Automatically download next book in line and delete the previous #615

New Issue

2026-04-24T23:30:14+02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:14 +02:00

Originally created by @WickedSquirrel on GitHub (Jul 6, 2023).

At the moment I'm burning through audiobook series and have to manually download and delete the local files.

It would be amazing to have a feature that lets ABS download the next book in the playlist/collection and deletes the book that's just finished.

It's not important but would definitely be QOL.

Originally created by @WickedSquirrel on GitHub (Jul 6, 2023). At the moment I'm burning through audiobook series and have to manually download and delete the local files. It would be amazing to have a feature that lets ABS download the next book in the playlist/collection and deletes the book that's just finished. It's not important but would definitely be QOL.

adam added the enhancement label 2026-04-24 23:30:14 +02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:16 +02:00

@gh0sti commented on GitHub (Jul 7, 2023):

This would be cool.

@gh0sti commented on GitHub (Jul 7, 2023): This would be cool.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:17 +02:00

@awilisch commented on GitHub (Jul 13, 2023):

Download the next book would be nice. However bare minimum would be the ability to automatically delete any books that are labeled as 'finished' it's one feature I rather miss from Audible (although I HATE their app).

@awilisch commented on GitHub (Jul 13, 2023): Download the next book would be nice. However bare minimum would be the ability to automatically delete any books that are labeled as 'finished' it's one feature I rather miss from Audible (although I HATE their app).

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:17 +02:00

@sandreas commented on GitHub (Aug 31, 2023):

@Daemonias
@gh0sti
@awilisch
I thought this through independently in https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/discussions/846

The problem with instantly deleting finished books is, that if you fall asleep near the end of the book, then want to rewind the next day I would prefer having the possibility to go back without downloading or streaming. Even worse, if you are on vacation and have no access to your server, the book would no longer be available.

Instead I would prefer the following:

How about introducing Auto-Download Feature with Quota:

Add a global setting: Enable auto download for Continue Listening books
Add a global setting: Define auto download quota for auto download, default 10GB
Add a global setting: Delete finished books after X days, default 30 days
Add a global setting: Also download files when no wifi connection is established
Automatically download every audio book, that has been started, has progress, but is not finished - with Option: When Wifi is available
If you start listening a new book, it checks the quota and auto-manages the content
- if there is enough free space, start downloading in background immediately without any warning or visible message
- if there is NOT enough free space, either there are finished books older than 30 days, so delete them and behave like there is enough free space OR abs shows a dialog Quota exceededwhere you could
  - Option 1: Button Extend quota by the size of the started audio book and behave like there is enough free space
  - Option 2: List auto downloaded files, ordered by finishedDate ASC, startedDate ASC with a remove button for every item, a Just streambutton and a cancel button

@sandreas commented on GitHub (Aug 31, 2023): @Daemonias @gh0sti @awilisch I thought this through independently in https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/discussions/846 The problem with instantly deleting finished books is, that if you fall asleep near the end of the book, then want to rewind the next day I would prefer having the possibility to go back without downloading or streaming. Even worse, if you are on vacation and have no access to your server, the book would no longer be available. Instead I would prefer the following: ## How about introducing Auto-Download Feature with Quota: - [ ] Add a global setting: Enable auto download for `Continue Listening` books - [ ] Add a global setting: Define auto download quota for auto download, default 10GB - [ ] Add a global setting: Delete finished books after X days, default 30 days - [ ] Add a global setting: Also download files when no wifi connection is established - [ ] Automatically download every audio book, that has been started, has progress, but is not finished - with Option: When Wifi is available - [ ] If you start listening a new book, it checks the quota and auto-manages the content - if there is enough free space, start downloading in background immediately without any warning or visible message - if there is NOT enough free space, either there are finished books older than 30 days, so delete them and behave like there is enough free space OR abs shows a dialog `Quota exceeded`where you could - Option 1: Button `Extend quota` by the size of the started audio book and behave like there is enough free space - Option 2: List auto downloaded files, ordered by `finishedDate ASC, startedDate ASC` with a `remove` button for every item, a `Just stream`button and a cancel button

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:19 +02:00

@awilisch commented on GitHub (Aug 31, 2023):

The auto cleanup is the one thing I've missed and would love to see. Maybe it's could be tied into collections? Have a "start listening" or "start reading" button on the collection. Could auto download when you get to a percentage complete and cleanup after x days?

@awilisch commented on GitHub (Aug 31, 2023): The auto cleanup is the one thing I've missed and would love to see. Maybe it's could be tied into collections? Have a "start listening" or "start reading" button on the collection. Could auto download when you get to a percentage complete and cleanup after x days?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:19 +02:00

@sandreas commented on GitHub (Aug 31, 2023):

Maybe it's could be tied into collections? Have a "start listening" or "start reading" button on the collection. Could auto download when you get to a percentage complete and cleanup after x days?

@awilisch
I would enable the auto download feature setting for every book where I click stream or that already have progress, without any dependency to collections, playlists or anything else...

Additionally i would (later, because i think the auto download one is more important) add another totally independent feature: checkbox available offline in edit playlist, so that you can add or remove items to it and abs will sync them automatically, deleting removed items, downloading new.

@sandreas commented on GitHub (Aug 31, 2023): > Maybe it's could be tied into collections? Have a "start listening" or "start reading" button on the collection. Could auto download when you get to a percentage complete and cleanup after x days? @awilisch I would enable the auto download feature setting for every book where I click **stream** or that already have progress, without any dependency to collections, playlists or anything else... Additionally i would (later, because i think the auto download one is more important) add another totally independent feature: checkbox **available offline** in **edit playlist**, so that you can add or remove items to it and abs will sync them automatically, deleting removed items, downloading new.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:20 +02:00

@zac9 commented on GitHub (Oct 1, 2023):

More ideas for the pile.

I used to horde months of books on my phone, now I just have get from one Wi-Fi island to the next. I think we are used to thinking in terms of a Book because we have been manually copying and deleting books from our other players. Automatically cached files don't have to be necessary have to be manage at a book level, could do by 5 minute blocks to save space.

Discard played sections when you 15/30/60/2h past on playtime. or a mix of playtime + days past.
Shade the progress bar goin backwards to show how far you can rewind without needing the server. Like with streaming prefetch but backwards.
Hour limit. Don't download further than 2/6/12/24/48 hours of a book or next in series. Who is not in Wi-Fi most nights, and if your out camping you will know and can manually download ahead.
Size limit. if there is not the space for all your started books divide the space by hours equally.
Do not discard any sleep timers section tell normal lessening resumed. When I stay in hotels for work I will put on sleep timer and keep restarting it. sometime I will not remember any of the book and go back to before I put on the timer.
Larger pre fetch over cell. Being able to push it out to an hour should get past most dead zones on a drive or tell you back in Wi-Fi. I'm thinking like an option in the menu next to player lock so you can opt-in per session. Save it to disk for resuming with discard rules from above.
Auto download recently added

As mentioned in #846 if background is difficult it is not a deal breaker for me. As the player starts while I leave the house or randomly there about I bet it will stay in sync enough to keep my happy. If not tasker can probably start it so it can sync.

Thank you

@zac9 commented on GitHub (Oct 1, 2023): More ideas for the pile. I used to horde months of books on my phone, now I just have get from one Wi-Fi island to the next. I think we are used to thinking in terms of a Book because we have been manually copying and deleting books from our other players. Automatically cached files don't have to be necessary have to be manage at a book level, could do by 5 minute blocks to save space. - Discard played sections when you 15/30/60/2h past on playtime. or a mix of playtime + days past. - Shade the progress bar goin backwards to show how far you can rewind without needing the server. Like with streaming prefetch but backwards. - Hour limit. Don't download further than 2/6/12/24/48 hours of a book or next in series. Who is not in Wi-Fi most nights, and if your out camping you will know and can manually download ahead. - Size limit. if there is not the space for all your started books divide the space by hours equally. - Do not discard any sleep timers section tell normal lessening resumed. When I stay in hotels for work I will put on sleep timer and keep restarting it. sometime I will not remember any of the book and go back to before I put on the timer. - Larger pre fetch over cell. Being able to push it out to an hour should get past most dead zones on a drive or tell you back in Wi-Fi. I'm thinking like an option in the menu next to player lock so you can opt-in per session. Save it to disk for resuming with discard rules from above. - Auto download recently added As mentioned in #846 if background is difficult it is not a deal breaker for me. As the player starts while I leave the house or randomly there about I bet it will stay in sync enough to keep my happy. If not tasker can probably start it so it can sync. Thank you

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:21 +02:00

@dedors commented on GitHub (Jul 10, 2024):

I like the ideas here a lot.
What I would like to add as alternative option "next book in line" would be "next random book from series", as this is something I would use daily for my bedtime books.

@dedors commented on GitHub (Jul 10, 2024): I like the ideas here a lot. What I would like to add as alternative option "next book in line" would be "next random book from series", as this is something I would use daily for my bedtime books.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:22 +02:00

@surfingbytes commented on GitHub (May 6, 2025):

It would be great if it has more filters according to which it would auto download. Apart from "next book in line", I'd prefer option "all unfinished books". However, since this issue is there since 2023, and there is similar one from 2022 (#247), I don't think this will ever be added.

@surfingbytes commented on GitHub (May 6, 2025): It would be great if it has more filters according to which it would auto download. Apart from "next book in line", I'd prefer option "all unfinished books". However, since this issue is there since 2023, and there is similar one from 2022 (#247), I don't think this will ever be added.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:22 +02:00

@pjones112000 commented on GitHub (Aug 30, 2025):

As an alternative, how about at least SUGGEST the next book in the series, much like Kindle, etc... do once you finished a book in a series.

@pjones112000 commented on GitHub (Aug 30, 2025): As an alternative, how about at least SUGGEST the next book in the series, much like Kindle, etc... do once you finished a book in a series.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:23 +02:00

@sthompson-celerity commented on GitHub (Sep 4, 2025):

I'm getting annoyed enough with this feature I might actually do it. Not that I am judging you. I realize you have done AMAZING work here. If i make a PR what are the chances you accept the pr?

I was thinking of doing something like @sandreas suggested.

@advplyr ?

@sthompson-celerity commented on GitHub (Sep 4, 2025): I'm getting annoyed enough with this feature I might actually do it. Not that I am judging you. I realize you have done AMAZING work here. If i make a PR what are the chances you accept the pr? I was thinking of doing something like @sandreas suggested. @advplyr ?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:23 +02:00

@Bishop-trevorstuart commented on GitHub (Apr 14, 2026):

This is really (FOR ME) the only feature the app is missing on android. Some method of "cache/download" and then an auto-purge. Hopefully this is on the roadmap soon as I love the app. Downloading manually 100% gets me by right now, just would love it to be a bit more automated, or something I can set/make automated. Either from within the app settings directly or from the server side if that's easier to build.

@Bishop-trevorstuart commented on GitHub (Apr 14, 2026): This is really (FOR ME) the only feature the app is missing on android. Some method of "cache/download" and then an auto-purge. Hopefully this is on the roadmap soon as I love the app. Downloading manually 100% gets me by right now, just would love it to be a bit more automated, or something I can set/make automated. Either from within the app settings directly or from the server side if that's easier to build.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:30:24 +02:00

@rajil commented on GitHub (Apr 19, 2026):

Pocket Casts has the ability to Auto Download podcasts. Can we have this in Audiobookshelf?

@rajil commented on GitHub (Apr 19, 2026): Pocket Casts has the ability to Auto Download podcasts. Can we have this in Audiobookshelf? <img width="1080" height="1689" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/8fab563f-fe40-4b0c-8ccd-ab9ca59de3e9" />

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Reference: starred/audiobookshelf-app#615