Set up Navidrome on Windows

Same idea as the Mac guide — turn your PC into a music server, no cloud needed.

≈ 15 minutes Easy Windows 10 or 11

  1. Install ffmpeg

    Navidrome needs ffmpeg for audio transcoding. Easiest way on Windows 10/11: open PowerShell (press Windows key, type "powershell", Enter) and run:

    winget install Gyan.FFmpeg

    Approve the prompt. Restart any open terminals after install so the new PATH takes effect.

    What is ffmpeg?

    Free tool that converts audio between formats. Navidrome uses it to stream your music to phones, browsers, and players that expect different codecs. Without ffmpeg, transcoding fails for many clients.

    No winget?

    Older Windows or stripped-down installs may not have it. Grab a build from gyan.dev/ffmpeg/builds, extract to C:\ffmpeg, and add C:\ffmpeg\bin to your PATH (search Windows for "Edit the system environment variables").

  2. Download the Navidrome MSI installer

    Go to the official releases page. Look for the file ending in windows_x86_64.msi (most modern PCs) and download it.

    Which file?

    The list looks scary, but you only need one. On a normal modern Windows PC, pick the .msi file with x86_64 in its name. The MSI handles install + service setup in one go — no manual unzipping or service wrappers.

  3. Run the installer

    Double-click the .msi. The installer asks for a few basics:

    • Music Folder — e.g. C:\Users\YOUR_NAME\Music
    • Data Folder — leave default unless you have a reason
    • Port — leave at 4533

    Click through. The installer registers Navidrome as a Windows service and starts it automatically. No Command Prompt needed.

    Windows Defender / SmartScreen warning?

    First run may show "Windows protected your PC." Click More info → Run anyway. Also click Allow access on private networks when the firewall prompt appears — lets phones and laptops on your Wi-Fi reach it.

  4. Open it in your browser

    Go to http://localhost:4533, create your admin account, and you're set. Navidrome is now running as a service — survives reboots, no Command Prompt to keep open.

    How do I edit settings later?

    Config file lives at C:\Program Files\Navidrome\navidrome.toml. Edit with Notepad (run as Administrator), then restart the service: Win + R → services.msc → find "Navidrome" → Restart.

Next → Connect Moosic to your new server
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