foobar2000 Lyrics: Setting Up LRC Files with OpenLyrics

Which foobar2000 lyrics component to use

foobar2000 does not ship a lyrics view in the base install. The maintained option is OpenLyrics (foo_openlyrics), an open-source component with its own panel, local file support, embedded tag support, and online lyrics sources. It works with both the default UI and Columns UI.

Older guides mention foo_lyrics or LyricShowPanel3. Those components are outdated or unmaintained; use OpenLyrics unless you have a specific reason to run an older setup.

Install OpenLyrics

1. Download the latest .fb2k-component from the official foobar2000 components page or the GitHub releases.
2. Double-click the downloaded file. foobar2000 should open its component installation dialog.
3. Restart foobar2000 when prompted.
4. Add the OpenLyrics Panel to your layout. In the default UI, use the layout editing mode; in Columns UI, add it as a panel.

Make foobar2000 find your .lrc files

OpenLyrics can use local files, embedded lyrics, or online sources. If your lyrics are sidecar .lrc files, configure the local file source so the names match.

1. Open Preferences > Tools > OpenLyrics.
2. Open the Saving settings.
3. Set the save method to Save to text file.
4. Set the file name format to %filename% if you want Song.mp3 to pair with Song.lrc.
5. Set the storage directory to Same directory as the track if you keep lyrics next to the audio.
6. Add the same directory as a local source in the OpenLyrics search settings.

The default naming convention is often Artist - Title. If your files use the track filename instead, OpenLyrics will not find them until you change the format. This is the most common reason a perfectly valid .lrc file appears to be ignored.

Why your .lrc file is not showing

• Filename mismatch. Check the base name character by character, including spaces and punctuation.
• Wrong folder. Put the file next to the track, or point OpenLyrics at the folder where your lyrics live.
• Wrong filename format. Switch from Artist - Title to %filename% if your files use the track name.
• Hidden extension. A file named Song.lrc.txt is a text file, not an LRC file.
• Encoding problems. Save as UTF-8 if the lyrics contain accented or non-Latin characters.
• Panel not added. Installing the component does not automatically place the panel in your layout.

Create a synced .lrc for foobar2000

If you only have plain lyrics, load the audio and the text into Lyricron, tap through the song once, and export the timed .lrc. Put it next to the track with a matching name and OpenLyrics will pick it up. The full flow is in how to sync lyrics to a song.

Fixing drift in foobar2000

If the highlight runs early or late by the same amount across the whole song, you have a consistent offset. OpenLyrics supports the [offset:] tag, but the sign convention can differ from other players. Test the file after editing, or shift the timestamps directly in Lyricron and re-export. For drift that grows through the song, nudge the affected lines instead. See how to fix out-of-sync lyrics.

FAQ

Does foobar2000 support LRC files without a plugin?

No. The base install has no lyrics panel. OpenLyrics is the current open-source component for local LRC and embedded lyrics.

Why does OpenLyrics save lyrics as Artist - Title?

That is the default filename format. Change it to %filename% in the Saving settings if you want to match your audio filenames.

Can OpenLyrics show embedded lyrics?

Yes. It can read lyrics from local files, embedded tags, and online sources.

Related guides

• Synced lyrics in Musicolet
• Synced lyrics in Poweramp
• VLC lyrics workarounds
• LRC metadata tags
• What is an LRC file?

Sources checked: foobar2000 OpenLyrics component and foo_openlyrics on GitHub.