Support
Need a hand with Side A? We're a tiny independent team and we read every email. Reach us any time and we'll help you out.
Email us
Bug reports, feature ideas, questions, or a request to remove something you shared — all welcome.
Frequently asked
Do I need Apple Music?
Side A plays songs through Apple Music, so you'll need an active Apple Music subscription (or trial) to hear music. You can still design tapes, build mixtapes, and open tapes friends send you without one — you just need Apple Music to play them.
A tape someone sent me won't play.
Playback needs an Apple Music subscription. Even without one, you can always see the tape, its cover, and the full tracklist — and tap Save to keep it in your collection for later.
Does Side A work with Spotify or other services?
Not yet — Side A currently plays through Apple Music. Support for other services is something we're exploring.
Can I play my own music files (synced or uploaded to Apple Music)?
Yes. If a song is in your Apple Music library, Side A can play it, even if it came from your own files instead of the Apple Music catalog.
What works:
- Playing your own songs, with the artwork you gave them in Apple Music
- Finding them in search: switch to Your Library
- Playing a playlist that has them, including shuffle and skipping around
- Putting them on a tape, alongside Apple Music songs if you like
What doesn't:
- Sharing them. A shared tape sends the song list, not the music files, so songs that only exist in your library are left off the tape you send. The share screen tells you how many.
Is Sync Library turned off? If you sync music from a Mac or PC with Sync Library off, your songs live only on your device, and Side A plays them from there. This needs Side A 1.0.8 or later, so update if albums or artists won't play. You'll find the setting in iPhone Settings under Apps > Music (or just Music on older versions of iOS).
One limit with Sync Library off: a tape that mixes your own songs with Apple Music songs that aren't in your library plays only the songs on your device.
Who can see a mixtape I share?
Anyone with the link can open what you shared, so please don't put anything private in a tape's name or liner notes. Want a shared tape taken down? Email us the link and we'll remove it.
What data does Side A collect?
No accounts, no ads, and no analytics or tracking. Your tapes and recordings stay on your device — information only leaves your phone when you choose to share a tape or song. See our Privacy Policy for the details.
I found a bug or have an idea.
We'd love to hear it — email info@playsidea.com and tell us what happened or what you'd like to see.
How to use Side A
The player
- Change tapes — swipe left or right to flip through your tapes.
- Change player skins — swipe up or down to switch the player skin around the tape.
- Show controls — tap the tape to reveal play, skip, and scrub.
- See what's next — tap the spine label to open the queue.
Create a tape
- Start a tape — open the Tape Wall (Settings → Tape Wall), choose Blank Tapes, and tap +.
- Pick a base & name it — choose a base tape, then give it a name.
- Decorate it — add stickers and labels above and below the reels, then pick a font and color.
- Add a cover — add a jewel-case photo to show through the case, and flip on "Show in Player Shuffle" to spin it in your player.
Make a mixtape
- Start a mixtape — tap Make a Mixtape (the stacked-tapes icon at the top of the player).
- Choose your tape — pick a blank tape you've made, or tap New Tape to design one.
- Name it — give your mixtape a name.
- Add tracks — search Apple Music, import from a playlist, or pull in your recorded songs. Drag to reorder.
Share a mixtape
- Open & share — find your mixtape in the Tape Wall and tap Share.
- Sign it — add your name and write liner notes on the J-card.
- Send it — tap Share Mixtape. Your friend can play the whole tape right from the link.
Share a song
Tap share while a song is playing to send the current track as a Side A card — your friends can open it in their own music app, or grab Side A to make tapes of their own.