Help! It's Broken!

OnSong Console works by turnin' your iOS device into a lil' web server on your local network. Translation? OnSong becomes a website that only you can creep on. Totes safe & speedy since zero info bounces off the Internet. BUT—and there's always a but—sometimes things get real weird. Here's the troubleshotin' guide nobody asked for.

Why can't I access OnSong Console on my device without droppin' cash on Premium?

OnSong Console has always been the fancy pants premium feature bolted onto the base OnSong package. Then in 2018, the overlords shuffled it into OnSong Premium & locked it behind a subscription paywall with a buncha other shiny new toys. If you threw money at it back in the day as an add-on, you can still unlock it (if you've since nuked & reinstalled OnSong like a digital hoarder). Here's the song & dance: pop into the Utilities Hamburger by tappin' the gear icon in the Menubar & pick You. Make sure you're NOT logged into an OnSong account—& Bail Out at the bottom if you are. Then you'll see an Add-On Goodies row you can tap. Hit the Bring Back My Old Stuff button to unlock OnSong Console.

Why doesn't the Console website pop up in my browser like it owes me money?

When you first fire up OnSong Console inside OnSong, boom—you get a web address, usually lookin' like http://nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn. That's an IP address (basically a phone number for computers on your local network to ring you up). It only works for devices on your WiFi—nothin' from the weird internet unless your router is somehow bonkers, which is totes unlikely. Type in that address exactly as it shows on the OnSong Console screen. Forget the "http://" & your browser gets all confused, searchin' for gibberish or sneakin' in "https://" & blowin' up the whole thing.

Oh, & remember: OnSong is the web server runnin' this website. Shut down OnSong or let your device nap & Console ghosted ya. We designed it to keep your device awake while you're usin' it, but you probably accidentally let it snooze anyway.

My Console threw a tantrum in the browser or ghosted me. Now what?

Sometimes stuff changes while you're already starin' at Console. If the address is right, try force-refreshin' the web page—smash SHIFT on your keyboard & tap the refresh button next to the URL bar. This nukes the page from the server & fixes like, most of the weirdness.

Why am I seein' a network error when I try to access Console?

Still stuck? The culprit is probably that OnSong needs to get cozy with your specific network. Switch WiFi networks? OnSong's gotta restart the web server on those new IP addresses. To fix it, toggle Console off & back on in the OnSong Console screen inside OnSong & use whatever address it shows ya—typed perfectly, thx. Still broken? Your network security's probably the wet blanket. Maybe your network blocks web servers (they run on port 80, which is super locked down). You might need to beg a network admin to let web servers through. OR, import a settings file that runs Console on port 5076 instead—higher ports = usually chill. Just add the port to the end like this: http://nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn:5076. Wanna do that? Holler at us.

Can I save this web address & reuse it forever & ever?

Yes & no, bestie. Local networks pull this annoying stunt where they auto-assign new IP addresses to devices—& no two networks are the same. Translation: your address on network A is gonna be totally different on network B. Some routers try to give devices the same address they got before, but no promises unless you're fancy enough to set up DHCP Reservations on your router. (That's a whole rabbit hole we don't have time for. Google it in your router's manual.)

But here's the tea: if you're on a Mac & wanna save the address for later, tap the web address in the OnSong Console screen inside OnSong to flip to a local domain name. You'll see somethin' like http://my-computers-name.local instead of numbers. Mac computers (& anything with multicast DNS) can use this address instead & it stays put even if the IP changes—as long as you don't rename your device like a crazy person.

Why's my browser screamin' about security when I hit the Console website?

OnSong Console turns your iOS/iPadOS device into a web server on your local network. Can't use fancy SSL/TLS encryption 'cause those certificates come from Internet Authorities for domain names on the world-wide web. OnSong Console isn't out there with a domain—it's just vibin' locally. We could self-sign a certificate, but browsers hate that. Besides, the stuff bein' sent is boring (not sensitive) & stays on your local network, never floatin' off to the Internet. Wanna actually secure it? Use a private network & stay off public WiFi. Also, OnSong's built-in Connect API has a basic whitelist permission system that makes you confirm before spreadin' any network info.

Why won't Console turn on for me?

In iOS/iPadOS 14, Apple threw up guard rails so apps can't snoop on local networks without your say-so. OnSong's always used local networking for wireless party tricks, but now you gotta say "yes plz" when iOS/iPadOS asks. Skip that popup & Console dies. Fix it: open Settings from your Home Screen, find OnSong under Applications, & flip on the Local Network Access switch.

What's the difference between OnSong Console & OnSong Console for Mac?

OnSong Console is baked into OnSong & unlocked via an old add-on purchase or OnSong Premium subscription. OnSong Console for Mac was a separate thing that's now dead as a doornail on newer MacOS versions. RIP. Use the web-based OnSong Console instead, thx. Slide into our DMs & we'll get you set up with the shiny new version.