fun moveMediaItem(fromIndex: Int, toIndex: Int) {
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed) return
             if (fromIndex !in currentPlaylist.indices || toIndex !in currentPlaylist.indices || fromIndex == toIndex) return
+
             val item = currentPlaylist.removeAt(fromIndex)
             currentPlaylist.add(toIndex, item)
-        urlIndexMap.clear()
-        currentPlaylist.forEachIndexed { i, it ->
-            urlIndexMap[it.url] = i
+
+            if (!shuffleEnabled && fromIndex in originalPlaylist.indices && toIndex in originalPlaylist.indices) {
+                originalPlaylist.add(toIndex, originalPlaylist.removeAt(fromIndex))
             }
+
+            val currentUrl = _currentMediaItem.value?.url
+            currentIndex = currentUrl?.let { url ->
+                currentPlaylist.indexOfFirst { it.url == url }.takeIf { it >= 0 }
+            } ?: currentIndex.coerceIn(0, currentPlaylist.lastIndex)
+
             _playlist.tryEmit(currentPlaylist.toList())
+            _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(currentPlaylist.getOrNull(currentIndex))
+        }
     }
 
     actual override suspend fun skipToNext() {
-        val currentIndex = currentPlaylist.indexOfFirst {
-            it.url == _currentMediaItem.value?.url
-        }
-        val nextIndex = currentIndex + 1
-        if (nextIndex < currentPlaylist.size) {
-            val nextItem = currentPlaylist[nextIndex]
-            val avItem = buildAVPlayerItem(nextItem.url)
-            if (avItem != null) {
-                avPlayer.replaceCurrentItemWithPlayerItem(avItem)
-                _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(nextItem)
-                avPlayer.play()
-            }
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed || currentPlaylist.isEmpty()) return
+            playIndexLocked((currentIndex + 1).coerceAtMost(currentPlaylist.lastIndex))
         }
     }
 
     actual override suspend fun skipToPrevious() {
-        val currentIndex = currentPlaylist.indexOfFirst {
-            it.url == _currentMediaItem.value?.url
-        }
-        val prevIndex = currentIndex - 1
-        if (prevIndex >= 0) {
-            val prevItem = currentPlaylist[prevIndex]
-            val avItem = buildAVPlayerItem(prevItem.url)
-            if (avItem != null) {
-                avPlayer.replaceCurrentItemWithPlayerItem(avItem)
-                _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(prevItem)
-                avPlayer.play()
-            }
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed || currentPlaylist.isEmpty()) return
+            playIndexLocked((currentIndex - 1).coerceAtLeast(0))
         }
     }
 
     actual override suspend fun jumpTo(index: Int) {
-        if (index in currentPlaylist.indices) {
-            val item = currentPlaylist[index]
-            val avItem = buildAVPlayerItem(item.url)
-            if (avItem != null) {
-                avPlayer.replaceCurrentItemWithPlayerItem(avItem)
-                _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(item)
-            }
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed || index !in currentPlaylist.indices) return
+            playIndexLocked(index)
         }
     }
 
     actual override suspend fun setVolume(volume: Float) {
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed) return
             val clamped = volume.coerceIn(0f, 1f)
-        avPlayer.volume = clamped
+            engine.setVolume(clamped)
             _volume.tryEmit(clamped)
         }
+    }
 
     actual override suspend fun setPlaybackSpeed(speed: Float) {
+        lock.withLock {
+            if (disposed) return
             val clamped = speed.coerceIn(0.25f, 4f)
-        avPlayer.rate = clamped
+            engine.setRate(clamped)
             _playbackSpeed.tryEmit(clamped)
         }
+    }
 
     actual override fun isDisposed(): Boolean = disposed
 
     actual override fun dispose() {
+        if (disposed) return
         disposed = true
-        avPlayer.pause()
-        avPlayer.replaceCurrentItemWithPlayerItem(null)
+        engine.setListener(null)
+        engine.destroy()
+        mediaSession.deactivate()
+        mediaSession.clear()
+        scope.cancel()
+
+        originalPlaylist.clear()
         currentPlaylist.clear()
-        urlIndexMap.clear()
+        currentIndex = -1
+        engineHasMedia = false
 
         _playerState.tryEmit(PlayerState.IDLE)
         _currentMediaItem.tryEmit(null)
@@ -338,11 +469,3 @@ actual class AudioPlayer actual constructor(context: Any) : AudioPlayerInterface
         _bufferingPosition.tryEmit(Duration.ZERO)
     }
 }
-
-private fun CMTimeMake(value: Long, timescale: Int): CValue<CMTime> {
-    return platform.CoreMedia.CMTimeMake(value, timescale)
-}
-
-private fun CMTimeMakeWithSeconds(seconds: Double, preferredTimescale: Int): CValue<CMTime> {
-    return platform.CoreMedia.CMTimeMakeWithSeconds(seconds, preferredTimescale)
-}

composeApp/src/iosMain/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/core/audioplayer/IosMediaSession.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2026 Kingkor Roy Tirtho and Spotube Contributors
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+@file:OptIn(ExperimentalForeignApi::class)
+
+package org.spotube.spotube.core.audioplayer
+
+import kotlinx.cinterop.ExperimentalForeignApi
+import platform.AVFAudio.AVAudioSession
+import platform.AVFAudio.AVAudioSessionCategoryPlayback
+import platform.AVFAudio.AVAudioSessionModeDefault
+import platform.AVFAudio.setActive
+import platform.Foundation.NSNotificationCenter
+import platform.Foundation.NSNumber
+import platform.Foundation.NSOperationQueue
+import platform.MediaPlayer.MPChangePlaybackPositionCommandEvent
+import platform.MediaPlayer.MPMediaItemPropertyAlbumTitle
+import platform.MediaPlayer.MPMediaItemPropertyArtist
+import platform.MediaPlayer.MPMediaItemPropertyPlaybackDuration
+import platform.MediaPlayer.MPMediaItemPropertyTitle
+import platform.MediaPlayer.MPNowPlayingInfoCenter
+import platform.MediaPlayer.MPNowPlayingInfoPropertyElapsedPlaybackTime
+import platform.MediaPlayer.MPNowPlayingInfoPropertyPlaybackRate
+import platform.MediaPlayer.MPRemoteCommand
+import platform.MediaPlayer.MPRemoteCommandCenter
+import platform.MediaPlayer.MPRemoteCommandHandlerStatusCommandFailed
+import platform.MediaPlayer.MPRemoteCommandHandlerStatusSuccess
+
+internal class IosMediaSession {
+    private val audioSession = AVAudioSession.sharedInstance()
+    private val nowPlayingInfoCenter = MPNowPlayingInfoCenter.defaultCenter()
+    private val remoteCommandCenter = MPRemoteCommandCenter.sharedCommandCenter()
+
+    private var configured = false
+    private val notificationCenter = NSNotificationCenter.defaultCenter()
+    private val notificationTokens = mutableListOf<Any>()
+    private val remoteCommandTokens = mutableListOf<Pair<MPRemoteCommand, Any>>()
+    private var onPlay: (() -> Unit)? = null
+    private var onPause: (() -> Unit)? = null
+    private var onSeek: ((Double) -> Unit)? = null
+    private var onNext: (() -> Unit)? = null
+    private var onPrevious: (() -> Unit)? = null
+
+    fun configure(
+        onPlay: () -> Unit,
+        onPause: () -> Unit,
+        onSeek: (Double) -> Unit,
+        onNext: () -> Unit,
+        onPrevious: () -> Unit
+    ) {
+        this.onPlay = onPlay
+        this.onPause = onPause
+        this.onSeek = onSeek
+        this.onNext = onNext
+        this.onPrevious = onPrevious
+
+        if (configured) return
+        configured = true
+
+        audioSession.setCategory(
+            category = AVAudioSessionCategoryPlayback,
+            mode = AVAudioSessionModeDefault,
+            options = 0u,
+            error = null)
+        registerAudioSessionNotifications()
+        registerRemoteCommands()
+    }
+
+    fun activate() {
+        audioSession.setActive(true, error = null)
+    }
+
+    fun deactivate() {
+        audioSession.setActive(false, error = null)
+    }
+
+    fun update(
+        item: MediaItem?,
+        positionSeconds: Double,
+        durationSeconds: Double,
+        isPlaying: Boolean
+    ) {
+        if (item == null) {
+            nowPlayingInfoCenter.nowPlayingInfo = null
+            return
+        }
+
+        val info = buildMap<Any?, Any?> {
+            put(MPMediaItemPropertyTitle, item.title)
+            put(MPMediaItemPropertyArtist, item.artist)
+            item.album.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }?.let {
+                put(MPMediaItemPropertyAlbumTitle, it)
+            }
+            if (durationSeconds.isFinite() && durationSeconds > 0) {
+                put(MPMediaItemPropertyPlaybackDuration, durationSeconds)
+            }
+            if (positionSeconds.isFinite() && positionSeconds >= 0) {
+                put(MPNowPlayingInfoPropertyElapsedPlaybackTime, positionSeconds)
+            }
+            put(MPNowPlayingInfoPropertyPlaybackRate, if (isPlaying) 1.0 else 0.0)
+        }
+        nowPlayingInfoCenter.nowPlayingInfo = info
+    }
+
+    fun clear() {
+        nowPlayingInfoCenter.nowPlayingInfo = null
+        notificationTokens.forEach { notificationCenter.removeObserver(it) }
+        notificationTokens.clear()
+        remoteCommandTokens.forEach { (command, token) -> command.removeTarget(token) }
+        remoteCommandTokens.clear()
+        configured = false
+        onPlay = null
+        onPause = null
+        onSeek = null
+        onNext = null
+        onPrevious = null
+    }
+
+    private fun registerAudioSessionNotifications() {
+        notificationCenter.addObserverForName(
+            name = platform.AVFAudio.AVAudioSessionInterruptionNotification,
+            `object` = audioSession,
+            queue = NSOperationQueue.mainQueue()) { notification ->
+            val type = notification?.userInfo?.get(
+                platform.AVFAudio.AVAudioSessionInterruptionTypeKey) as? NSNumber
+            if (type?.unsignedLongValue == platform.AVFAudio.AVAudioSessionInterruptionTypeBegan) {
+                onPause?.invoke()
+            } else if (type?.unsignedLongValue == platform.AVFAudio.AVAudioSessionInterruptionTypeEnded) {
+                activate()
+                val options = notification?.userInfo?.get(
+                    platform.AVFAudio.AVAudioSessionInterruptionOptionKey) as? NSNumber
+                val shouldResume = options?.unsignedLongValue
+                    ?.and(platform.AVFAudio.AVAudioSessionInterruptionOptionShouldResume)
+                    ?.let { it != 0UL } == true
+                if (shouldResume) onPlay?.invoke()
+            }
+        }?.let { notificationTokens += it }
+    }
+
+    private fun registerRemoteCommands() {
+        fun register(command: MPRemoteCommand, handler: (platform.MediaPlayer.MPRemoteCommandEvent?) -> platform.MediaPlayer.MPRemoteCommandHandlerStatus) {
+            command.addTargetWithHandler(handler)?.let {
+                remoteCommandTokens += command to it
+            }
+        }
+
+        register(remoteCommandCenter.playCommand) {
+            onPlay?.invoke()
+            MPRemoteCommandHandlerStatusSuccess
+        }
+        register(remoteCommandCenter.pauseCommand) {
+            onPause?.invoke()
+            MPRemoteCommandHandlerStatusSuccess
+        }
+        register(remoteCommandCenter.changePlaybackPositionCommand) { event ->
+            val position = (event as? MPChangePlaybackPositionCommandEvent)?.positionTime
+            if (position != null && position.isFinite() && position >= 0) {
+                onSeek?.invoke(position)
+                MPRemoteCommandHandlerStatusSuccess
+            } else {
+                MPRemoteCommandHandlerStatusCommandFailed
+            }
+        }
+        register(remoteCommandCenter.nextTrackCommand) {
+            onNext?.invoke()
+            MPRemoteCommandHandlerStatusSuccess
+        }
+        register(remoteCommandCenter.previousTrackCommand) {
+            onPrevious?.invoke()
+            MPRemoteCommandHandlerStatusSuccess
+        }
+    }
+}

composeApp/src/iosMain/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/core/audioplayer/NativePlayerEngine.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2026 Kingkor Roy Tirtho and Spotube Contributors
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package org.spotube.spotube.core.audioplayer
+
+/**
+ * Single-media playback engine implemented in Swift on top of VLCKit (`iosApp/iosApp/VlcPlayerEngine.swift`).
+ *
+ * VLCKit ships as a SwiftPM binary target, so it can't be bound with cinterop from Gradle. Swift
+ * implements this contract instead and registers it in [NativePlayerRegistry] before the Compose
+ * view controller is created. The playlist, loop and shuffle logic stays in Kotlin
+ * ([AudioPlayer]); the engine only ever plays one URL at a time.
+ *
+ * Implementations may be called from any thread and must hop to the thread VLCKit needs
+ * themselves. [NativePlayerListener] callbacks may arrive on any thread.
+ */
+interface NativePlayerEngine {
+    fun setListener(listener: NativePlayerListener?)
+
+    /** Replaces the current media. Starts playing right away when [autoPlay] is set. */
+    fun load(url: String, autoPlay: Boolean, startPositionMs: Long)
+    fun play()
+    fun pause()
+    fun stop()
+    fun seekTo(positionMs: Long)
+
+    /** [volume] is 0..1. */
+    fun setVolume(volume: Float)
+    fun setRate(rate: Float)
+
+    /**
+     * Releases the native player. The engine must not be used afterwards. Not named `release`:
+     * that would export to Objective-C as `-release` and clash with NSObject.
+     */
+    fun destroy()
+}
+
+interface NativePlayerListener {
+    fun onState(state: NativePlayerState)
+    fun onTime(positionMs: Long)
+    fun onDuration(durationMs: Long)
+
+    /** Network cache fill of the current media, 0..100. */
+    fun onBuffered(percent: Float)
+    fun onError(message: String)
+}
+
+enum class NativePlayerState {
+    /** Nothing loaded, or playback was stopped. */
+    IDLE,
+    OPENING,
+    BUFFERING,
+    PLAYING,
+    PAUSED,
+
+    /** The media played to its end. Sent once per loaded media. */
+    ENDED
+}
+
+interface NativePlayerEngineFactory {
+    fun create(): NativePlayerEngine
+}
+
+/** Set from Swift (`iOSApp.init`) before the first [AudioPlayer] is created. */
+object NativePlayerRegistry {
+    var factory: NativePlayerEngineFactory? = null
+}

iosApp/iosApp.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj

@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@
 	objectVersion = 77;
 	objects = {
 
+/* Begin PBXBuildFile section */
+		9A1B2C3D4E5F60718293A4B1 /* VLCKit in Frameworks */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; productRef = 9A1B2C3D4E5F60718293A4B3 /* VLCKit */; };
+/* End PBXBuildFile section */
+
 /* Begin PBXFileReference section */
 		11DF02E4B44E5BCF61736473 /* Spotube.app */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; explicitFileType = wrapper.application; includeInIndex = 0; path = Spotube.app; sourceTree = BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR; };
 /* End PBXFileReference section */
@@ -41,6 +45,7 @@
 			isa = PBXFrameworksBuildPhase;
 			buildActionMask = 2147483647;
 			files = (
+				9A1B2C3D4E5F60718293A4B1 /* VLCKit in Frameworks */,
 			);
 			runOnlyForDeploymentPostprocessing = 0;
 		};
@@ -85,6 +90,7 @@
 			);
 			name = iosApp;
 			packageProductDependencies = (
+				9A1B2C3D4E5F60718293A4B3 /* VLCKit */,
 			);
 			productName = iosApp;
 			productReference = 11DF02E4B44E5BCF61736473 /* Spotube.app */;
@@ -114,6 +120,9 @@
 			);
 			mainGroup = EFA169D322B90F32841D602F;
 			minimizedProjectReferenceProxies = 1;
+			packageReferences = (
+				9A1B2C3D4E5F60718293A4B2 /* XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference "vlckit" */,
+			);
 			preferredProjectObjectVersion = 77;
 			productRefGroup = 835615636B5FE86AA850B7DB /* Products */;
 			projectDirPath = "";
@@ -368,6 +377,25 @@
 			defaultConfigurationName = Release;
 		};
 /* End XCConfigurationList section */
+
+/* Begin XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference section */
+		9A1B2C3D4E5F60718293A4B2 /* XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference "vlckit" */ = {
+			isa = XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference;
+			repositoryURL = "https://github.com/videolan/vlckit";
+			requirement = {
+				kind = revision;
+				revision = 6b87735a95fd3aa96f0fdb6d1b465a2d92badd8f;
+			};
+		};
+/* End XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference section */
+
+/* Begin XCSwiftPackageProductDependency section */
+		9A1B2C3D4E5F60718293A4B3 /* VLCKit */ = {
+			isa = XCSwiftPackageProductDependency;
+			package = 9A1B2C3D4E5F60718293A4B2 /* XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference "vlckit" */;
+			productName = VLCKit;
+		};
+/* End XCSwiftPackageProductDependency section */
 	};
 	rootObject = B056E79C138AE849968965F1 /* Project object */;
 }

iosApp/iosApp.xcodeproj/project.xcworkspace/xcshareddata/swiftpm/Package.resolved

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{
+  "originHash" : "1299735cf5953086f977e465ed8fbd8efae67129992b979462f68d933745ea6b",
+  "pins" : [
+    {
+      "identity" : "vlckit",
+      "kind" : "remoteSourceControl",
+      "location" : "https://github.com/videolan/vlckit",
+      "state" : {
+        "revision" : "6b87735a95fd3aa96f0fdb6d1b465a2d92badd8f"
+      }
+    }
+  ],
+  "version" : 3
+}

iosApp/iosApp/Info.plist

@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@
 <dict>
 	<key>CADisableMinimumFrameDurationOnPhone</key>
 	<true/>
+	<key>UIBackgroundModes</key>
+	<array>
+		<string>audio</string>
+	</array>
 	<key>CFBundleURLTypes</key>
 	<array>
 		<dict>

iosApp/iosApp/VlcPlayerEngine.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,256 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2026 Kingkor Roy Tirtho and Spotube Contributors
+//
+// This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+// along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+import AVFoundation
+import ComposeApp
+import Foundation
+import VLCKit
+
+/// Registers the VLCKit engine with the shared Kotlin `AudioPlayer`. Call before the first
+/// `ComposeView` is created.
+func registerNativePlayerEngine() {
+    NativePlayerRegistry.shared.factory = VlcPlayerEngineFactory()
+}
+
+final class VlcPlayerEngineFactory: NSObject, NativePlayerEngineFactory {
+    func create() -> NativePlayerEngine {
+        VlcPlayerEngine()
+    }
+}
+
+/// Plays one URL at a time with VLCKit. The Kotlin `AudioPlayer` owns the playlist; see
+/// `NativePlayerEngine.kt` for the contract.
+///
+/// Every VLCKit call is made on the main queue, in the order the Kotlin side issued it.
+final class VlcPlayerEngine: NSObject, NativePlayerEngine, VLCMediaPlayerDelegate {
+    private let player = VLCMediaPlayer()
+    private var listener: NativePlayerListener?
+
+    // VLCKit 4 has no "ended" state: reaching the end of a media goes Stopping -> Stopped, the
+    // same as stop(). `stopRequested` marks the stops this class asked for, so any other stop of
+    // a media that had started playing is a natural end.
+    private var stopRequested = false
+    private var hasStarted = false
+    private var finished = false
+    private var released = false
+
+    private var rate: Float = 1
+    private var volumePercent: Int32 = 100
+
+    override init() {
+        super.init()
+        player.delegate = self
+        player.timeChangeUpdateInterval = 0.25
+        player.minimalTimePeriod = 250_000
+        try? AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setCategory(.playback, mode: .default, options: [])
+    }
+
+    // MARK: NativePlayerEngine
+
+    func setListener(listener: NativePlayerListener?) {
+        onMain { self.listener = listener }
+    }
+
+    func load(url: String, autoPlay: Bool, startPositionMs: Int64) {
+        onMain {
+            guard !self.released else { return }
+            guard let mediaUrl = URL(string: url), let media = VLCMedia(url: mediaUrl) else {
+                self.listener?.onError(message: "Invalid URL: \(url)")
+                return
+            }
+
+            self.stopCurrentMedia()
+            self.hasStarted = false
+            self.finished = false
+            if startPositionMs > 0 {
+                media.addOption(":start-time=\(Double(startPositionMs) / 1000.0)")
+            }
+            self.player.media = media
+            self.listener?.onState(state: .opening)
+            if autoPlay { self.startPlayback() }
+        }
+    }
+
+    func play() {
+        onMain {
+            guard !self.released else { return }
+            self.startPlayback()
+        }
+    }
+
+    func pause() {
+        onMain {
+            guard !self.released, self.player.isPlaying else { return }
+            self.player.pause()
+        }
+    }
+
+    func stop() {
+        onMain {
+            guard !self.released else { return }
+            self.stopCurrentMedia()
+        }
+    }
+
+    func seekTo(positionMs: Int64) {
+        onMain {
+            guard !self.released, self.player.isSeekable else { return }
+            self.player.time = VLCTime(number: NSNumber(value: positionMs))
+        }
+    }
+
+    func setVolume(volume: Float) {
+        onMain {
+            self.volumePercent = Int32((min(max(volume, 0), 1) * 100).rounded())
+            self.player.audio?.volume = self.volumePercent
+        }
+    }
+
+    func setRate(rate: Float) {
+        onMain {
+            self.rate = rate
+            self.player.rate = rate
+        }
+    }
+
+    func destroy() {
+        onMain {
+            guard !self.released else { return }
+            self.released = true
+            self.listener = nil
+            self.player.delegate = nil
+            self.player.stop()
+            self.player.media = nil
+            try? AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(false, options: .notifyOthersOnDeactivation)
+        }
+    }
+
+    // MARK: VLCMediaPlayerDelegate
+
+    func mediaPlayerStateChanged(_ newState: VLCMediaPlayerState) {
+        onMain {
+            guard !self.released else { return }
+            switch newState {
+            case .opening:
+                self.listener?.onState(state: .opening)
+            case .playing:
+                self.hasStarted = true
+                self.applyPlaybackSettings()
+                self.reportDuration()
+                self.listener?.onState(state: .playing)
+            case .paused:
+                self.listener?.onState(state: .paused)
+            case .stopping, .stopped:
+                self.handleStop(isFinalStop: newState == .stopped)
+            case .error:
+                self.finished = true
+                self.listener?.onError(message: "VLC could not play this media")
+                self.listener?.onState(state: .idle)
+            default:
+                break
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    func mediaPlayerTimeChanged(_ aNotification: Notification) {
+        onMain {
+            guard !self.released, let ms = self.player.time.value?.int64Value, ms >= 0 else { return }
+            self.listener?.onTime(positionMs: ms)
+        }
+    }
+
+    func mediaPlayerLengthChanged(_ length: Int64) {
+        onMain {
+            guard !self.released else { return }
+            self.listener?.onDuration(durationMs: length)
+        }
+    }
+
+    func mediaPlayerBufferingChanged(_ progress: Float) {
+        onMain {
+            guard !self.released else { return }
+            self.listener?.onBuffered(percent: progress * 100)
+            // VLC always reports 0 and 1 before the first frame; only mid-playback stalls matter.
+            guard self.hasStarted else { return }
+            if progress < 1 {
+                self.listener?.onState(state: .buffering)
+            } else if self.player.isPlaying {
+                self.listener?.onState(state: .playing)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    // MARK: Internals
+
+    private func startPlayback() {
+        try? AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(true)
+        let wasPaused = player.state == .paused
+        player.play()
+        if wasPaused { kickTimeReporting() }
+    }
+
+    /// After a pause, VLCKit 4 withholds time updates until libvlc reports a fresh time point, and
+    /// on iOS that report doesn't come after a resume: audio plays but the position stays frozen.
+    /// A seek goes through a different callback that does reset VLCKit's time tracking, so seek
+    /// to where we already are.
+    private func kickTimeReporting() {
+        DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 0.2) { [weak self] in
+            guard let self, !self.released, self.player.isPlaying, self.player.isSeekable else { return }
+            self.player.time = self.player.time
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Stops the current media and marks the resulting stop events as ours.
+    private func stopCurrentMedia() {
+        switch player.state {
+        case .opening, .playing, .paused, .stopping:
+            stopRequested = true
+            player.stop()
+        default:
+            break
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func handleStop(isFinalStop: Bool) {
+        if stopRequested {
+            if isFinalStop {
+                stopRequested = false
+                listener?.onState(state: .idle)
+            }
+            return
+        }
+        if hasStarted && !finished {
+            finished = true
+            listener?.onState(state: .ended)
+        } else if isFinalStop && !finished {
+            listener?.onState(state: .idle)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func applyPlaybackSettings() {
+        player.audio?.volume = volumePercent
+        if player.rate != rate { player.rate = rate }
+    }
+
+    private func reportDuration() {
+        if let ms = player.media?.length.value?.int64Value, ms > 0 {
+            listener?.onDuration(durationMs: ms)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func onMain(_ work: @escaping () -> Void) {
+        DispatchQueue.main.async(execute: work)
+    }
+}

iosApp/iosApp/iOSApp.swift

@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ import ComposeApp
 
 @main
 struct iOSApp: App {
+    init() {
+        registerNativePlayerEngine()
+    }
+
     var body: some Scene {
         WindowGroup {
             ContentView()