diff --git a/syng/client.py b/syng/client.py
index f8439a8..9762cb5 100644
--- a/syng/client.py
+++ b/syng/client.py
@@ -202,17 +202,51 @@ class Client:
         self.sio.on("get-meta-info", self.handle_get_meta_info)
         self.sio.on("play", self.handle_play)
         self.sio.on("search", self.handle_search)
-        self.sio.on("client-registered", self.handle_client_registered)
         self.sio.on("request-config", self.handle_request_config)
         self.sio.on("msg", self.handle_msg)
         self.sio.on("disconnect", self.handle_disconnect)
         self.sio.on("room-removed", self.handle_room_removed)
+        self.sio.on("*", self.handle_unknown_message)
+        self.sio.on("connect_error", self.handle_connect_error)
+
+    async def handle_connect_error(self, data: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        """
+        Handle the "connect_error" message.
+
+        This function is called when the client fails to connect to the server.
+        It will log the error and disconnect from the server.
+
+        :param data: A dictionary with the error message.
+        :type data: dict[str, Any]
+        :rtype: None
+        """
+        logger.critical("Connection error: %s", data["message"])
+        await self.ensure_disconnect()
+
+    async def handle_unknown_message(self, event: str, data: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        """
+        Handle unknown messages.
+
+        This function is called when the client receives a message, that is not
+        handled by any of the other handlers. It will log the event and data.
+
+        :param event: The name of the event
+        :type event: str
+        :param data: The data of the event
+        :type data: dict[str, Any]
+        :rtype: None
+        """
+        logger.warning(f"Unknown message: {event} with data: {data}")
 
     async def handle_disconnect(self) -> None:
         self.connection_state.set_disconnected()
         await self.ensure_disconnect()
 
     async def ensure_disconnect(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Ensure that the client is disconnected from the server and the player is
+        terminated.
+        """
         logger.info("Disconnecting from server")
         logger.info(f"Connection: {self.connection_state.is_connected()}")
         logger.info(f"MPV: {self.connection_state.is_mpv_running()}")
@@ -324,29 +358,40 @@ class Client:
         """
         Handle the "connect" message.
 
-        Called when the client successfully connects or reconnects to the server.
-        Sends a `register-client` message to the server with the initial state and
-        configuration of the client, consiting of the currently saved
-        :py:attr:`State.queue` and :py:attr:`State.recent` field of the global
-        :py:class:`State`, as well a room code the client wants to connect to, a
-        secret to secure the access to the room and a config dictionary.
+        This is called when the client successfully connects to the server
+        and starts the player.
 
-        If the room code is `None`, the server will issue a room code.
+        Start listing all configured :py:class:`syng.sources.source.Source` to the
+        server via a "sources" message. This message will be handled by the
+        :py:func:`syng.server.handle_sources` function and may request additional
+        configuration for each source.
 
-        This message will be handled by the
-        :py:func:`syng.server.handle_register_client` function of the server.
+        If there is no song playing, start requesting the first song of the queue
+        with a "get-first" message. This will be handled on the server by the
+        :py:func:`syng.server.handle_get_first` function.
 
         :rtype: None
         """
-        logger.info("Connected to server")
-        data = {
-            "queue": self.state.queue,
-            "waiting_room": self.state.waiting_room,
-            "recent": self.state.recent,
-            "config": self.state.config,
-            "version": SYNG_VERSION,
-        }
-        await self.sio.emit("register-client", data)
+        logger.info("Connected to server: %s", self.state.config["server"])
+        self.player.start()
+        room = self.state.config["room"]
+        server = self.state.config["server"]
+
+        logger.info("Connected to room: %s", room)
+        qr_string = f"{server}/{room}"
+        self.player.update_qr(qr_string)
+        # this is borked on windows
+
+        if os.name != "nt":
+            print(f"Join here: {server}/{room}")
+            qr = QRCode(box_size=20, border=2)
+            qr.add_data(qr_string)
+            qr.make()
+            qr.print_ascii()
+
+        await self.sio.emit("sources", {"sources": list(self.sources.keys())})
+        if self.state.current_source is None:  # A possible race condition can occur here
+            await self.sio.emit("get-first")
 
     async def handle_get_meta_info(self, data: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         """
@@ -457,52 +502,6 @@ class Client:
             "search-results", {"results": results, "sid": sid, "search_id": search_id}
         )
 
-    async def handle_client_registered(self, data: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
-        """
-        Handle the "client-registered" message.
-
-        If the registration was successfull (`data["success"]` == `True`), store
-        the room code in the global :py:class:`State` and print out a link to join
-        the webclient.
-
-        Start listing all configured :py:class:`syng.sources.source.Source` to the
-        server via a "sources" message. This message will be handled by the
-        :py:func:`syng.server.handle_sources` function and may request additional
-        configuration for each source.
-
-        If there is no song playing, start requesting the first song of the queue
-        with a "get-first" message. This will be handled on the server by the
-        :py:func:`syng.server.handle_get_first` function.
-
-        :param data: A dictionary containing a `success` and a `room` entry.
-        :type data: dict[str, Any]
-        :rtype: None
-        """
-        if data["success"]:
-            self.player.start()
-
-            logger.info("Connected to room: %s", data["room"])
-            qr_string = f"{self.state.config['server']}/{data['room']}"
-            self.player.update_qr(qr_string)
-            # this is borked on windows
-
-            await self.handle_state(data)
-            if os.name != "nt":
-                print(f"Join here: {self.state.config['server']}/{data['room']}")
-                qr = QRCode(box_size=20, border=2)
-                qr.add_data(qr_string)
-                qr.make()
-                qr.print_ascii()
-
-            self.state.config["room"] = data["room"]
-            await self.sio.emit("sources", {"sources": list(self.sources.keys())})
-            if self.state.current_source is None:  # A possible race condition can occur here
-                await self.sio.emit("get-first")
-        else:
-            reason = data.get("reason", "Unknown")
-            logger.critical(f"Registration failed: {reason}")
-            await self.sio.disconnect()
-
     async def handle_request_config(self, data: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         """
         Handle the "request-config" message.
@@ -606,7 +605,7 @@ class Client:
         Handle the "room-removed" message.
 
         This is called when the server removes the room, that this client is
-        connected to. It will disconnect from the server and terminate the player.
+        connected to. We simply log this event.
 
         :param data: A dictionary with the `room` entry.
         :type data: dict[str, Any]
@@ -645,7 +644,15 @@ class Client:
             self.state.config["key"] = ""
 
         try:
-            await self.sio.connect(self.state.config["server"])
+            data = {
+                "type": "playback",
+                "queue": self.state.queue,
+                "waiting_room": self.state.waiting_room,
+                "recent": self.state.recent,
+                "config": self.state.config,
+                "version": SYNG_VERSION,
+            }
+            await self.sio.connect(self.state.config["server"], auth=data)
 
             # this is not supported under windows
             if os.name != "nt":
@@ -656,8 +663,8 @@ class Client:
             await self.sio.wait()
         except asyncio.CancelledError:
             pass
-        except ConnectionError:
-            logger.critical("Could not connect to server")
+        except ConnectionError as e:
+            logger.warning("Could not connect to server: %s", e.args[0])
         finally:
             await self.ensure_disconnect()
 
diff --git a/syng/server.py b/syng/server.py
index 508a694..99e2bd9 100644
--- a/syng/server.py
+++ b/syng/server.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from dataclasses import field
 from typing import Any, Callable, Literal, AsyncGenerator, Optional, cast
 
 import socketio
+from socketio.exceptions import ConnectionRefusedError
 from aiohttp import web
 
 try:
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ def admin(handler: Callable[..., Any]) -> Callable[..., Any]:
     async def wrapper(self: Server, sid: str, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
         async with self.sio.session(sid) as session:
             room = session["room"]
-            if room not in self.clients or not self.is_admin(self.clients[room], sid):
+            if room not in self.clients or not await self.is_admin(self.clients[room], sid):
                 await self.sio.emit("err", {"type": "NO_ADMIN"}, sid)
                 return
         return await handler(self, sid, *args, **kwargs)
@@ -226,6 +227,7 @@ class Server:
         self.sio.on("move-up", self.handle_move_up)
         self.sio.on("skip", self.handle_skip)
         self.sio.on("disconnect", self.handle_disconnect)
+        self.sio.on("connect", self.handle_connect)
         self.sio.on("search", self.handle_search)
         self.sio.on("search-results", self.handle_search_results)
 
@@ -928,7 +930,7 @@ class Server:
                 {"success": False, "room": None, "reason": "PROTOCOL_VERSION"},
                 room=sid,
             )
-            return False
+            raise ConnectionRefusedError("Client is incompatible and outdated. Please update.")
 
         if client_version > SYNG_VERSION:
             await self.sio.emit(
@@ -936,12 +938,7 @@ class Server:
                 {"type": "error", "msg": "Server is outdated. Please update."},
                 room=sid,
             )
-            await self.sio.emit(
-                "client-registered",
-                {"success": False, "room": None, "reason": "PROTOCOL_VERSION"},
-                room=sid,
-            )
-            return False
+            raise ConnectionRefusedError("Server is outdated. Please update.")
 
         if client_version < SYNG_VERSION:
             await self.sio.emit(
@@ -983,6 +980,8 @@ class Server:
 
     async def handle_register_client(self, sid: str, data: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         """
+        THIS IS DEPRECATED, REGISTRATION IS NOW DONE VIA THE CONNECT EVENT.
+
         Handle the "register-client" message.
 
         The data dictionary should have the following keys:
@@ -1206,8 +1205,189 @@ class Server:
         """
         state.client.sources[data["source"]] = available_sources[data["source"]](data["config"])
 
+    async def handle_connect(
+        self, sid: str, environ: dict[str, Any], auth: None | dict[str, Any] = None
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Handle the "connect" message.
+
+        This is called, when a client connects to the server. It will register the
+        client and send the initial state of the room to the client.
+
+        :param sid: The session id of the requesting client.
+        :type sid: str
+        :param data: A dictionary with the keys described in
+            :py:func:`handle_register_client`.
+        :type data: dict[str, Any]
+        :rtype: None
+        """
+        logger.debug("Client %s connected", sid)
+        logger.debug("Data: %s", auth)
+        if auth is None or "type" not in auth:
+            logger.warning("Client %s connected without auth data", sid)
+            raise ConnectionRefusedError("No authentication data provided. Please register first.")
+
+        match auth["type"]:
+            case "playback":
+                await self.register_playback_client(sid, auth)
+            case "web":
+                await self.register_web_client(sid, auth)
+
+    async def register_web_client(self, sid: str, auth: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        if auth["room"] in self.clients:
+            logger.info("Client %s registered for room %s", sid, auth["room"])
+            async with self.sio.session(sid) as session:
+                session["room"] = auth["room"]
+                await self.sio.enter_room(sid, session["room"])
+            state = self.clients[session["room"]]
+            await self.send_state(state, sid)
+            is_admin = False
+            if "secret" in auth:
+                is_admin = auth["secret"] == state.client.config["secret"]
+                async with self.sio.session(sid) as session:
+                    session["admin"] = is_admin
+            await self.sio.emit("admin", is_admin, room=sid)
+        else:
+            logger.warning(
+                "Client %s tried to register for non-existing room %s", sid, auth["room"]
+            )
+            raise ConnectionRefusedError(
+                f"Room {auth['room']} does not exist. Please register first."
+            )
+
+    async def register_playback_client(self, sid: str, data: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        """
+        Register a new playback client and create a new room if necessary.
+
+        The data dictionary should have the following keys:
+            - `room` (Optional), the requested room
+            - `config`, an dictionary of initial configurations
+            - `queue`, a list of initial entries for the queue. The entries are
+                        encoded as a dictionary.
+            - `recent`, a list of initial entries for the recent list. The entries
+                        are encoded as a dictionary.
+            - `secret`, the secret of the room
+            - `version`, the version of the client as a triple of integers
+            - `key`, a registration key given out by the server administrator
+
+        This will register a new playback client to a specific room. If there
+        already exists a playback client registered for this room, this
+        playback client will be replaced if and only if, the new playback
+        client has the same secret.
+
+        If registration is restricted, abort, if the given key is not in the
+        registration keyfile.
+
+        If no room is provided, a fresh room id is generated.
+
+        If the client provides a new room, or a new room id was generated, the
+        server will create a new :py:class:`State` object and associate it with
+        the room id. The state will be initialized with a queue and recent
+        list, an initial config as well as no sources (yet).
+
+        In any case, the client will be notified of the success or failure, along
+        with its assigned room key via a "client-registered" message. This will be
+        handled by the :py:func:`syng.client.handle_client_registered` function.
+
+        If it was successfully registerd, the client will be added to its assigend
+        or requested room.
+
+        Afterwards all clients in the room will be send the current state.
+
+        :param sid: The session id of the requesting playback client.
+        :type sid: str
+        :param data: A dictionary with the keys described above
+        :type data: dict[str, Any]
+        :rtype: None
+        """
+        if "version" not in data:
+            pass
+            # TODO: Fallback to old registration method
+
+            # await self.sio.emit(
+            #     "client-registered",
+            #     {"success": False, "room": None, "reason": "NO_VERSION"},
+            #     room=sid,
+            # )
+            return
+
+        client_version = tuple(data["version"])
+        if not await self.check_client_version(client_version, sid):
+            return
+
+        def gen_id(length: int = 4) -> str:
+            client_id = "".join([random.choice(string.ascii_letters) for _ in range(length)])
+            if client_id in self.clients:
+                client_id = gen_id(length + 1)
+            return client_id
+
+        if "key" in data["config"]:
+            data["config"]["key"] = hashlib.sha256(data["config"]["key"].encode()).hexdigest()
+
+        if self.app["type"] == "private" and (
+            "key" not in data["config"] or not self.check_registration(data["config"]["key"])
+        ):
+            await self.sio.emit(
+                "client-registered",
+                {
+                    "success": False,
+                    "room": None,
+                    "reason": "PRIVATE",
+                },
+                room=sid,
+            )
+            raise ConnectionRefusedError(
+                "Private server, registration key not provided or invalid."
+            )
+
+        room: str = (
+            data["config"]["room"]
+            if "room" in data["config"] and data["config"]["room"]
+            else gen_id()
+        )
+        async with self.sio.session(sid) as session:
+            session["room"] = room
+
+        if room in self.clients:
+            old_state: State = self.clients[room]
+            if data["config"]["secret"] == old_state.client.config["secret"]:
+                logger.info("Got new client connection for %s", room)
+                old_state.sid = sid
+                old_state.client = Client(
+                    sources=old_state.client.sources,
+                    sources_prio=old_state.client.sources_prio,
+                    config=DEFAULT_CONFIG | data["config"],
+                )
+                await self.sio.enter_room(sid, room)
+                await self.send_state(self.clients[room], sid)
+            else:
+                logger.warning("Got wrong secret for %s", room)
+                raise ConnectionRefusedError(f"Wrong secret for room {room}.")
+        else:
+            logger.info("Registerd new client %s", room)
+            initial_entries = [Entry(**entry) for entry in data["queue"]]
+            initial_waiting_room = [Entry(**entry) for entry in data["waiting_room"]]
+            initial_recent = [Entry(**entry) for entry in data["recent"]]
+
+            self.clients[room] = State(
+                queue=Queue(initial_entries),
+                waiting_room=initial_waiting_room,
+                recent=initial_recent,
+                sid=sid,
+                client=Client(
+                    sources={},
+                    sources_prio=[],
+                    config=DEFAULT_CONFIG | data["config"],
+                ),
+            )
+
+            await self.sio.enter_room(sid, room)
+            await self.send_state(self.clients[room], sid)
+
     async def handle_register_web(self, sid: str, data: dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
         """
+        THIS IS DEPRECATED, REGISTRATION IS NOW DONE VIA THE CONNECT EVENT.
+
         Handle a "register-web" message.
 
         Adds a web client to a requested room and sends it the initial state of the
@@ -1232,6 +1412,8 @@ class Server:
     @with_state
     async def handle_register_admin(self, state: State, sid: str, data: dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
         """
+        THIS IS DEPRECATED, REGISTRATION IS NOW DONE VIA THE CONNECT EVENT.
+
         Handle a "register-admin" message.
 
         If the client provides the correct secret for its room, the connection is
diff --git a/typings/socketio/__init__.pyi b/typings/socketio/__init__.pyi
index 460a2d4..b136415 100644
--- a/typings/socketio/__init__.pyi
+++ b/typings/socketio/__init__.pyi
@@ -47,6 +47,6 @@ class AsyncClient:
         self, event: str, handler: Optional[Callable[..., Any]] = None
     ) -> Callable[[ClientHandler], ClientHandler]: ...
     async def wait(self) -> None: ...
-    async def connect(self, server: str) -> None: ...
+    async def connect(self, server: str, auth: dict[str, Any]) -> None: ...
     async def disconnect(self) -> None: ...
     async def emit(self, message: str, data: Any = None) -> None: ...
diff --git a/typings/socketio/exceptions.pyi b/typings/socketio/exceptions.pyi
index 14d5feb..94d6abf 100644
--- a/typings/socketio/exceptions.pyi
+++ b/typings/socketio/exceptions.pyi
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 class ConnectionError(Exception): ...
+class ConnectionRefusedError(ConnectionError): ...
 class BadNamespaceError(Exception): ...