You can also connect securely from anywhere using a VPN. In this guide, we’ll use Tailscale, a free VPN service that can be set up in just a few minutes. You can also use another VPN solution if you already have one configured.

This is an advanced but useful feature, especially if you already leave your computer running for agents, media servers, backups or other services.

Once connected, you can:

• Stream music from Crates Desktop
• Download tracks for offline listening
• Sync crates 
• Sync your full library

Note: This currently works on iOS only. Android support is coming soon.

Before You Start

You’ll need:

• A Mac or Windows computer running Crates Desktop
• An iPhone or iPad running Crates for iOS
• An internet connection on both devices
• A free Tailscale account

Your computer must be powered on, connected to the internet, and running both Crates Desktop and Tailscale.

1. Install Tailscale on Your Computer

Download Tailscale from:

https://tailscale.com/download

1. Install and open Tailscale.
2. Create a free account or sign in.
3. Leave Tailscale running.

Tailscale runs quietly in the background and does not normally affect your internet connection or other applications.

2. Install Tailscale on Your iPhone or iPad

1. Install Tailscale from the App Store.
2. Sign in using the same account you used on your computer.
3. Allow the VPN permission when iOS asks.
4. Turn on the Tailscale connection.

Your computer should now appear in the Tailscale device list.

3. Enable VPN Connections in Crates for iOS

Open Crates for iOS and go to:

Library → Settings Cog (top right) → Allow Connection via VPN

Enable the switch.

4. Copy Your Computer’s Tailscale Address

In the Tailscale app on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Select your computer from the device list.
2. Copy its MagicDNS hostname.

Crates also supports the Tailscale IP address, but we recommend using the MagicDNS hostname.

You do not need to add a port number.

5. Connect Crates for iOS

1. Open Crates for iOS.
2. Tap the device icon in the top-right corner.
3. Tap Connect.
4. Select Connect Manually.
5. Paste the MagicDNS hostname.
6. Tap Connect.

Crates for iOS should now connect to Crates Desktop over the VPN.

Using the VPN

You do not need to keep the VPN connected all the time.

Turn it on when you want to stream from Crates Desktop, download tracks, or sync your library remotely. You can turn it off again when you are finished.

Mobile Data Usage

When you are not connected to Wi-Fi, streaming, downloading and syncing will use mobile data.

Large downloads or a full library sync may use a significant amount of data, so check your mobile data allowance before starting.

Troubleshooting

If you cannot connect, check that:

• Your computer is powered on and connected to the internet.
• Crates Desktop is running.
• Tailscale is running on both devices.
• Both devices are signed in to the same Tailscale account.
• Allow Connection via VPN is enabled in Crates for iOS.
• You copied the correct MagicDNS hostname or Tailscale IP address.

If the problem continues, contact Crates Support and include screenshots of the Tailscale device list and the Crates connection screen.

This does not mean that Crates is attempting to record audio.

On macOS, many applications that initialize the system audio stack can trigger this permission prompt, even if they only intend to play audio. This behavior is common in many well-known applications, including web browsers, video conferencing software, media players, streaming/recording software, digital audio workstations (DAWs), and some games.

Microphone access is not required to use Crates. You can safely click Don’t Allow, and all playback features will continue to work normally.

If you ever want to change your choice, go to: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone

When Crates mobile app stays open in the foreground, these web players should normally continue to the next track.

However, when your phone is locked or Crates is running in the background, iOS and Android restrict what embedded web players can do. In many cases, the current track may keep playing, but the web player cannot reliably stay active and automatically move to the next track.

This limitation does not apply to local files. Local files are played through the native mobile player, so they support reliable background playback, lock screen controls, and continuous album or queue playback.

For the best mobile experience, especially with music you have purchased from services like Bandcamp, we recommend downloading the tracks to your computer and syncing them to your phone through Crates. This avoids web player limitations and gives you better audio quality too.

How to download your Bandcamp purchases

1. Log in to your Bandcamp account on your computer and go to Collection or Purchases page.
2. Find the album or track you purchased and download, preferably in lossless format (AIFF is recommended as it holds full metadata as well) 
3. Add the downloaded files to your Crates library.
4. Sync them to your phone using Crates.

Once synced, Crates mobile will play those tracks as local files, so playback can continue reliably when your phone is locked or the app is in the background.

When you enable anonymous usage analytics, Crates sends a small set of product usage events that help us understand what people use, where onboarding works, and which areas need improvement.

This data is used for product decisions and does not include your music library contents, file paths, account credentials, or audio files.

What this helps with

• Understanding the initial needs of users
• Identifying which features are used most
• Spotting friction points in the app
• Prioritizing improvements by app version and platform

What Crates collects when analytics is enabled

What Crates does not send

• Your library contents, including tune names, artists, playlists, crates, ratings, and tags
• File paths, folders, or storage locations on your computer
• Account passwords, OAuth tokens, API secrets, or payment details
• Audio files, waveforms, cover art, or other imported media

How to change this setting

You can update this preference at any time in Crates by opening Settings > General > Privacy and toggling Share anonymous usage analytics.

• Operating System: macOS Monterey (12.0) or later, or Windows 10 or later
• Memory (RAM): 4 GB or more
• Storage: At least 1 GB of available disk space

These are the minimum requirements. For larger music libraries or more demanding workflows, higher specs are required to provide a better experience.

1. Create a Playlist

You can create a playlist anywhere in your library, but a Playlists crate is a good place to start.

• Right-click on Playlists (or any folder)
• Click Add New → Playlist
• Give it a name (you can change it later)

2. Add Music to Your Playlist

You can add tunes in multiple ways:

• Right-click on the playlist → Import files or folders
• Drag and drop files into Crates
• Use the browser extension to import from online sources (Bandcamp, YouTube, SoundCloud, etc.)
• Drag and drop or copy-paste supported links directly into Crates
• Use Online Search to search for tracks online

A useful tip is to open the playlist in the right side panel: right-click → Open in side panel. This makes it easier to drag and drop tracks from the main panel while browsing your library.

You can then use Search, or right-click a tune and select Add to… the playlist. This sub-menu contains the playlists open in the right side panel.

3. Organize and Edit

• Reorder tracks via drag and drop
• Right-click a track → Edit to update metadata (genre, title, artist, album, year, etc.)
• Use the Get Info action to automatically fetch metadata from connected sources

4. Add Audio Sources (Important)

For others to listen to your playlist, each track needs a public audio source.

• Crates will try to auto-find sources when publishing
• If it does not find a public audio source for a track, you’ll be prompted to add one

You can also add sources manually in advance:

• Invoke the Find Audio Source action: right-click a track → Actions → Find audio source
• Open Edit → check the Audio Sources section
• Drag and drop a supported URL directly into Audio Sources

5. Add Timestamped Comments (Optional)

• Right-click on the waveform area at the time you want the comment to appear → Add comment
• To add a link, highlight the text and click the link icon, then enter the URL
• Each comment appears as an icon on the waveform
• Right-click a comment to edit or remove it

6. Share Your Playlist

• Click Share playlist
• Review the title, description, and tags (used for discoverability)
• Tip: Start with Unlisted first if you want to test before the playlist appears on the crates.app/playlists page.
• Click Share 

Your playlist is now published on Crates.app and can be discovered by other users in their Crates installation.

7. Update Your Playlist

You can update your playlist anytime:

• Change the order of tracks, add or remove tracks, update metadata or comments
• Click Share again → Update

Notes

• Publishing sends your playlist data to Crates servers so others can discover it
• Tracks without valid audio sources won’t be playable by others, but they can search for a public audio source themselves based on the track’s metadata
• Advanced: It is recommended to populate the ISRC of a tune to improve discoverability. The ISRC is the unique identifier of the track across streaming platforms. A useful way to do this is to pull metadata through the Get Info action, after connecting as many sources as possible.

Crates does not need to copy or move your files to import them.

You can simply import your existing music folders, and Crates will index them in place, preserving your current folder structure exactly as it is.

• Right-click on Collection
• Select Import files or folders
• Choose folders to import 

Note: If you use Actions like ‘Move to Collection’, or ‘Move to Archive’, Crates may move or reorganize files as part of the workflow (these can be changed in Settings > Actions).
These are optional features designed for handling unsorted files, and are not required for library imports.

1. Spread the word

Word of mouth is still the most powerful way people discover Crates.
Tell the music people in your life: DJs, collectors, curators, radio hosts, music nerds,
or anyone juggling 20 open music tabs and looking for a trusted home for their music.
Send them a playlist you made in Crates, show them how you use it, or share a gem you’ve discovered — that’s usually all it takes.

You can also mention Crates in places where music people hang out:
Reddit, Discords, forums, or conversations about music tools, curation, ownership and discovery.
If someone is looking for a better way to manage or explore music, point them our way.

We also have a reward program so that both of you benefit — check it out on our website.

2. Leave a Rating or Review

Honest ratings and thoughtful reviews help new users discover Crates and understand what makes it different.
If you’ve had a good experience, you can leave a review here:

App Stores

• Crates iOS on the iOS App Store
• Crates Chrome Extension on the Chrome Web Store

Software & Product Listings

• AlternativeTo (rate or review)
• Slashdot (write a review)

Community Mentions

• Reddit discussions e.g. on r/musichoarder

Even a short review makes a real difference.

3. Submit helpful bug reports and feedback

We are a small independent team. Crates runs across different systems, OS versions and setups and edge cases are real. Instead of limiting what users can do to avoid bugs, we prefer flexibility. That means we rely on engaged users to trace issues, report them and we’ll do our best to fix them.

When we get careful feedback containing steps to reproduce, logs or even a screenshot or video, it really helps to tackle the issue. This applies to anyone using the current version of Crates — you don’t need to be technical, just be detailed.

Check this article that contains step-by-step  instructions:

How to report bugs and issues

4. Become a Beta Tester

Want to go one step further? You can join the beta program.

This is focused on pre-releases — helping us improve things before they reach everyone.

As a beta tester, you:

• Get early access to new features (including mobile builds)
• Help us catch bugs before public releases
• Submit in-app feedback (with screenshots or screen recordings)
• Influence product decisions directly

Join the beta program here: https://crates.app/beta-testing-program/
When a pre-release is out, you’ll get an email to test it (testing opens up gradually).

5. Become a Contributor

Have dev or technical skills and want to go deeper?

For starters, we’re building an add-ons system that will allow external contributors to build their own extensions.
If you’d like early access, want to discuss APIs, or shape v1 — reach out at: 📩 support+devs@crates.app
Tell us what you want to build!

If you want to go even further — fixing bugs, owning parts of the codebase, or contributing long-term — we’re always looking for like-minded, dedicated music power users to Join the Team. Reach out and tell us who you are and how you’d like to contribute.

6. Follow & Stay Connected

If you’d like to support us, you can follow or subscribe:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crates.app/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070420125149
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crates_app
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crates.app
• X: https://twitter.com/crates_app
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/crates-app.bsky.social

How it works

• Your friend gets 5€ off when they become a Supporter through your referral link.
• You receive a special thank-you gift once they upgrade.
• You’ll be notified when someone signs up through your link.

It’s our way of saying thanks for helping grow the Crates community.

How to refer a friend

1. Open Tell a Friend inside the app.
2. Copy your personal referral link.
3. Share it with friends via message, email, or social media.
4. When they sign up and become a Supporter, it will be tracked automatically.

Track your referrals

You can view your referrals and rewards at:

https://crates.app/tell-a-friend/

• See who signed up through your link
• See which referrals became Supporters
• Track your rewards status

Important notes

• The discount applies when your friend becomes a Supporter through your link.
• Each user has a unique referral link.
• Your friend must use your link before signing up so the referral is properly recorded.

Thank you for helping Crates grow <3

TL;DR

• A Playlist is a list of tunes meant for playback in that specific order.
• A Crate is an organizational unit that helps you structure your music.

Playlists are about sequence and interoperability.
Crates are about structure and hierarchy.

What is a Playlist?

A playlist is a defined, ordered list of tracks.

In Crates, a playlist can be:

• A playlist you created in Crates
• A local playlist originating from an m3u, pls etc file from your computer.
• An imported playlist from an external service (Spotify / YouTube / SoundCloud etc)
• A public, curated, or collaborative playlist you discovered and imported from the Crates website.

Playlists are about:

• Ordered playback (a specific sequence)
• A theme, mood, journey — a coherent selection
• Interoperability with services
• Sharing with other users

They are portable, exchangeable. You can import them, export them, share them, collaborate on them, or sync them across platforms.

If you’re thinking:
‘This is what I want to press play on’
or
‘This is something I want to share’

— that’s a playlist.

What is a Crate?

A crate is a structural container.

It’s more abstract and more flexible than a playlist.

A crate can:

• contain playlists
• contain tunes (but not two instances of the same tune)
• contain other crates (sub-crates)
• mirror a folder from your file system
• automatically reflect the combined contents of its sub-crates
• represent a long-term theme or collection (e.g. ‘2014 downloads’, or ‘imported from iPod nano’)

Crates are primarily about organizing your music world in a way that scales over time.

You can create hierarchies like:

• Crate
  • Sub-crate
    • Playlist
    • Playlist
  • Another sub-crate

This makes crates powerful for complex libraries, DJ preparation, research, long-term archiving, or multi-platform organization.

How they work together

Most users use both:

• crates to create structure
• playlists for a specific listening set

For example:

• Crate: ‘Athens Gigs’
  • Sub-crate: ‘Warm Ups’
    • Playlist: ‘Early Energy 01’
    • Playlist: ‘Ambient and organic’
  • Sub-crate: ‘Peak’
    • Playlist: ‘Warehouse Pressure’

Crates hold context.
Playlists hold sequence.

What about ‘smart’ crates?

Smart crates are crates that update automatically based on rules you define (genre, rating, year, source, etc.).

Instead of manually adding tracks, you define criteria and the crate populates itself dynamically.

Learn more here:
https://crates.app/knowledge-base/smart-crates-how-to/

What about the ‘default’ crates?

When you install Crates, you’ll see some default crates. These are structural helpers built into the system.

They are not just regular playlists — they serve specific organizational purposes.

Learn more here:
https://crates.app/knowledge-base/what-are-the-default-crates-and-what-are-they-for/

To sum up:

• Use crates for structure and context.
• Use playlists for ordered listening and sharing.
• Use smart crates when you want automation.