Yandex Music MCP server with a native macOS player
yandex-music-mcp
A browser-free Yandex Music MCP server: the agent queues a playlist, a local daemon plays it via mpv with Now Playing in Control Center
- 1 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Extended access
Why this level
- The token grants full access to the account's music profile and is stored locally in a file
- The server is unauthenticated and meant only for local launch by an agent
Install
- Works in
- Services
Manual install
git clone https://github.com/aramvr/yandex-music-mcp.git && cd yandex-music-mcp && pnpm install && pnpm build && node dist/cli.js authBuild from source, requires mpv (brew install mpv) and Xcode command line tools for the native player.
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- The token grants full access to the account's music profile and is stored locally in a file
- The server is unauthenticated and meant only for local launch by an agent
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
The server turns Yandex Music into tools the agent calls directly: search, queue, play, playlist management. Audio comes out of the Mac's speakers through a separate local player daemon built on mpv (or afplay as a fallback) that advances through the queue on its own without repeated agent calls. On macOS it also builds a native Swift app: a real Now Playing entry in Control Center and a separate window with the queue and per-track like/dislike. Audio quality defaults to the best the account is entitled to, trying FLAC and falling back to MP3 320 CBR; the true lossless endpoint is protected by a signature and encryption and is deliberately not implemented, to avoid circumventing content protection.
Who it is for. For macOS developers with a Yandex Plus subscription who want to listen to music through an agent, with no browser tabs involved.
Good fit when
- You need actual playback on the Mac, not just data management
- It matters that the agent queues a whole set in one call, not track by track
- You want proper Now Playing integration in macOS Control Center
Not a fit when
- Not on macOS: playback and the native UI only work there, though search and playlists are platform-agnostic
- You need lossless audio: the project deliberately does not circumvent the lossless endpoint, only MP3 320
- No Yandex Plus subscription: without it the API only returns 30-second previews
Example request
Queue and play an hour-long set of Rammstein, System of a Down and Muse tracksMCP
- Transport
- stdio
- Authentication
- not required
Environment variables
YM_QUALITY- lossless (default) or high, controls stream quality selection
Limitations
It uses Yandex Music's private API; there is no official public alternative, and endpoints can change without notice. There is no installer or Docker image, only a build from source via pnpm. Playback and the native UI only work on macOS; search and data are platform-agnostic. The MCP server is unauthenticated by design and meant to be launched by a local agent; the README explicitly warns not to expose it.
How to disable. Run ym uninstall-agent if you installed the daemon autostart, and remove the server from your MCP client configuration.
FAQ
Can it play lossless audio?
The project deliberately does not bypass the signature and encryption of the real lossless endpoint; in practice it plays MP3 320 CBR.
Does it need the account password?
No, sign-in happens on Yandex's own browser page, and only the pasted token ever reaches the code.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Authentication | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yandex Music MCP server with a native macOS player (this card) | no | not required | 1 | |
| Yandex Music MCP server with genre analysis | no | API key | 2 | with genre analysis and playlists |
| Yandex Music MCP for taste analysis | no | API key | 0 | taste analysis, zero install |
README in short
The README explains the architecture in detail (MCP server plus a separate long-lived daemon plus a native macOS app), why there is no Docker image or installer, the paste-token login flow, audio quality settings and why lossless is not implemented. It lists all tools and CLI commands, the daemon-to-app wire protocol, and a caveats section about the private API's instability.