diff --git a/Emby.Server.Implementations/SyncPlay/SyncPlayController.cs b/Emby.Server.Implementations/SyncPlay/SyncPlayController.cs
index b1f8fd330c..e596d99005 100644
--- a/Emby.Server.Implementations/SyncPlay/SyncPlayController.cs
+++ b/Emby.Server.Implementations/SyncPlay/SyncPlayController.cs
@@ -194,26 +194,24 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public void InitGroup(SessionInfo session, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        public void CreateGroup(SessionInfo session, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
         {
             _group.AddSession(session);
             _syncPlayManager.AddSessionToGroup(session, this);
 
             _group.PlayingItem = session.FullNowPlayingItem;
-            _group.IsPaused = true;
+            _group.IsPaused = session.PlayState.IsPaused;
             _group.PositionTicks = session.PlayState.PositionTicks ?? 0;
             _group.LastActivity = DateTime.UtcNow;
 
             var updateSession = NewSyncPlayGroupUpdate(GroupUpdateType.GroupJoined, DateToUTCString(DateTime.UtcNow));
             SendGroupUpdate(session, BroadcastType.CurrentSession, updateSession, cancellationToken);
-            var pauseCommand = NewSyncPlayCommand(SendCommandType.Pause);
-            SendCommand(session, BroadcastType.CurrentSession, pauseCommand, cancellationToken);
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
         public void SessionJoin(SessionInfo session, JoinGroupRequest request, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
         {
-            if (session.NowPlayingItem?.Id == _group.PlayingItem.Id && request.PlayingItemId == _group.PlayingItem.Id)
+            if (session.NowPlayingItem?.Id == _group.PlayingItem.Id)
             {
                 _group.AddSession(session);
                 _syncPlayManager.AddSessionToGroup(session, this);
@@ -224,7 +222,7 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
                 var updateOthers = NewSyncPlayGroupUpdate(GroupUpdateType.UserJoined, session.UserName);
                 SendGroupUpdate(session, BroadcastType.AllExceptCurrentSession, updateOthers, cancellationToken);
 
-                // Client join and play, syncing will happen client side
+                // syncing will happen client side
                 if (!_group.IsPaused)
                 {
                     var playCommand = NewSyncPlayCommand(SendCommandType.Play);
@@ -262,10 +260,9 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
         /// <inheritdoc />
         public void HandleRequest(SessionInfo session, PlaybackRequest request, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
         {
-            // The server's job is to mantain a consistent state to which clients refer to,
-            // as also to notify clients of state changes.
-            // The actual syncing of media playback happens client side.
-            // Clients are aware of the server's time and use it to sync.
+            // The server's job is to maintain a consistent state for clients to reference
+            // and notify clients of state changes. The actual syncing of media playback
+            // happens client side. Clients are aware of the server's time and use it to sync.
             switch (request.Type)
             {
                 case PlaybackRequestType.Play:
@@ -277,13 +274,13 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
                 case PlaybackRequestType.Seek:
                     HandleSeekRequest(session, request, cancellationToken);
                     break;
-                case PlaybackRequestType.Buffering:
+                case PlaybackRequestType.Buffer:
                     HandleBufferingRequest(session, request, cancellationToken);
                     break;
-                case PlaybackRequestType.BufferingDone:
+                case PlaybackRequestType.Ready:
                     HandleBufferingDoneRequest(session, request, cancellationToken);
                     break;
-                case PlaybackRequestType.UpdatePing:
+                case PlaybackRequestType.Ping:
                     HandlePingUpdateRequest(session, request);
                     break;
             }
@@ -301,7 +298,7 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
             {
                 // Pick a suitable time that accounts for latency
                 var delay = _group.GetHighestPing() * 2;
-                delay = delay < _group.DefaulPing ? _group.DefaulPing : delay;
+                delay = delay < _group.DefaultPing ? _group.DefaultPing : delay;
 
                 // Unpause group and set starting point in future
                 // Clients will start playback at LastActivity (datetime) from PositionTicks (playback position)
@@ -337,8 +334,9 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
                 var currentTime = DateTime.UtcNow;
                 var elapsedTime = currentTime - _group.LastActivity;
                 _group.LastActivity = currentTime;
+
                 // Seek only if playback actually started
-                // (a pause request may be issued during the delay added to account for latency)
+                // Pause request may be issued during the delay added to account for latency
                 _group.PositionTicks += elapsedTime.Ticks > 0 ? elapsedTime.Ticks : 0;
 
                 var command = NewSyncPlayCommand(SendCommandType.Pause);
@@ -451,7 +449,7 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
                     {
                         // Client, that was buffering, resumed playback but did not update others in time
                         delay = _group.GetHighestPing() * 2;
-                        delay = delay < _group.DefaulPing ? _group.DefaulPing : delay;
+                        delay = delay < _group.DefaultPing ? _group.DefaultPing : delay;
 
                         _group.LastActivity = currentTime.AddMilliseconds(
                             delay);
@@ -495,7 +493,7 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
         private void HandlePingUpdateRequest(SessionInfo session, PlaybackRequest request)
         {
             // Collected pings are used to account for network latency when unpausing playback
-            _group.UpdatePing(session, request.Ping ?? _group.DefaulPing);
+            _group.UpdatePing(session, request.Ping ?? _group.DefaultPing);
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
diff --git a/Emby.Server.Implementations/SyncPlay/SyncPlayManager.cs b/Emby.Server.Implementations/SyncPlay/SyncPlayManager.cs
index 45a43fd789..966ed5024e 100644
--- a/Emby.Server.Implementations/SyncPlay/SyncPlayManager.cs
+++ b/Emby.Server.Implementations/SyncPlay/SyncPlayManager.cs
@@ -170,10 +170,11 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
             {
                 _logger.LogWarning("NewGroup: {0} does not have permission to create groups.", session.Id);
 
-                var error = new GroupUpdate<string>()
+                var error = new GroupUpdate<string>
                 {
                     Type = GroupUpdateType.CreateGroupDenied
                 };
+
                 _sessionManager.SendSyncPlayGroupUpdate(session.Id, error, CancellationToken.None);
                 return;
             }
@@ -188,7 +189,7 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
                 var group = new SyncPlayController(_sessionManager, this);
                 _groups[group.GetGroupId()] = group;
 
-                group.InitGroup(session, cancellationToken);
+                group.CreateGroup(session, cancellationToken);
             }
         }
 
@@ -205,6 +206,7 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
                 {
                     Type = GroupUpdateType.JoinGroupDenied
                 };
+
                 _sessionManager.SendSyncPlayGroupUpdate(session.Id, error, CancellationToken.None);
                 return;
             }
@@ -300,9 +302,9 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
                     group => group.GetPlayingItemId().Equals(filterItemId) && HasAccessToItem(user, group.GetPlayingItemId())).Select(
                     group => group.GetInfo()).ToList();
             }
-            // Otherwise show all available groups
             else
             {
+                // Otherwise show all available groups
                 return _groups.Values.Where(
                     group => HasAccessToItem(user, group.GetPlayingItemId())).Select(
                     group => group.GetInfo()).ToList();
@@ -322,6 +324,7 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
                 {
                     Type = GroupUpdateType.JoinGroupDenied
                 };
+
                 _sessionManager.SendSyncPlayGroupUpdate(session.Id, error, CancellationToken.None);
                 return;
             }
@@ -366,7 +369,6 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.SyncPlay
             }
 
             _sessionToGroupMap.Remove(session.Id, out var tempGroup);
-
             if (!tempGroup.GetGroupId().Equals(group.GetGroupId()))
             {
                 throw new InvalidOperationException("Session was in wrong group!");
diff --git a/MediaBrowser.Api/SyncPlay/SyncPlayService.cs b/MediaBrowser.Api/SyncPlay/SyncPlayService.cs
index 18983ea5ba..daa1b521f4 100644
--- a/MediaBrowser.Api/SyncPlay/SyncPlayService.cs
+++ b/MediaBrowser.Api/SyncPlay/SyncPlayService.cs
@@ -27,13 +27,6 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Api.SyncPlay
         /// <value>The Group id to join.</value>
         [ApiMember(Name = "GroupId", Description = "Group Id", IsRequired = true, DataType = "string", ParameterType = "query", Verb = "POST")]
         public string GroupId { get; set; }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Gets or sets the playing item id.
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <value>The client's currently playing item id.</value>
-        [ApiMember(Name = "PlayingItemId", Description = "Client's playing item id", IsRequired = false, DataType = "string", ParameterType = "query", Verb = "POST")]
-        public string PlayingItemId { get; set; }
     }
 
     [Route("/SyncPlay/Leave", "POST", Summary = "Leave joined SyncPlay group")]
@@ -89,7 +82,7 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Api.SyncPlay
         public long PositionTicks { get; set; }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Gets or sets whether this is a buffering or a buffering-done request.
+        /// Gets or sets whether this is a buffering or a ready request.
         /// </summary>
         /// <value><c>true</c> if buffering is complete; <c>false</c> otherwise.</value>
         [ApiMember(Name = "BufferingDone", IsRequired = true, DataType = "bool", ParameterType = "query", Verb = "POST")]
@@ -150,25 +143,15 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Api.SyncPlay
             var currentSession = GetSession(_sessionContext);
 
             Guid groupId;
-            Guid playingItemId = Guid.Empty;
-
             if (!Guid.TryParse(request.GroupId, out groupId))
             {
                 Logger.LogError("JoinGroup: {0} is not a valid format for GroupId. Ignoring request.", request.GroupId);
                 return;
             }
 
-            // Both null and empty strings mean that client isn't playing anything
-            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(request.PlayingItemId) && !Guid.TryParse(request.PlayingItemId, out playingItemId))
-            {
-                Logger.LogError("JoinGroup: {0} is not a valid format for PlayingItemId. Ignoring request.", request.PlayingItemId);
-                return;
-            }
-
             var joinRequest = new JoinGroupRequest()
             {
-                GroupId = groupId,
-                PlayingItemId = playingItemId
+                GroupId = groupId
             };
 
             _syncPlayManager.JoinGroup(currentSession, groupId, joinRequest, CancellationToken.None);
@@ -254,7 +237,7 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Api.SyncPlay
             var currentSession = GetSession(_sessionContext);
             var syncPlayRequest = new PlaybackRequest()
             {
-                Type = request.BufferingDone ? PlaybackRequestType.BufferingDone : PlaybackRequestType.Buffering,
+                Type = request.BufferingDone ? PlaybackRequestType.Ready : PlaybackRequestType.Buffer,
                 When = DateTime.Parse(request.When),
                 PositionTicks = request.PositionTicks
             };
@@ -270,7 +253,7 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Api.SyncPlay
             var currentSession = GetSession(_sessionContext);
             var syncPlayRequest = new PlaybackRequest()
             {
-                Type = PlaybackRequestType.UpdatePing,
+                Type = PlaybackRequestType.Ping,
                 Ping = Convert.ToInt64(request.Ping)
             };
             _syncPlayManager.HandleRequest(currentSession, syncPlayRequest, CancellationToken.None);
diff --git a/MediaBrowser.Controller/SyncPlay/GroupInfo.cs b/MediaBrowser.Controller/SyncPlay/GroupInfo.cs
index d0fac1efa3..e742df5179 100644
--- a/MediaBrowser.Controller/SyncPlay/GroupInfo.cs
+++ b/MediaBrowser.Controller/SyncPlay/GroupInfo.cs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Controller.SyncPlay
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets the default ping value used for sessions.
         /// </summary>
-        public long DefaulPing { get; } = 500;
+        public long DefaultPing { get; } = 500;
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets or sets the group identifier.
@@ -70,16 +70,16 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Controller.SyncPlay
         /// <param name="session">The session.</param>
         public void AddSession(SessionInfo session)
         {
-            if (ContainsSession(session.Id.ToString()))
+            if (ContainsSession(session.Id))
             {
                 return;
             }
 
             var member = new GroupMember();
             member.Session = session;
-            member.Ping = DefaulPing;
+            member.Ping = DefaultPing;
             member.IsBuffering = false;
-            Participants[session.Id.ToString()] = member;
+            Participants[session.Id] = member;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -88,12 +88,12 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Controller.SyncPlay
         /// <param name="session">The session.</param>
         public void RemoveSession(SessionInfo session)
         {
-            if (!ContainsSession(session.Id.ToString()))
+            if (!ContainsSession(session.Id))
             {
                 return;
             }
 
-            Participants.Remove(session.Id.ToString(), out _);
+            Participants.Remove(session.Id, out _);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -103,12 +103,12 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Controller.SyncPlay
         /// <param name="ping">The ping.</param>
         public void UpdatePing(SessionInfo session, long ping)
         {
-            if (!ContainsSession(session.Id.ToString()))
+            if (!ContainsSession(session.Id))
             {
                 return;
             }
 
-            Participants[session.Id.ToString()].Ping = ping;
+            Participants[session.Id].Ping = ping;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Controller.SyncPlay
         /// <value name="session">The highest ping in the group.</value>
         public long GetHighestPing()
         {
-            long max = Int64.MinValue;
+            long max = long.MinValue;
             foreach (var session in Participants.Values)
             {
                 max = Math.Max(max, session.Ping);
@@ -133,12 +133,12 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Controller.SyncPlay
         /// <param name="isBuffering">The state.</param>
         public void SetBuffering(SessionInfo session, bool isBuffering)
         {
-            if (!ContainsSession(session.Id.ToString()))
+            if (!ContainsSession(session.Id))
             {
                 return;
             }
 
-            Participants[session.Id.ToString()].IsBuffering = isBuffering;
+            Participants[session.Id].IsBuffering = isBuffering;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
diff --git a/MediaBrowser.Controller/SyncPlay/GroupMember.cs b/MediaBrowser.Controller/SyncPlay/GroupMember.cs
index a3975c334c..cde6f8e8ce 100644
--- a/MediaBrowser.Controller/SyncPlay/GroupMember.cs
+++ b/MediaBrowser.Controller/SyncPlay/GroupMember.cs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Controller.SyncPlay
     public class GroupMember
     {
         /// <summary>
-        /// Gets or sets whether this member is buffering.
+        /// Gets or sets a value indicating whether this member is buffering.
         /// </summary>
         /// <value><c>true</c> if member is buffering; <c>false</c> otherwise.</value>
         public bool IsBuffering { get; set; }
diff --git a/MediaBrowser.Controller/SyncPlay/ISyncPlayController.cs b/MediaBrowser.Controller/SyncPlay/ISyncPlayController.cs
index de1fcd2591..45c5438061 100644
--- a/MediaBrowser.Controller/SyncPlay/ISyncPlayController.cs
+++ b/MediaBrowser.Controller/SyncPlay/ISyncPlayController.cs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Controller.SyncPlay
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="session">The session.</param>
         /// <param name="cancellationToken">The cancellation token.</param>
-        void InitGroup(SessionInfo session, CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+        void CreateGroup(SessionInfo session, CancellationToken cancellationToken);
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Adds the session to the group.
diff --git a/MediaBrowser.Model/SyncPlay/JoinGroupRequest.cs b/MediaBrowser.Model/SyncPlay/JoinGroupRequest.cs
index d67b6bd555..0c77a61322 100644
--- a/MediaBrowser.Model/SyncPlay/JoinGroupRequest.cs
+++ b/MediaBrowser.Model/SyncPlay/JoinGroupRequest.cs
@@ -12,11 +12,5 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Model.SyncPlay
         /// </summary>
         /// <value>The Group id to join.</value>
         public Guid GroupId { get; set; }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Gets or sets the playing item id.
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <value>The client's currently playing item id.</value>
-        public Guid PlayingItemId { get; set; }
     }
 }
diff --git a/MediaBrowser.Model/SyncPlay/PlaybackRequestType.cs b/MediaBrowser.Model/SyncPlay/PlaybackRequestType.cs
index 671f4e01ff..e89efeed8a 100644
--- a/MediaBrowser.Model/SyncPlay/PlaybackRequestType.cs
+++ b/MediaBrowser.Model/SyncPlay/PlaybackRequestType.cs
@@ -23,16 +23,16 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Model.SyncPlay
         /// <summary>
         /// A user is signaling that playback is buffering.
         /// </summary>
-        Buffering = 3,
+        Buffer = 3,
 
         /// <summary>
         /// A user is signaling that playback resumed.
         /// </summary>
-        BufferingDone = 4,
+        Ready = 4,
 
         /// <summary>
         /// A user is reporting its ping.
         /// </summary>
-        UpdatePing = 5
+        Ping = 5
     }
 }