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Overview

This guide will walk you through setting up Deeztracker Mobile and downloading your first music tracks. By the end, you’ll know how to:
  • Obtain and use your Deezer ARL token
  • Search for music across tracks, albums, and playlists
  • Download music in your preferred quality
  • Play and manage your offline music library
Make sure you’ve already installed Deeztracker Mobile before proceeding with this guide.

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Getting Your Deezer ARL Token

The ARL (Authentication Resource Locator) token is required to authenticate with Deezer. Here’s how to get it:
1

Log in to Deezer in Your Browser

Open your web browser and navigate to deezer.com. Log in with your Deezer account credentials.
Use a desktop or mobile browser, not the Deezer app. The ARL token is only accessible through the website.
2

Open Browser Developer Tools

On Desktop (Chrome/Edge/Firefox):
  • Press F12 or right-click anywhere and select Inspect
  • Click on the Application tab (Chrome/Edge) or Storage tab (Firefox)
On Mobile (Chrome):
  • Type chrome://inspect in the address bar
  • Enable USB debugging on your device
  • Or use the desktop instructions via Chrome’s mobile site
3

Find the ARL Cookie

  1. In the left sidebar, expand Cookies
  2. Click on https://www.deezer.com
  3. Look for a cookie named arl
  4. The Value column contains your ARL token (a long string of random characters)
The ARL token typically looks like: abc123def456ghi789jkl012mno345pqr678stu901vwx234yz... (approximately 192 characters)
4

Copy the ARL Token

  1. Click on the ARL cookie value to select it
  2. Copy the entire string (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C)
  3. Make sure you copy the complete value without extra spaces
Keep your ARL token private! It provides full access to your Deezer account. Never share it publicly.
5

Enter ARL in Deeztracker

  1. Open Deeztracker Mobile on your device
  2. You’ll see the login screen with an ARL input field
  3. Paste your ARL token into the text field
  4. Tap the Login button
// The app verifies your ARL using the RustDeezerService
val rustService = RustDeezerService(context)
val success = rustService.login(arl)

if (success) {
    // ARL is valid and saved to SharedPreferences
    // You're now logged in!
}
Your ARL token is securely stored in the app’s private storage. You won’t need to enter it again unless you log out or reinstall the app.

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Configuring Settings

Before downloading music, configure your preferences:
1

Open Settings

After logging in, navigate to the Settings screen:
  • Tap the menu icon (≡) or navigate to the Settings tab
2

Set Audio Quality

Choose your preferred download quality:
// Smallest file size, good for saving storage
// ~3-5 MB per song
// Works with free Deezer accounts
DownloadQuality.MP3_128
Your account type limits available quality options. Free accounts are typically restricted to MP3 128kbps.
3

Choose Download Location

Select where downloaded music will be saved:
  • Music Folder (default): Storage/Music/Deeztracker/
  • Downloads Folder: Storage/Downloads/Deeztracker/
// The app determines the download directory based on your setting
val downloadDirectory: String
    get() {
        val locationPref = prefs.getString("download_location", "MUSIC")
        val rootDir = if (locationPref == "DOWNLOADS") {
            Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Environment.DIRECTORY_DOWNLOADS)
        } else {
            Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Environment.DIRECTORY_MUSIC)
        }
        return File(rootDir, "Deeztracker").absolutePath
    }
4

Select Language

Choose your interface language:
  • English (default)
  • Spanish (Español)

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Searching for Music

Deeztracker offers multiple ways to search for music:

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Search by Track

1

Open Search Tab

Navigate to the Search screen and select Tracks.
2

Enter Search Query

Type your search query in the format:
  • Artist - Song Title (e.g., “The Beatles - Hey Jude”)
  • Or just the song title: Song Title
// The app uses Deezer's public API for search
suspend fun searchTracks(query: String): List<Track> {
    return deezerApiService.searchTracks(query).data
}
3

Browse Results

Results appear instantly showing:
  • Track title
  • Artist name
  • Album name and artwork
  • Duration
Tap any track to see options or start downloading.

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Search by Album

To download entire albums:
  1. Select the Albums tab in Search
  2. Search for the album name or artist
  3. Browse results with album artwork
  4. Tap an album to view all tracks
  5. Download the entire album or individual tracks

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Search by Artist

Explore an artist’s discography:
  1. Select the Artists tab
  2. Search for the artist name
  3. View artist profile with:
    • Top tracks
    • Albums and singles
    • Artist photo

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Search by Playlist

Import Deezer playlists:
  1. Select the Playlists tab
  2. Search for playlist names
  3. View playlist details:
    • Track count
    • Creator
    • Duration
  4. Download the entire playlist
Deeztracker searches Deezer’s catalog using their public API. The app itself doesn’t host any music content.

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Downloading Your First Track

Let’s download a song:
1

Find a Track

Use the search feature to find a song you want to download. For this example, let’s search for “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
2

Initiate Download

  1. Tap on the track in the search results
  2. Tap the Download button (⬇ icon)
  3. The download starts immediately
// Download process using the DownloadManager
val downloadManager = DownloadManager.getInstance(context)
downloadManager.startTrackDownload(
    trackId = track.id,
    title = track.title
)
3

Monitor Progress

You’ll see a download notification showing:
  • Current track being downloaded
  • Download progress
  • Estimated time remaining
Downloads happen in the background. You can continue using the app or even close it - downloads will continue.
4

Check Downloads Section

Once complete:
  1. Navigate to the Downloads tab
  2. Your track appears in the list
  3. The file is saved to your chosen download location
The app automatically scans downloaded files into Android’s MediaStore, making them accessible to other music players too.

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Understanding Download States

The download system has several states: 
// No downloads in progress
DownloadState.Idle

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Downloading Albums and Playlists

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Download Full Album

1

Find the Album

Search for the album in the Albums tab.
2

Start Album Download

Tap the album, then tap Download Album.
// Album downloads process each track sequentially
downloadManager.startAlbumDownload(
    albumId = album.id,
    title = album.title
)

// The DownloadManager automatically:
// 1. Fetches all tracks in the album
// 2. Checks for duplicates (skips already downloaded)
// 3. Downloads each track with proper metadata
// 4. Updates progress for each track
3

Track Progress

The app shows:
  • Current track being downloaded
  • Overall progress (e.g., “Track 5 of 12”)
  • Success/skipped/failed counts
Large albums or playlists can take significant time and storage. Ensure you have sufficient space and a stable internet connection.

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Duplicate Detection

Deeztracker automatically prevents re-downloading existing tracks: 
// The app normalizes titles and artists to check for matches
suspend fun isTrackDownloaded(trackTitle: String, artistName: String): Boolean {
    val localTracks = musicRepository.getAllTracks()
    
    // Title: Strip 'feat', lowercase, remove non-alphanumeric
    val normalizedTitle = normalizeTitle(trackTitle)
    val normalizedArtist = normalizeArtist(artistName)
    
    return localTracks.any { track ->
        val localTitle = normalizeTitle(track.title)
        val localArtist = normalizeArtist(track.artist)
        
        localTitle == normalizedTitle && 
        (localArtist.contains(normalizedArtist) || normalizedArtist.contains(localArtist))
    }
}
Skipped tracks (already downloaded) are counted separately and don’t re-download, saving time and bandwidth.

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Playing Downloaded Music

Once you’ve downloaded music:
1

Navigate to Local Music

Tap the Library or Local Music tab to see your downloaded tracks.
2

Browse Your Library

View your music organized by:
  • All Tracks: Complete list with fast scrolling
  • Albums: Grouped by album
  • Artists: Grouped by artist
3

Play a Track

Tap any track to start playback. The player screen shows:
  • Album artwork with blurred background
  • Track title and artist
  • Playback controls (play/pause, next, previous)
  • Progress bar (tap to seek)
  • Shuffle and repeat buttons
  • Add to favorites button
4

View Synchronized Lyrics

If lyrics are available:
  1. Tap the Lyrics button on the player screen
  2. Lyrics automatically scroll as the song plays
  3. Tap any line to jump to that timestamp
// Lyrics are fetched from LrcLib API and parsed
// Format: [mm:ss.xx]Lyric line
// Example: [00:12.50]Is this the real life?

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Player Features

Volume Boost

Use hardware volume buttons to boost up to 200% for quiet tracks

Repeat Modes

Off, Repeat All, or Repeat One for continuous playback

Shuffle

Randomize playback order for variety

Background Play

Continue listening with screen off or in other apps

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Managing Your Music Library

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Create Playlists

1

Open Playlists

Navigate to the Playlists section in Local Music.
2

Create New Playlist

  1. Tap the + or Create Playlist button
  2. Enter a playlist name
  3. Tap Create
3

Add Tracks

From any track:
  1. Tap the ••• (more) button
  2. Select Add to Playlist
  3. Choose your playlist
// Playlists are stored in SharedPreferences
data class LocalPlaylist(
    val id: String,
    val name: String,
    val trackIds: List<Long>,
    val createdAt: Long
)

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Edit Track Metadata

Customize track information:
  1. Long-press any track in your library
  2. Select Edit Metadata
  3. Modify:
    • Track title
    • Artist name
    • Album name
  4. Changes are saved to the file’s ID3 tags
Metadata changes use JAudioTagger library and are written directly to the audio file.

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Share and Delete Tracks

  • Share: Tap the share icon to send the file via other apps
  • Delete: Long-press a track and select Delete to remove it

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: Can’t log in with ARL token.Solutions:
  • Verify you copied the entire ARL token (no spaces, complete string)
  • Make sure you’re logged into Deezer in your browser
  • ARL tokens can expire - try logging out and back into Deezer, then get a fresh token
  • Check your internet connection
Problem: Downloads start but fail or show errors.Solutions:
  • Check your internet connection (Wi-Fi recommended for large downloads)
  • Verify you have sufficient storage space
  • For high-quality formats (320kbps/FLAC), ensure you have a Premium/HiFi Deezer account
  • Some tracks may not be available in certain regions or quality levels
  • Check storage permissions: Settings → Apps → Deeztracker → Permissions
Problem: Downloads complete but tracks don’t show in library.Solutions:
  • Wait a few seconds - MediaStore scanning can take time
  • Manually refresh: Pull down on the library screen
  • Check the physical folder: Music/Deeztracker/ or Downloads/Deeztracker/
  • Restart the app to trigger a library rescan
Problem: Music won’t play or stops unexpectedly.Solutions:
  • Verify the file was fully downloaded (check file size)
  • Try playing in another music player to confirm the file is valid
  • Clear app cache: Settings → Apps → Deeztracker → Storage → Clear Cache
  • For FLAC files, ensure your device supports the codec
Problem: Lyrics don’t appear for a song.Solutions:
  • Lyrics depend on availability in the LrcLib database
  • Not all songs have synchronized lyrics
  • Check your internet connection (lyrics are fetched on-demand)
  • Some tracks may only have unsynchronized lyrics (not supported yet)

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Advanced Tips

Batch Downloads

Download multiple albums or playlists overnight. Queue them up and let the download manager handle them sequentially.

Storage Management

Downloaded files are organized by artist and album in subfolders for easy manual management.

Quality Switching

You can change quality settings anytime. New downloads will use the updated quality setting.

Offline Access

Once downloaded, all music is fully offline. No internet required for playback.

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Next Steps

You’re now ready to build your offline music library! Here are some things to explore:
  • Explore Search: Try searching by different criteria (artist, album, playlist)
  • Build Playlists: Organize your music into custom collections
  • Discover Quality: Compare MP3 vs FLAC quality on your device
  • Customize Settings: Adjust download location and language preferences
Remember to respect copyright laws and use Deeztracker Mobile for personal use only.

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Getting Help

If you encounter issues not covered in this guide:
  1. Check the Installation Guide for setup problems
  2. Visit the GitHub repository to report bugs or request features
  3. Review the source code to understand how specific features work
Deeztracker Mobile is open-source! Contributions and feedback are welcome on GitHub.

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