Atero Support
Atero is a self-hosted personal media app published by Ironwood Software LLC. The app connects to servers you already run — it does not host your media or operate a streaming catalog.
Help Topics
Quick guidance for common areas of the app. For the full Free vs Pro comparison, see the home page matrix.
Getting Started
Install Atero, open Settings → Music Server Settings, and add your first server.
Free includes one credentialed media server.
Start listening from Home, Music, Podcasts, or Books.
Connecting Servers
Add Jellyfin, Emby, Navidrome, or OpenSubsonic-compatible music servers, plus Audiobookshelf
for audiobooks, ebooks, and ABS podcasts. Enter your server URL and credentials. Connections
are made directly from your device to your server.
Music
Browse artists, albums, and playlists. Use Home discovery, in-app radio, track favorites, and
Now Playing with queue and lyrics on supported Jellyfin, Emby, and Navidrome libraries.
Album- and artist-level favorites are not offered in Atero.
Podcasts
Follow RSS feeds, discover shows, and manage per-feed settings. Offline episode
downloads require Atero Pro.
Audiobooks
Connect Audiobookshelf to play audiobooks by chapter, sync progress, and continue listening
across sessions. Audiobook downloads are available on Free.
eBooks
Read EPUB files from Audiobookshelf in the built-in reader. Continue-reading rails are
available; eBook downloads are available on Free and appear in the Downloads hub.
Playback & settings
Streaming quality choices (Wi‑Fi and cellular) require Atero Pro: Atero Settings → Streaming.
Free stays on Standard quality. Normalize volume (ReplayGain): Atero Settings → Playback & Queue.
Customize Home sections: Atero Settings → Customize Home Screen.
Your Listening (Free) and Listening Insights (Pro): Settings → Your Listening.
Ambient Sound Machine: Settings → Ambient Sound Machine.
Storage & Data
Manage download limits, stream cache, storage usage, and clear cache in
Settings → Storage & Data. Clearing cache does not remove downloads.
Android Auto
Free keeps basic playback controls from the active media session.
Library browsing and additional controls are included with Atero Pro on Android
(Settings → Android Auto).
CarPlay
Free keeps basic CarPlay playback controls (system play, pause, and skip).
Library browsing and additional controls require Atero Pro on iOS.
Phone playback on iOS does not require Pro.
Downloads
Music and podcast downloads require Atero Pro.
Audiobook and eBook downloads are available on Free.
Music downloads work on Jellyfin, Emby, and OpenSubsonic-compatible servers including Navidrome.
The Downloads hub groups offline content across media types.
Purchases / Pro Upgrade
Atero Pro is a one-time purchase through the App Store and Google Play.
Pro adds multiple servers, offline music and podcast downloads, Android Auto and CarPlay library
browsing and additional controls, server playlist changes on supported servers, Save Queue,
streaming quality controls, Detailed Listening Insights, Music Visualizer, custom accent colors,
Create Backup, and Future Pro Features as they are added.
Use Restore Purchases in the app if you reinstall or change devices.
Troubleshooting
Verify server URL, credentials, and HTTPS certificates. Confirm your server is reachable from
your device network. Try Refresh Library in Music Server Settings. Share crash reports is
on by default; disable it in Atero Settings → Privacy & Diagnostics if you prefer.
Contact Support
For help with Atero, contact Ironwood Software LLC:
Please include your device model, OS version (Android or iOS if applicable), Atero app version, server type, and a description of the issue. Do not send passwords or full API tokens in email.
Frequently Asked Questions
What servers are supported?
Jellyfin, Emby, Navidrome, OpenSubsonic-compatible servers, and Audiobookshelf
for audiobooks, ebooks, and ABS podcasts.
What is Free vs Pro?
Free includes one credentialed media server, streaming at Standard quality, search, discovery,
lyrics, theme mode and Atero Gold, Your Listening, Clear Listening History, audiobook and eBook downloads, Restore Backup, Ambient Sound Machine,
and normalize volume. Free also keeps basic Android Auto and CarPlay playback controls. Pro adds multiple servers,
offline music and podcast downloads, automotive library browsing and additional controls, server playlist changes on supported servers,
Save Queue, streaming quality controls, Detailed Listening Insights, Music Visualizer, custom accent colors, Create Backup,
and Future Pro Features as they are added.
See Features.
How do streaming quality and downloads differ?
Free streams at Standard quality. With Pro, Atero Settings → Streaming lets you choose
quality separately for Wi‑Fi and cellular. Offline music and podcast downloads
require Pro. Audiobook and eBook downloads are available on Free.
What is Your Listening?
Settings → Your Listening is available on Free, including Clear Listening History.
Listening Insights and Year in Review require Atero Pro.
How do crash reports work?
Share crash reports is enabled by default in Atero Settings → Privacy &
Diagnostics. When disabled, reports are dropped before transmission.
Is iOS available?
The iOS app is in active
development and is not yet publicly listed on the App Store.
Free keeps basic CarPlay playback controls; library browsing and additional
controls require Atero Pro on iOS. Phone playback does not require Pro.
How do offline downloads work?
Music and podcast downloads require Atero Pro.
Audiobook and eBook downloads are available on Free.
Music downloads work on Jellyfin, Emby, and OpenSubsonic-compatible
servers (including Navidrome).
Is Android Auto included?
Free keeps basic playback controls from the active media session.
Library browsing and additional controls are included with Atero Pro on Android.
How does Audiobookshelf work?
Add an Audiobookshelf server for audiobooks, EPUB ebooks, and read-only ABS podcast libraries.
Progress syncs back to your server when supported.
Does Emby work with Atero?
Yes for browsing and playback. Emby supports Pro-gated music downloads, in-app radio,
live lyrics, and Android Auto on the same paths as Jellyfin and Navidrome.
Run a full library sync after server-side genre changes before genre browse or genre radio.
Does Jellyfin work with Atero?
Yes. Jellyfin supports browsing, playback, lyrics on supported libraries, offline music
downloads with Pro, and server playback reporting.
Does Navidrome / OpenSubsonic work?
Yes. Navidrome and other OpenSubsonic-compatible servers support music browse, playback, lyrics,
offline music downloads with Pro, and in-app radio on supported configurations.