Ncspot needs new auth every day

[Irubataru]

Describe the bug
Every day when I open ncspot it asks for "To fully enable Web API features, you need to perform a second OAuth2 authorization". It could be after every boot, I haven't checked that yet. (It's timeout based, not reboot).

I think last time I used this back in December (had to change jobs and was forced on Windows for half a year 😢) it wasn't like that. Is this expected behaviour?

System (please complete the following information):

• OS: Ubuntu 24.04
• Terminal: kitty
• Version: 1.3.4
• Installed from: cargo

Backtrace/Debug log

[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::authentication] [INFO] Using cached credentials
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::spotify] [DEBUG] No HTTP proxy set
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [librespot_core::session] [DEBUG] new Session
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [librespot::component] [DEBUG] new ApResolver
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [librespot_core::http_client] [DEBUG] Requesting https://apresolve.spotify.com/?type=accesspoint&type=dealer&type=spclient
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [librespot_core::session] [INFO] Connecting to AP "ap-gew4.spotify.com:4070"
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [librespot_core::connection] [DEBUG] Connection to AP established.
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [librespot_core::connection] [DEBUG] Authenticating with AP using AUTHENTICATION_STORED_SPOTIFY_CREDENTIALS
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [librespot_core::session] [INFO] Authenticated as '...' !
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [librespot_core::session] [DEBUG] drop Session
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [librespot_core::session] [DEBUG] drop Dispatch
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [librespot::component] [DEBUG] drop ApResolver
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "background", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "background", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "primary", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "secondary", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "title", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "highlight", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "highlight_bg", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "highlight_inactive_bg", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "playing", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "playing_selected", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "playing_bg", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "error", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "error_bg", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "statusbar_progress", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "statusbar_progress_bg", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "statusbar", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "statusbar_bg", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "cmdline", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "cmdline_bg", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::theme] [WARN] Failed to parse color in "search_match", falling back to default
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [ncspot::authentication] [INFO] Access token expired, attempting to refresh..
[2026-07-24][07:19:25] [reqwest::connect] [DEBUG] starting new connection: https://accounts.spotify.com/
[2026-07-24][07:19:31] [ncspot::authentication] [ERROR] Failed to refresh token: Failed to exchange code for access token (Server returned error response: invalid_request: refresh_token must be supplied)
[2026-07-24][07:19:31] [librespot_oauth] [INFO] OAuth server listening on 127.0.0.1:33321

[wojciech-zurek]

I have the same issue.

OS: CachyOS Linux
Terminal: warp, kitty
Version: 1.3.4-1.1
Installed from: arch repository

[httpsworldview]

Same here. I think this is because Spotify may omit refresh_token from refresh responses, meaning the existing token must be retained. librespot always converts that omission to just ""; ncspot persists it and then later submits an empty token, requiring reauthentication. This is not a problem with ncspot.

This PR should resolve it, but it might not be merged for a while (or ever, who knows).

[Zephirus2]

Same issue here.

OS: ArchLinux
Terminal: foot
Version: 1.3.4
Installed from: arch repository

[thesombady]

Same issue here.

OS: Manjaro Linux
Terminal: Ghostty
Version: 1.3.4
Installed from: arch repository

[Miha77777ua]

same thing here

OS: Void Linux
Terminal: foot
Version: 1.3.3
Installed from: void repos

[NightingaleVA]

Same here
OS: Debian
Terminal: ZSH
Version: 1.3.4
Installed from: flathub

[Bettehem]

Another custom spotify client, spotify-player had the same issue some time ago and was solved in this pr:
aome510/spotify-player#1041

It may help in solving the issue here too

[hrkfdn]

I merged a possible fix into main (not released yet). Could you check if a main build fixes it for you?

[Irubataru]

Will do! I'll report back in a couple of days 😅

[Irubataru]

It it still authenticated over 24 hours since last auth, so at the moment it seems fixed. I will report back if it asks for auth again next week, but it can be considered fixed. Thanks!

[hrkfdn]

Thanks for the update!