Installation

Downloading Now Playing

The Now Playing desktop app is available from the official website. Visit nowplayingapp.com and click the download button. The site automatically detects your operating system and offers the correct installer, but you can also manually select macOS or Windows if needed.

Tip

Always download from nowplayingapp.com to ensure you have the latest version with the most recent DJ software compatibility. Avoid third-party download sites.

The download is a single file:

Platform	File type	Typical size
macOS	.dmg disk image	~120 MB
Windows	.exe installer	~100 MB

Installing on macOS

Step-by-Step Installation

1. Locate the downloaded .dmg file in your Downloads folder and double-click it to open it.
2. A Finder window will appear showing the Now Playing app icon alongside your Applications folder shortcut.
3. Drag the Now Playing icon into the Applications folder.
4. Wait for the copy to complete. This usually takes a few seconds.
5. Eject the disk image by right-clicking it in the Finder sidebar and selecting Eject.
6. Open Launchpad or navigate to your Applications folder and double-click Now Playing to launch it.

Handling the macOS Gatekeeper Prompt

macOS Gatekeeper may block the app from opening the first time because it was downloaded from the internet. This is normal and expected behavior. It does not mean the app is unsafe. If you see a message saying the app “cannot be opened because it is from an unidentified developer” or similar:

1. Open System Settings (macOS 13+) or System Preferences (macOS 12).
2. Navigate to Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll down to the Security section.
4. You will see a message referencing Now Playing with an Open Anyway button. Click it.
5. Enter your Mac password if prompted.
6. In the confirmation dialog that appears, click Open.

This is a one-time step. Now Playing will open normally on every subsequent launch without showing this prompt.

Tip

If you don’t see the “Open Anyway” button in System Settings, try right-clicking the app in Finder and choosing Open from the context menu instead. This gives you the option to open it directly.

macOS Permissions

On first launch, Now Playing may request permission to access your local network. This is required for it to communicate with DJ software that uses network-based protocols (such as StageLinq). Click Allow when prompted.

Installing on Windows

Step-by-Step Installation

1. Locate the downloaded .exe file in your Downloads folder.
2. Double-click the installer to run it.
3. If Windows SmartScreen displays a blue warning dialog saying “Windows protected your PC,” click More info (below the warning text), then click Run anyway. This is expected behavior for newly released or updated software and does not indicate a security risk.
4. The installer wizard will open. Click Next to proceed through the steps.
5. Choose your installation directory if desired (the default is usually fine), then click Install.
6. Once installation completes, leave the Launch Now Playing checkbox selected and click Finish.

Now Playing will launch automatically after installation. You can also find it in your Start menu or on your desktop if you chose to create a shortcut during installation.

Windows Firewall Prompt

When Now Playing first starts on Windows, you may see a Windows Defender Firewall prompt asking whether to allow Now Playing to communicate on private and public networks. Select Private networks at minimum, and click Allow access. This is required for Now Playing to detect tracks from network-connected DJ hardware.

Tip

If you accidentally denied firewall access, you can fix it by going to Windows Security → Firewall & network protection → Allow an app through firewall, finding Now Playing in the list, and enabling it.

First Launch and Signing In

When Now Playing opens for the first time, you will be prompted to sign in or create an account. Both options are available directly from the app’s welcome screen.

Creating an Account

If you don’t have a Now Playing account yet:

1. Click Create Account on the welcome screen.
2. Your default web browser will open and take you to nowplayingapp.com to complete registration.
3. Enter your email address and choose a password (or sign up with Google if that option is available).
4. Verify your email address if prompted by clicking the link in the confirmation email.
5. Once registration is complete, the browser will display a confirmation and automatically redirect back to the desktop app.

Signing In to an Existing Account

1. Click Sign In on the welcome screen.
2. Your browser will open to the Now Playing login page.
3. Enter your credentials and click Sign In.
4. The browser will redirect back to the desktop app automatically.

Tip

Keep your browser open during the sign-in process. The desktop app and browser communicate over a local connection to complete the authentication handshake. If the redirect does not happen automatically, return to the app and check for a manual confirmation button.

Automatic Updates

Now Playing checks for updates automatically in the background. When a new version is available, you will see a notification in the desktop app. You can choose to install the update immediately or defer it until the next time you quit and reopen the app.

Updates are applied silently. You do not need to re-run an installer. The app restarts itself after applying the update.

Tip

Keeping Now Playing up to date ensures you have the latest DJ software compatibility, bug fixes, and new features. Updates are typically small and fast to apply.

Common Installation Issues

Issue	Solution
macOS says app is damaged	Right-click the app and choose Open, or check Privacy & Security settings
Windows installer won’t run	Right-click the .exe and choose Run as administrator
App opens but shows a blank screen	Check your internet connection and firewall settings
Sign-in browser tab doesn’t open	Manually open nowplayingapp.com and sign in from there
App crashes on launch (macOS)	Check that you’re running macOS 12 or later
App crashes on launch (Windows)	Ensure you’re running a 64-bit version of Windows 10 or later

If you continue to experience issues after trying these steps, visit the Help section in the dashboard or reach out to support via the dashboard’s help menu.

Next Steps

After installation and sign-in, the onboarding wizard launches automatically. See the Onboarding section for a step-by-step walkthrough of the setup process.