Spicetify has genuinely changed how I listen to music. It removes the restrictions of the official app and turns it into a personalized powerhouse. Let me show you why I love it and how you can get started.

What is Spicetify?

Spicetify is an open-source command-line tool that allows you to modify the Spotify client with custom themes, extensions, and features that aren't available in the official app.

It's not just about pretty colors — it's about taking full control of your listening experience. Because it's open source, there's a vibrant community constantly creating new themes, extensions, and fixes. You get transparency, frequent updates, and the ability to tweak almost anything.

My Current Setup

How to Install Spicetify

Installation is surprisingly straightforward, even for beginners.

On Windows (PowerShell)

iwr -useb https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spicetify/cli/main/install.ps1 | iex

On macOS / Linux

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spicetify/cli/main/install.sh | sh

After running the command, follow the on-screen prompts. Spicetify will detect your Spotify installation and prepare everything for customization.

I highly recommend enabling the Marketplace, which is a GUI for installing the stuff you need, when prompted in the installation

Step-by-Step Tips:

1. Make sure Spotify is installed first.

2. Run the install command in PowerShell (as Administrator if needed).

3. Once installed, apply the default theme to test: spicetify apply

4. Restart Spotify.

Common Issues & Fixes:

• Spotify not detected? Run spicetify backup apply after reinstalling Spotify.

• Permissions errors? Run PowerShell as Administrator.

• Updates breaking things? Spicetify usually has quick patches — just run spicetify upgrade and spicetify apply.

Customizing Your Spotify with Spicetify

In the Spicetify Marketplace, there's categories of "extras" you can get:
Extensions, Themes, Snippets, Apps.
(Extras here is my own word for any thing you can add to Spotify)

Extensions

Add new features and functionality to Spotify, such as lyrics display, keyboard shortcuts, ad blocking, or playlist statistics. One of my favorite is the adblockify extension (Available on Marketplace)

Just like the name suggests it removes any kind of ads in Spotify; banner or audio ads.
I am more than annoyed about ads when I'm listening to music especially audio ads so this is a must for me.

Themes

Alter the visual appearance of the Spotify client, including color schemes, fonts, background images, and layout structures.

You can completely overhaul the look of Spotify. My current favorite is the Hazy theme — it has a beautiful, soft, semi-transparent vibe that makes the app feel modern and immersive.

To install themes go to the Marketplace page and search for one you want (feel free to experiment 🙂)

If you prefer using the terminal to change settings or you don't have market place installed the best way to change your theme is to:

1. You can clone a theme repository (e.g., git clone https://github.com/spicetify/spicetify-themes.git) and copy the files into your themes folder, which is typically located at %appdata%\spicetify\Themes\ on Windows or ~/.config/spicetify/Themes/ on Linux/macOS.

2. Edit config-xpui.ini or use spicetify config current_theme THEME_NAME command to switch.

You can change fonts, colors, layouts, remove clutter, and even adjust the sidebar and player.

Snippets

Add small subtle CSS tweaks that make minor visual adjustments to specific parts of the app, such as rounding corners or adjusting album art styling.

Example is the Pill Player and Rounded UI snippet for a little more roundedness in the Spotify client

There's even an option to add your own custom CSS if you want

Custom Apps

Introduce entirely new pages, tools, or data visualizations directly into the Spotify sidebar, such as listening statistics or library management tools
A good example is this spicetify-history app that tracks the songs you've played, providing a detailed history with timestamps and link to the track and album

Marketplace itself is an app that allows you to discover other "extras" recommended by the Spicetify team
If you enabled it during the installation, you can access it by clicking on the cart icon on the left side on the top bar

There are other "extras" you can add that are not in the Marketplace like the spotify-downloader extension which lets you download songs from Spotify to your device.

Other Extras I use

• Lyrics Miniplayer: This Spicetify Lyric Miniplayer lets me keep lyrics visible even when the main Spotify window is minimized or closed. Perfect for focused listening sessions (Available on Marketplace)

• YouTube Keybinds for Spotify: This extension lets you use YouTube-style keyboard shortcuts to your Spotify experience e.g. Left Arrow: Skip backwards by 5 seconds, Right Arrow: Skip forwards by 5 seconds, Up Arrow: Increase volume by 5%, Down Arrow: Decrease volume by 5%.

The community on GitHub and Reddit is full of inspiration — highly recommend browsing the Spicetify marketplace and extensions repository.

Wrapping Up

Spicetify turns Spotify from a standard music player into your music player. With custom themes like Hazy, zero ads, floating lyrics, and easy downloading, it’s the best upgrade I’ve made to my desktop listening routine.

If you’re even a little bit into customization, do yourself a favor and install it today.

Have you tried Spicetify yet? What’s your favorite theme or extension? Drop your recommendations in the comments — I’m always looking for new tweaks!

Happy listening 🎵

Beware: This is not meant to replace coding on laptop, this is just an alternative for situations where you cannot just use your laptop, A laptop remains the best way to code.

In this beginner guide, I'll show you how to set it up step by step. We'll use two free apps: Pydroid 3 (like a simple notepad for writing and running Python code) and Termux (a tool that lets you type commands like on a computer). I'll explain everything simply, with example commands you can copy-paste. By the end, you'll be able to write code, fix errors, and even sync your work with GitHub (like a online folder for your projects).

Don't worry if terms like "Git" or "SSH" sound scary—I'll break them down!

Why Code Python on Your Phone?

• Easy and Free: Start coding in minutes without buying anything.

• Offline Mode: Write and test code anywhere, like on a bus.

• Great for Beginners: Practice simple scripts or school assignments.

• Sync with Computer: Use GitHub to move your code between phone and laptop without copying files manually (no more messed-up spacing!).

Just know: Phones aren't as powerful as computers, so stick to basic stuff like math problems or data calculations. For fancy graphics or big programs, a laptop is better.

What You'll Need

• An Android phone.

• Apps: Pydroid 3 and Termux (free from Google Play Store).

• A GitHub account (free to sign up at github.com) if you want to sync code.

Step 1: Install the Apps

1. Open the Google Play Store.

2. Search for "Pydroid 3" and install it. (It's a Python playground—write code and run it instantly.)
   Pydroid on Play Store

3. Search for "Termux" and install it. (This is like a mini computer terminal for commands.)

   Termux on Play Store

Open both apps once to make sure they work. Pydroid 3 might ask for permissions—say yes to storage so it can save files.

Step 2: Set Up Shared Storage (So Apps Can Share Files)

Termux and Pydroid 3 need to "talk" to each other by accessing the same folder on your phone.

• Open Termux (it looks like a black screen for typing).

• Type this command and press Enter:
  termux-setup-storage
  (This asks for permission to access your phone's storage. Tap "Allow" when prompted.)

Now, create a folder for your projects:

• Type: mkdir /storage/emulated/0/my_python_projects
  (This makes a new folder called "my_python_projects" in your phone's main storage.)

• For quick access: ln -s /storage/emulated/0/my_python_projects ~/my_projects
  (This creates a shortcut in Termux.)

Example: After typing, you'll see no big message—just a new prompt. That's success!

Step 3: Install Git in Termux (For Saving and Syncing Code)

Git is like a "save button" that tracks changes and lets you share code on GitHub.

• In Termux, type: pkg update && pkg install git
  (This updates Termux and installs Git. It might take a minute—watch for "Done" or similar.)

Step 4: Connect to GitHub (Secure Way with SSH)

GitHub is your online storage. To push/pull code safely, set up SSH (a secure key, like a password but better).

1. Generate a key:
   Type: ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"
   (Replace "your_email@example.com" with your real GitHub email. Press Enter for defaults, and skip passphrase if you're a beginner.)

2. Start the agent:
   eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"

3. Add the key:
   ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

4. Copy the public key:
   cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
   (Highlight the long string that appears and copy it.)

5. Add to GitHub:

   • Open a web browser on your phone.

   • Go to github.com, log in.

   • Click your profile picture > Settings > SSH and GPG keys > New SSH key.

6. 

   

   

   

   Paste the copied string, name it "My Phone Key", and save.

7. Test it:
   ssh -T git@github.com
   (You should see: "Hi [your username]! You've successfully authenticated..." That's good! The "no shell access" part is normal.)

Step 5: Clone a GitHub Repo (Get Your Assignment on Phone)

Let's say your teacher has a GitHub repo (like for homework).

• In Termux, go to your folder: cd ~/my_projects

• Clone it: git clone git@github.com:your_teacher/repo_name.git
  (Replace with the SSH URL from GitHub: On the repo page, click "Code" > SSH > Copy.)

  Mobile

  

  Desktop(ignore for mobile)

  

  

Example: If the URL is git@github.com:teacher/assignment1.git, type:
git clone git@github.com:teacher/assignment1.git

Now your code is on your phone!

Step 6: Edit and Run Code in Pydroid 3

• Open Pydroid 3.

• Tap the folder icon to open files.

• Navigate to: /storage/emulated/0/my_python_projects/repo_name

• Open your .py file (like main.py).

• Write or edit code. Example simple script:

    def hello():
        print("Hello, world!")  # Indent with 4 spaces!
  
    hello()
  

• Tap the play button to run. See output at the bottom.

For better typing: In Pydroid settings, enable autocomplete (suggests words as you type). Install extras: Tap the pip icon and type pip install jedi for smarter suggestions.

Your Beginner Workflow: Code, Save, Sync

1. Update from GitHub: In Termux, cd to repo folder, then git pull (gets latest changes).

2. Edit in Pydroid: Make changes, save.

3. Save Changes: In Termux:
   git add . (adds all files)
   git commit -m "Fixed hello function" (saves with a note)
   git push (sends to GitHub)

4. On Laptop: Use Git to git pull your phone's work.

Example full session in Termux:

cd ~/my_projects/assignment1
git pull  # Get updates
# After editing in Pydroid
git add .
git commit -m "Added print statement"
git push  # Send back

Fixing Common Beginner Errors

• IndentationError: Python needs spaces (not tabs). Example fix: Use 4 spaces under def main():
  Bad: print("Hi") (no space)
  Good: print("Hi")

• Auth Error: If Git asks for password, redo SSH setup.

• Dubious Ownership:if you see errrors like this

  “fatal: detected dubious ownership in repository at '/storage/emulated/0/your-repo”

  Type the command Git suggests, like git config --global --add safe.directory /path/to/repo

• No Name/Email: Set with: git config --global user.name "Your Name" and git config --global user.email "your@email.com"

Fun Extras for Beginners

• Install packages in Pydroid: pip install requests (for web stuff).

• Try: pip install numpy for math, or matplotlib for graphs.

• For iOS friends: Use Pythonista app—similar but no Termux.

Wrapping Up

There you go! You're now set to code Python on your phone like a pro (or at least a confident beginner). Start with a simple "Hello World" script, then try your assignments. If stuck, search YouTube for "Pydroid 3 tutorial" or ask on Reddit's r/learnpython.

Happy coding! Share your first mobile script in the comments 😊

What You Actually Get

The free year is tied to the Google AI Pro plan, which normally costs money. When you activate the student offer, you get:

• NotebookLM upgrades: 5× more Audio Overviews, larger notebooks, and more sources per project.

• Gemini 2.5 Pro access: Better answers, image analysis (e.g., upload a photo of a math problem), and Deep Research reports with citations.

• 2 TB Google Drive storage: Useful if you’re always running out of space.

• AI in Google apps: Help in Docs, Gmail, Slides, etc.

• Other extras like video generation (Veo) and voice chat (Gemini Live).

It’s a bundle. You don’t get NotebookLM Premium by itself—you get the whole Pro package.

Who Can Sign Up (and When It Ends)

You need:

• To be actively enrolled in a college or university in an eligible country.

• To be 18 or older.

• A personal Google account (not your school email).

• A way to verify enrollment (usually through SheerID—upload ID, transcript, or enrollment letter).

The deadline changes by country:

Check your local version of the page: gemini.google/students — use the country selector at the bottom.

How to Apply (Step by Step)

1. Go to your country’s student offer page.

2. Click “Get it” or “Verify with SheerID.”

3. Upload proof of enrollment.

4. Add a payment method (required, but you won’t be charged during the year).

5. Finish the signup through Google Play or the web.

It usually takes a few minutes. If SheerID needs manual review, it can take up to 72 hours.

I’m Under 18 — What Now?

I can’t sign up because of the age limit. If you’re in the same situation, here are the options that actually work:

• Use regular NotebookLM: It’s free, has no age restriction, and still does summaries, Audio Overviews, quizzes, etc. Just go to notebooklm.google with your personal Gmail.

• Check your school account: Many universities turn on free Gemini and NotebookLM for all students through Google Workspace for Education. Log in with your .edu or associated school email and look for the Gemini icon in Gmail or Docs. Only works for schools that use Google Workspace for Education. Unfortunately my school is more of “Team Microsoft” than “Team Google"

  Honestly the free version is mostly enough for any schoolwork, but I still pray there's an opportunity like this when I turn 18 🤧

A Few Things to Know

• After the year, it auto-renews at full price (~£18.99/month in the UK) unless you cancel.

• If your school already gives you AI tools, this might overlap—check first.

• Your data in NotebookLM stays private either way; Google says it doesn’t use uploaded files to train models.

Bottom Line

If you’re 18+, enrolled in a supported country, and the deadline hasn’t passed—go verify now. It’s free and useful. If not, the regular NotebookLM is still one of the best free study tools out there. No need to overcomplicate it.

Let me know if you got it working🙂.
Is your school more “Team Google” or “Team Microsoft”?👀

A Quick Origin Story: When Was NotebookLM Released?

NotebookLM (short for Notebook Language Model) was born out of Google's experimental AI lab and first launched in July 2023 as "Project Tailwind." It started as an invite-only preview but quickly opened up to more users. Since then, it's evolved fast—think major updates like the viral "Audio Overviews" feature in September 2024, which turns your docs into podcast-style chats. By December 2024, a premium version called NotebookLM Plus rolled out for businesses and Gemini subscribers. And as of 2025, it's even got slick mobile apps for iOS and Android, making it easier than ever to research on the go.

How Does NotebookLM Work? The Basics

At its core, NotebookLM isn't your typical chatbot—it's more like a smart notebook that learns from your stuff. Here's the simple breakdown:

1. Upload Your Sources: Start by feeding it your materials. It handles PDFs, Google Docs, websites, YouTube videos (with transcripts), audio files, and even slides—up to a whopping 25 million words per notebook (that's like 50 books!).

2. Let the AI Digest: Powered by Google's Gemini model, NotebookLM analyzes everything you upload. It creates an instant summary, spots key themes, and builds connections across your sources. Just upload and let it do it’s job.

3. Interact and Generate: Chat with it like a conversation! Ask questions, and it'll respond with answers grounded only in your uploads (with clear citations). Want more? Generate:

   • Study Guides: Quizzes, glossaries, and timelines to ace that exam.

   • FAQs or Briefings: Quick hits on your topic.

   • Audio Overviews: Two AI hosts "discuss" your docs in a fun, podcast-like episode— perfect for listening on your commutes.

   • Deep Dives: Explore connections between sources, like linking ideas from unrelated papers.

The interface is a clean three-panel setup: sources on one side, chat in the middle, and generated notes on the other. It's free to start (with a Google account), and everything stays private—Google doesn't use your data to train its models yet 🤧.

Why NotebookLM Shines for Research and Study (vs. Traditional LLMs)

Sure, LLMs like ChatGPT are awesome for brainstorming or quick facts, but they pull from the vast (and sometimes unreliable) web, leading to "hallucinations"—those confident-but-wrong answers that can derail your work. NotebookLM flips the script with a "grounded" approach: it sticks to your sources, making it a laser-focused ally for serious tasks. Here's why it edges out traditional LLMs in research and study:

• Zero Hallucinations, Total Reliability: Responses are always tied to what you uploaded, with inline citations. No more fact-checking wild guesses—it's like a tamper-proof study buddy. Traditional LLMs? They might invent details own their own and we don’t want that when researching and studying.

• Handles Massive Context Like a Champ: Juggle an entire "library shelf" of docs without losing the thread. Other LLMs cap out at one book's worth, forcing you to restart chats and rebuild context.

• Saves Time on the Heavy Lifting: Summarize a 5,000-word paper in seconds, extract insights, or create visual timelines. Users report cutting research time by over half—no more endless scrolling through tabs.

• Boosts Learning with Smart Formats: Turn dense reads into engaging podcasts or interactive quizzes. It's perfect for students prepping for finals or pros synthesizing reports or for people who find audio better than reading — way more dynamic than plain text outputs from standard LLMs.

• Privacy and Focus First: Unlike broad LLMs that might train on your queries, NotebookLM keeps things contained. Plus, it's built for synthesis: it connects dots across sources, uncovering patterns you'd miss manually.

In short, while traditional LLMs are great at general things, NotebookLM is the specialist—tailored for when accuracy and depth matter most, like cramming for a thesis or last-minute prepping

Just try it and see

NotebookLM isn't trying to replace your brain (if you use it right) —it's here to supercharge it. If you're a student drowning in notes, a researcher wrangling papers, or just a curious learner, head over to notebooklm.google and upload the sources of your stress (pun intended 😁).
Honestly had no problem since I started using it.

Free Stuff Alert 🚨

Do you know there’s a way to get NotebookLM premium version for free for one year as a student and it’s only open till December 9th?. Check out my new post to see how to check if you’re eligible and how to apply for it. Don’t postpone it, December is not very far again 👀

I know I haven’t posted since forever but i’ve been very busy with school stuff and I’m not sure I’ll be posting as much as i want but I’ll try 🤞

Drop a comment if you've tried it!. What do you think about it?

Steps to Cut Down App Usage

1. Set External Timers with Digital Well-being Features

Use your phone’s digital well-being tools to set limits. I don’t really know about iOS, but on Android, it’s easy:

• Open Settings > Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls.

• Select App Timer Option.

• Tap the chart, then the hourglass next to Instagram, TikTok, or any other app you want to reduce your use time on.

• Set a time (e.g., 30 minutes or 1 hour) and hit OK.

  

  This nudges you to step away—try it!

2. Use Internal App Reminders

Both apps have built-in reminders to support app usage reduction:

• Instagram:

  

• TikTok: Hit Profile > Settings > Screen Time, enable it, and set timers on daily use, scrolling time, sleep hours.

  

  Track sleep and usage to stay balanced—check your phone’s settings!

3. Uninstall and Switch to Browser

Uninstalling breaks the one-tap trap of social media. Use the browser version instead:

• Delete the app from your home screen.

• Open your browser, go to instagram.com or tiktok.com, and log in.

It’s less instant, reducing doom scrolling distractions.

These are Desktop Versions

Perfect for important use— cause this is how i still upload videos without the app

4. Do Something Offline

Swap social media scrolling for offline joy. I love jogging, playing music, and calisthenics (at least in my own small way)—try what you enjoy, like drawing or cycling. It boosts your spiritual growth!
I’m still working on this part ngl 😭

• Step outside and observe God’s work in nature for 15 minutes.

• Listen to your favorite song while doing your workout routine.

• Go for that jog (I’m speaking to myself here 😭)

  

  It’s refreshing and phone-free!

Conclusion

These are my opinions on how to reduce use time on these apps—and any other app you want to cut down on for better digital well-being. But if you’re planning to take out or reduce your time on these apps, you should be looking forward to replace that time with something worthwhile. The only worthwhile option is to spend that time with God—read your Bible. Also check out this faith app at spiritnerds.org to help you on that journey of spiritual growth. I’m not perfect, far from it, and I’m still working on myself, and that’s why I’m pointing you to the only perfect person I know—Jesus. Try these steps and watch your digital well-being soar. Comment with your tips or struggles—I’m new to this series!

Hey humans! If you’re exhausted from endless Instagram and TikTok scrolling, feeling like it’s stealing your time and peace, you should be because it’s not helping your digital well-being, and I get it. I was struggling to break free from doom scrolling too. I started my social media journey in April this year (if I’m not mistaken), and today I want to share how it shaped me, broke me, and how I found a better path by God’s grace.

My Social Media Journey

Joining social media was exciting (and when I say “social media,” I’m specifically talking about TikTok and Instagram). As a near-perfectionist, I dove into research, planning, and studying videos—learning content creation and platform engagement from scratch because I was planning to become a content creator even before joining these platforms. It taught me perseverance, especially with the algorithm’s ups and downs. I connected with like-minded people, drew inspiration from others online, and learned a lot of things. Those were real advantages.

But as a consumer, it cluttered my daily life. I’m on it when I wake up, in the middle of doing something, and even at night (I know I’m not alone on this 😔) because it’s so accessible—who doesn’t want infinite entertainment? It stole time for reflection, connection, personal goals, and—most importantly—my time with God. Doom scrolling tempted me with unvaluable entertainment, and the influencer effect chipped away at my contentment and confidence in what I’d achieved. The disadvantages started outweighing the benefits. (All this happened in under three months—I only wonder what it has done to people who’ve been on them for years 😓)

The Turning Point

The wake-up call came from a talk with my mom about one of my posts. She helped me reconsider my priorities, pushing me to stop procrastinating on this blog—a project I’d delayed too long. I realized my aim was to deliver value, not trap people in the same doom scrolling cycle I’d fallen into. So, I uninstalled Instagram and TikTok. It was hard at first, but I didn’t die, and the clarity was freeing ngl (it means “not gonna lie,” don’t worry, I got you 😉).

Discovering Spirit Nerds

During the same period, by God’s appointment—not coincidence—I found Spirit Nerds, a faith app that lets you stream or download messages from preachers worldwide and listen to spiritual songs on the go. It’s been a game-changer, leveling up my spiritual growth after months of neglect. This faith app has complemented my decision to make more time for God, and if you’ve made the same choice, I think it could do the same for you too. The app is available for Android devices on Google Play Store and for Apple devices on the App Store. You can check them out at spiritnerds.org. (And hey, I’m not sponsored—I’m just doing the Lord’s work ☺️)

A Wake-Up Call for Everyone

This can happen to anyone. Why? Because social media’s curated content is just one tap of an icon away, flooding us with endless doom scrolling in this generation. It’s easy to lose hours, faith, and focus. If you’re tired of it, consider uninstalling the apps that drain your digital well-being (if you really use them for important things, I recommend using them in a browser—I’ll share more on why and how to do so in another post). Try a faith app like Spirit Nerds, or set boundaries to reclaim your time. I’m here to share more about things like this on this blog, free from the doom scrolling trap.

Conclusion

I went into these social media platforms with thinking it was all sunshine and roses but I’ve seen the dangers and it’s dark side. And I want to save people from it through my videos (Ironic right?😒).I wanted to deliver value through my videos and will still do so but more of it will be on this blog.
I am not completely off these platforms 😌, I just uninstalled the apps from my phone because it makes getting sidetracked and distracted as easy as clicking an icon.
When i need to post videos, I use the web version of these apps (just so you don’t get confused).

Drop a comment about your experience with social media and what you think about this write-up—it’s my first one 😁.