# Playing MP3 playlist from my phone to a restaurant's sound system **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 10, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860 "2023-05-10T17:57:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/1 "2023-05-10T17:57:05Z")
This Saturday I am going to a birthday party at a restaurant and I have been tasked with creating a music playlist. I was told that the manager said that I could just plug my phone into their sound system and…and that’s all I was told. I have the playlist about done (about 60 songs in mp3 format so far). I have them all on a folder on my PC right now. I’ve created small playlists for myself before to listen on my earbuds. I usually just number the songs so they play in the order I like, put them in a folder, and transfer to my Samsung S23 and play on the Pulsar app. Is there anything else I need to know or do? Don’t wanna screw this up. Any tips will be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/2 "2023-05-10T18:12:25Z")
You’ll need to find out exactly how you connect your phone to the restaurant’s sound system. The restaurant has probably done this before, so you just need to talk to the person there who knows how it is done. They might have everything you need, including a cable plugged into their sound system or some such, that you just connect your phone to. Does the S23 have a headphone jack? Probably not, in which case you might need to bring a USB-C to headphone adapter. It’s also possible their sound system includes a bluetooth receiver. In which case all you’ll need to do is pair your phone to their receiver. Hope the person who knows how to put their receiver into pairing mode is there. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/3 "2023-05-10T20:01:21Z")
I’d see about getting another device like an inexpensive mp3 player, disused phone, tablet, laptop, etc so you won’t have to leave your phone plugged in someplace. You also don’t want normal notifications and other phone sounds to play through the house sound system. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/4 "2023-05-10T20:26:34Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > You also don’t want normal notifications and other phone sounds to play through the house sound system. Putting it on a “Do Not Disturb” mode I think should help with that. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/5 "2023-05-10T20:31:35Z")
Agree with others that your want to find out exactly how to connect. I’ve seen people connect cell phones to all kinds of sounds systems to play music, and it’s usually very easy, so long as you have the right cord. I’d also ask for permission to test the connection prior to the party. Ideally, a day or more in advance so your can buy a new dongle is that turns out to be what you need. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/6 "2023-05-10T21:06:20Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > You also don’t want normal notifications and other phone sounds to play through the house sound system. Or your grocery list. [https://twitter.com/thedeanpelton/status/1365001111988486144](https://twitter.com/thedeanpelton/status/1365001111988486144) ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/7 "2023-05-10T21:40:37Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’d also ask for permission to test the connection prior to the party. Ideally, a day or more in advance so your can buy a new dongle is that turns out to be what you need. Echoing this. Going through all the trouble to get the playlist together only to find out at the moment of truth you are unsure how to connect will be a real downer. As a safety net, I would bring a bluetooth speaker of my own that I know how to pair with my phone - wont be as good as the restaurant sound system, but better than nothing. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/8 "2023-05-11T02:42:56Z")
Worst case scenario, you could transfer your playlist to the restaurant’s phone and play from it. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/9 "2023-05-11T14:31:08Z")
I am disappointed. I thought I was going to learn how to hack into a restaurant’s music system in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/10 "2023-05-11T15:23:53Z")
Thanks for the advice, guys. I live in NJ and the restaurant is in Brooklyn, so I’m not making a trip in advance. I doubt an adapter is needed or I’m sure that would have been mentioned. I’ll have the playlist on a thumb drive in my pocket just in case. Since no one mentioned any special software or app, I’m guessing using my regular music player is good enough. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/11 "2023-05-11T15:28:30Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > I’ll have the playlist on a thumb drive in my pocket just in case. A lot of modern sound systems have a usb socket so you can just plug it in and go. Couldn’t you phone/email them & inquire ? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/12 "2023-05-11T15:43:59Z")
Yeah, I guess I should, but I figured I’d get better advice here for things I maybe didn’t think of, e.g., a better player, special software, etc., but I’m probably overthinking this. It seems straight forward enough, so I’m sure it’ll be fine. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/13 "2023-05-11T19:46:25Z")
Please let us know how it went. I often run into situations like this, and I’d like to be prepared from your experience. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/14 "2023-05-19T13:59:46Z")
Well, when I got to the restaurant, the friend who asked me to make the playlist asks “do you have the songs on Spotify?”. Of course I don’t. It turned out the only way to use the sound system from a phone is through Spotify. I tried plugging the flash drive into the TV, and it wouldn’t recognize it. We still listened to 90s music, which was the goal, so all was okay. Though I do count on you guys for good advice- why didn’t someone tell me to call the restaurant in advance or bring my own speaker? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/15 "2023-05-19T14:20:48Z")
Seems fishy. How does the sound system know the phone is playing Spotify? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/16 "2023-05-19T14:35:10Z")
We have sound systems in the gym and in our two cafes. We connect via bluetooth. If that is the case for you, make sure your “network discovery” is turned on. In Windows, the default, even on their network operating systems, is set to off. To check in Windows, go to “control panel”, “network and sharing center”, and then “change advanced sharing settings”. Set discovery to on if it is off. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/17 "2023-05-19T15:20:07Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Though I do count on you guys for good advice- why didn’t someone tell me to call the restaurant in advance or bring my own speaker? Horse. Water. And all that. They never listen. Glad it was okay in the end, and a good lesson on preparedness, back-up plans, and safety nets. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/18 "2023-05-19T15:28:25Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Though I do count on you guys for good advice- why didn’t someone tell me to call the restaurant in advance or bring my own speaker? From replies in this thread, prior to when you went to the restaurant – both of what you wish you had been warned about were suggested: > [@snowthx](#): > > As a safety net, I would bring a bluetooth speaker of my own that I know how to pair with my phone > [@pjd](#): > > Couldn’t you phone/email them & inquire ? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/19 "2023-05-19T15:30:23Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Seems fishy. How does the sound system know the phone is playing Spotify? Probably doesn’t – it probably doesn’t use the patron’s phone, but has its own connection to Spotify, and just needs to know what the patron’s playlist is. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-mp3-playlist-from-my-phone-to-a-restaurants-sound-system/983860/20 "2023-05-19T15:37:38Z")
I think @x-ray_vision was making sarcasm at their own expense. At least I hope so.