Your audiobooks are on your computer, a few more are on your phone, and after changing devices, you're looking for where you left off listening. Audiobookshelf collects your own audio library in one place and allows you to return to a recording without manually saving the chapter number. In this guide, we'll show you how to set up Audiobookshelf on Saplo, add your first book, and check playback.
What you get with your own Audiobookshelf
Audiobookshelf is an open-source audiobook and podcast server. It provides a browser player, remembers progress separately for each user, and synchronizes it across devices. It also supports downloading podcast episodes and organizing books using metadata and covers. The project's capabilities are described in the official Audiobookshelf documentation.
You start with your own files. The installation does not provide a catalog of paid audiobooks or a subscription to a bookstore. Prepare recordings that you can play outside of the seller's application, such as MP3 or M4B files.
Audiobookshelf requirements and hosting on Saplo
The cheapest plan that meets the recipe's minimum requirements is Box S for $29 per year. This is the starting point for running the application. The size of your collection and the number of concurrent listeners will affect the resources needed for daily use.
Before installation, prepare an active Box with free space, an application name, and one audiobook for testing. Only move a large library after you've checked the first recording. Remember that audio files share the Box's disk with the system and other applications, so not all of the plan's capacity will be available for audiobooks.
Installation from the catalog does not require SSH or manual database setup. The recipe uses the application's own SQLite database. You can find the service description on the Audiobookshelf hosting on Saplo page.
Step-by-step installation
- Log in to the Saplo panel and open the app catalog. Search for Audiobookshelf.
- Name the application, select the Box, and choose an available application address, for example, the subdomain
*.saploapp.pl. - Confirm the installation. Saplo will launch the application and configure access via the domain with an SSL certificate.
- Wait for the installation to complete in the panel, then open the application address via HTTPS. The time depends, among other things, on image download and server load.
- Upon the first access, go through the Root administrator account creation wizard. Choose a username and a strong, unique password. Do this immediately after installation, as the first account receives administrative privileges.
- Save the server address and login details in your password manager. This is your Audiobookshelf account, separate from your Saplo panel account.
The recipe also leaves AUDIOBOOKSHELF-SETUP.txt instructions in the app directory. It does not contain a pre-set administrator password: you set it yourself in the wizard.
Adding a library and your first book
In Audiobookshelf settings, add a book library, name it something like "Audiobooks," and point it to the /audiobooks folder. This is the path visible inside the application. The Saplo recipe connects it to the audiobooks folder in your installation directory on Box.
Then, use the file upload function in Audiobookshelf:
- Select the library where the book should go.
- Upload a single M4B file or a folder containing all parts of one book.
- Wait for the upload to complete and the item to appear in the list.
- Open the book and check the title and the order of the parts.
Upload a book divided into multiple MP3 files as an entire folder. Adding the same files separately may create several books instead of one. Details are described in the Audiobookshelf file upload instructions.
You can also transfer a larger collection via the file manager in the Saplo panel to your application's audiobooks folder. Keep a separate folder for each book. If the list doesn't change after uploading the files, run a library scan in Audiobookshelf and check the specified path.
Covers, authors, and volume order
After importing, review a few items: ensure the title isn't just the file name, the author is correctly recognized, and the parts of the recording are in the right order. The automatic scan reads local metadata. Matching a book to an external metadata source is a separate process, so a missing cover right after upload doesn't mean there's an installation error. The rules are described in the book libraries documentation.
Practically, it's worth starting with one multi-part book. Once it's imported correctly, it's easier to apply the same folder structure to the rest of your collection.
First listen and family accounts
Start a book in your browser, scroll to your desired fragment, and then stop playback. Open the same installation in a second browser or on your phone and log in to the same account. Check if you can resume from the saved spot. This is a simple test that is worth doing before moving your entire archive.
For each additional person, create a separate account in Audiobookshelf user settings. A regular user is sufficient for listening. Set their access to the appropriate libraries. Thanks to separate accounts, household members will not overwrite each other's progress on the same book. Roles and access restrictions are described in the user management documentation.
Podcasts in a separate library
For podcasts, create a separate library of the appropriate type and point to the /podcasts folder, prepared by the Saplo recipe. Audiobookshelf allows you to search for podcasts and download their episodes. Start with one program and manually download a selected episode before enabling automatic downloads.
Regularly check your disk usage. A podcast archive with many episodes can grow quickly, especially if you're downloading several series simultaneously.
Library Backups
Audiobookshelf's built-in backup includes the application database and covers stored in the metadata directory. It does not include the audiobook or podcast files themselves. Therefore, keep your original recordings outside of Box and take care of backing up application data separately. The scope of built-in backups is described in the server management documentation.
Before a major import or update, ensure you have current backups and know how to locate them outside of a running installation. The visible list of books itself does not replace a backup of the audio files.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get started?
The cheapest plan that meets the minimum requirements is Box S for $29 per year. When planning your space, remember to also account for your own recordings and other applications on your Box.
Do I need SSH?
Not for the installation and initial configuration described. You launch the application from your Saplo panel, create an account in your browser, and add books using the built-in upload or file manager.
Why don't I see an uploaded book?
Check if the files are in the folder assigned to the correct library. For audiobooks in this installation, this is /audiobooks. Run a scan and check if your account has access to the library.
What should I do if the application doesn't respond after installation?
Check the application status in your Saplo panel and the address you're trying to open. If the installation reports an error, provide Saplo Support with the application name and the message content. Do not delete the library just to try again.
Where should I start?
Open the Audiobookshelf offer on Saplo, launch the application from the catalog, and immediately create an administrator account. Add one book, check the chapter order and progress saving. Only then transfer the rest of your library.
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