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An Audiobookshelf server, version 2.26 or later, and an account on it. ShelfSync works with the books on your own server; it does not sell or stream books.

The address you use for Audiobookshelf in a web browser, for example https://abs.example.com or, at home, http://192.168.1.20:13378. If you leave out https:// or http://, ShelfSync tries the secure one first.

Yes. On the server's page in Settings, Add an address. ShelfSync uses the first address that answers, and tries a home (private) address only on Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Tap an address to try it first or remove it.

Under the sign-in form, choose the connection your gateway needs: a Cloudflare Access service token (client ID and secret), HTTP Basic, a bearer token, a session cookie or custom headers. ShelfSync sends these before your server's own sign-in. For Cloudflare Access, make a service token in Zero Trust and add a Service Auth policy for it to your Audiobookshelf application.

Yes. If your server has OpenID set up, choose Single sign-on and sign in through your provider in the system's sign-in browser. Your server administrator needs to allow audiobookshelf://oauth as a redirect address, as Audiobookshelf's own apps need. Or choose API key and paste a key made on the server.

iOS asks before an app reaches devices on your home network. Open Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network and turn on ShelfSync.

Your server's administrator has turned off the Download permission for your account (Settings › Users on the server's web page). ShelfSync follows the server's permissions.

Into the folder you chose when you set up, or under Settings › Download locations, as a folder for each author holding a folder for each book. On iOS the first choice is ShelfSync's own folder, shown in Files as On My iPhone › ShelfSync.

Players that import books, such as most iOS players: on the book's page or its row in Downloads, tap Send to Player and pick your player. On iOS, ShelfSync then offers to remove its own copy, and the book shows as "In your player". Players that read a folder, such as most Android players: add the download folder in your player once, and new books appear there.

In Voice on Android, choose "Folders in … are authors" when you add the folder.

No. Some players move books out of their own folder when they find them, and ShelfSync then loses track of those books. Use a folder of your own or the ShelfSync folder. On iOS, ShelfSync warns before using another app's folder.

On Android, yes, with a notification showing progress. On iOS 26 and later, yes, with the system's own progress. On iOS 18 to 25, iOS gives an app only a short time after you leave it; the download then pauses and continues when you open ShelfSync again. Nothing already downloaded is lost.

So you can keep the player you already like, with its speeds, sleep timer and bookmarks. ShelfSync's job ends when the book is on your device in the right place.

No account, no tracking, no advertising. Store builds send anonymous crash reports with credentials removed. The privacy policy has the details.

No. ShelfSync is an independent app that works with Audiobookshelf servers. Please send ShelfSync questions here, not to the Audiobookshelf project.