Playlists

A playlist can be far more than a list of songs — it is one of FPP's most versatile features. A playlist is an organised group of sequences, commands, scripts, videos and more, played in a particular order, and it is where you combine everything to create your light show. You can keep several playlists for different time frames or days, and you can even nest a playlist within a playlist. Open Content Setup → Playlists.

Hover over a playlist to edit or delete it; click it to open the editor. Click New Playlist to create one, entering a name and an optional description.

Note

A warning icon on a card indicates the playlist references media or sequences that are missing from this device.

Playlist options

Once a playlist is open, hover over its name for an Edit button, and use the options at the top right:

• Settings – edit saved settings such as the description, Verbose details, and Randomize:
  • Off – play in the configured order.
  • Once Per Load – randomise each time the playlist begins.
  • Every Iteration – randomise after each song (with logic to prevent the same song playing back‑to‑back).
• Playlist Actions – Copy Playlist, Rename Playlist, Randomize Playlist (reorder now), Reset Playlist (revert to the saved version), and Delete Playlist.

The three sections

A playlist has three sections, each showing its item count and total duration:

• Lead In – plays once when the playlist starts (e.g. to activate items before the show, or a one‑time announcement). It does not repeat even when Repeat is selected.
• Main Playlist – your main items; this section repeats when Repeat is selected in the Scheduler or on the Status page.
• Lead Out – plays once when the playlist ends (e.g. to switch things off, or a closing announcement).

Adding entries

Adding to any section is the same: click Add a Sequence/Entry and choose a Type:

• Sequence and Media – the most common entry: an .fseq plus its associated audio and/or video (with a Video Out option).
• Branch – change the playlist while it runs, branching to another position based on test conditions (e.g. lowering the volume at a certain time of day). Several test conditions and settings are available.
• Dynamic – items created on the fly by an outside script, plugin or process.
• FPP Command – run any FPP Command as a playlist item (see Command Presets).
• Image – display images through the HDMI port (a virtual "picture frame"). Enter /home/fpp/media/images to use all images (played in random order), or an individual file name; choose a transition, and add a Pause entry for how long each image shows.
• Media Only – play media with no lights controlled (e.g. pictures on a matrix or TV).
• Pause – wait for a set time.
• Playlist – embed a playlist within a playlist (e.g. a shared Lead In playlist reused by several daily playlists).
• Remap – remap channels to another range, handy if you move a prop to a different port and cannot rebuild the sequence.
• Script – run a script (pre‑written or your own; see Script Repository Browser).
• Sequence Only – sequence data with no media (e.g. an animation).
• URL – send URL commands to outside programs (e.g. switch a smart power strip, or post the current song to a website).

Drag items to reorder them, including between sections. Hover over an item for Edit and delete options. Save the playlist when done; it is then available on the Status page and to the Scheduler.