Apple Watch app (!) #545

New Issue

2026-04-24T23:28:25+02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:28:25 +02:00

Originally created by @jphastings on GitHub (Apr 30, 2023).

(Very much a nice-to-have pipedream of a request; I recognise that an AppleWatch app would be enormous effort on a totally new stack, as I don't believe CapacitorJS or its ilk will ever run on any resource-light devices, like watches)

The Problem

I love going for walks without my phone; my apple watch lets me listen to pre-downloaded media on my bluetooth headphones without my phone nearby. Audiobookshelf doesn't have an Apple Watch app, so I can't listen to self-hosted audiobooks while I'm away from my phone.

Describe the solution you'd like

A very minimal apple watch app that:

Lets me link with my account on my Audiobookshelf server
Lets me choose one (or more?) audiobooks to download to my watch
Lets me listen to a downloaded audiobook
- Perhaps only from in progress audiobooks, to make the UI simpler?
- Perhaps lets me stream an audiobook, if not downloaded?
Synchronises progress with the Audiobookshelf server
- A visual indication as to whether progress has been sync'd

Describe alternatives you've considered

Using Audible, with its Apple Watch app:

😊 It works reasonably well
😩 Occasionally doesn't sync and isn't clear as to when it's sync'd
😩 Means my audiobookshelf progress/statuses aren't kept up to date 😔
😊 I buy tend to my audiobooks from Audible (before ripping to Audiobookshelf), so this is viable
😩 If Audible removes a title I've purchased from its library, I won't be able to listen to it on my watch.

Use BookPlayer, with its Apple Watch app:

😊 It works well
😩 Currently no server-syncing, so manual management of audiobook files is needed
😩 Means my audiobookshelf progress/statuses aren't kept up to date 😔
😊 Open-source and usable with DRM-free audiobooks

Additional context

I recognise this is a tonne of work, and in a totally new stack — so very unlikely to be selected for development!

However BookPlayer already provides these features, and is both open source and available under GPL 3.0 (compatible with Audiobookshelf!) so there may be some shortcuts.

(They have looked at using Audiobookshelf as a backend, but apparently the lack of nested folders is a dealbreaker)

Originally created by @jphastings on GitHub (Apr 30, 2023). (Very much a nice-to-have pipedream of a request; I recognise that an AppleWatch app would be enormous effort on a totally new stack, as I don't believe CapacitorJS or its ilk will ever run on any resource-light devices, like watches) ### The Problem I love going for walks without my phone; my apple watch lets me listen to pre-downloaded media on my bluetooth headphones without my phone nearby. Audiobookshelf doesn't have an Apple Watch app, so I can't listen to self-hosted audiobooks while I'm away from my phone. ### Describe the solution you'd like A very minimal apple watch app that: - Lets me link with my account on my Audiobookshelf server - Lets me choose one (or more?) audiobooks to download to my watch - Lets me listen to a downloaded audiobook - Perhaps only from in progress audiobooks, to make the UI simpler? - Perhaps lets me stream an audiobook, if not downloaded? - Synchronises progress with the Audiobookshelf server - A visual indication as to whether progress has been sync'd ### Describe alternatives you've considered Using Audible, with its Apple Watch app: - 😊 It works reasonably well - 😩 Occasionally doesn't sync and isn't clear as to when it's sync'd - 😩 Means my audiobookshelf progress/statuses aren't kept up to date 😔 - 😊 I buy tend to my audiobooks from Audible (before ripping to Audiobookshelf), so this is viable - 😩 If Audible removes a title I've purchased from its library, I won't be able to listen to it on my watch. Use BookPlayer, with its Apple Watch app: - 😊 It works well - 😩 Currently no server-syncing, so manual management of audiobook files is needed - 😩 Means my audiobookshelf progress/statuses aren't kept up to date 😔 - 😊 Open-source and usable with DRM-free audiobooks ### Additional context I recognise this is a _tonne_ of work, and in a totally new stack — so very unlikely to be selected for development! However [BookPlayer](https://github.com/TortugaPower/BookPlayer) already provides these features, and is both open source and available under GPL 3.0 (compatible with Audiobookshelf!) so there may be _some_ shortcuts. (They have [looked at using Audiobookshelf as a backend](https://github.com/TortugaPower/BookPlayer/issues/4#issuecomment-1383046601), but apparently the lack of nested folders is a dealbreaker)

adam added the enhancement label 2026-04-24 23:28:25 +02:00

adam closed this issue

2026-04-24 23:28:26 +02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:28:27 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Apr 30, 2023):

Is this the same as #676?

I have looked at developing an app for Garmin watches because that is what I have. This is completely different though because it would be a separate app uploaded to their app store.

I think developing for apple watch would be similar to developing for car play. It is the same app and you set up a separate interface.
CapacitorJS is only used for the UI/UX, all the logic is native Swift. Capacitor shouldn't hinder development for this just going off my very limited understanding of iOS. It would be useful if I had an apple watch though.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Apr 30, 2023): Is this the same as #676? I have looked at developing an app for Garmin watches because that is what I have. This is completely different though because it would be a separate app uploaded to their app store. I think developing for apple watch would be similar to developing for car play. It is the same app and you set up a separate interface. CapacitorJS is only used for the UI/UX, all the logic is native Swift. Capacitor shouldn't hinder development for this just going off my very limited understanding of iOS. It would be useful if I had an apple watch though.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:28:28 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 20, 2023):

Duplicate of #676

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 20, 2023): Duplicate of #676

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Reference: starred/audiobookshelf-app#545