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Trending Lyricist I
November 26, 2021

Desktop App Issues

  • November 26, 2021
  • 21 replies
  • 284 views

 

I have always used the desktop app at home and my Music Library has always been linked to a single "Music" folder on an external hard drive. That music folder then has several artist sub-folders and each artist sub-folder then has their own album sub-folders which house the individual song files.

 

I have used the desktop app in this way for years with virtually no problems-until this morning. Now only a couple albums in each artist folder are showing up and some artist folders aren't showing up at all. 

 

I've tried various things. Unlinking the "Music" folder entirely then re-linking it. Re-starting the computer. Disconnecting the hard drive then reconnecting it. Checking the app for updates. Nothing works to link the single "Music" folder correctly like in the past. 

 

Now, if I link a single artist folder all the albums show up correctly (mostly, more on that later). This works for artists who only had a couple albums show up, or artists who were no longer showing up at all.  I could link my music library this way, but I literally have hundreds of artist folders and this would be an extremely tedious process as you can only link one folder at a time. This would be especially frustrating since I've always been able to link a single music folder for years. 

 

I mentioned the albums showing up mostly correctly earlier. I'm in the process of upgrading the quality of some of my CD rips and when I do so, I delete the original files (but not the album folder) before I put the new ones in. Well, the music files for the CD I'm currently working on still show up in my Music Library even though there are no music files in the folder. And I can still play them!  This is the same with the single Music folder linked or the individual artist folder linked. 

 

Anyone else experiencing or have experienced a similar issue with the desktop app?  Help. 

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21 replies

November 26, 2021

Hi. First, except for the Folders view itself, the structure of the Sonos Music Library does not use your folder structure at all. It uses metadata contained in the music files.

So as you are replacing files it is there where you need to look. Preserving the folder achieves nothing. What software are you using to rip?  And to which format?

It is also possible that communication gremlins are preventing a full reindex.

el rubio
November 26, 2021

hi @Seanos can you tell which operating system you are using on your desktop (Windows, macOS)? I assume your desktop controller is up-to-date (13.4 or above). Check the Music Library Advanced Settings how Albums are grouped. Finally, during a Library update I recommend not to change (i.e. add, delete or rename) any of the content in your Music folder on your external drive.

 
salu2.eu
SeanosAuthor
Trending Lyricist I
November 26, 2021

Windows operating system. Sonos Controller version 13.4. I don't modify any of the folders during a library update.

SeanosAuthor
Trending Lyricist I
November 26, 2021

I'm also using iTunes to rip the CDs. Something I've done for years without issue. My process hasn't changed for years. I don't know why I'm having a problem now. 

jgatie
November 26, 2021

The track limit is 65,000 max, and can be less if you have oversized tags or long path/filenames.  Tracks will be missing if you are over the limit.

November 26, 2021

How does the Folders view in the Sonos Music Library compare with what is on your external hard drive?

SeanosAuthor
Trending Lyricist I
November 26, 2021

I haven't added any files in weeks. They were there last night. They're not there this morning. It's not a track limit issue. 

SeanosAuthor
Trending Lyricist I
November 26, 2021

How does the Folders view in the Sonos Music Library compare with what is on your external hard drive?

It matches up. I've changed nothing from last night (and the years prior) to this morning. 

el rubio
November 26, 2021

You may browse the folders through the Sonos desktop app menu Music Library Folders. You may check the folder structure and look for missing folders or files.

salu2.eu
SeanosAuthor
Trending Lyricist I
November 26, 2021

You may browse the folders through the Sonos desktop app menu Music Library Folders. You may check the folder structure and look for missing folders or files.

As I mentioned in my original post, I had linked just a single “Music” folder on my hard drive. That had been enough to pick up any artist and album sub-folders within it. So the only folder showing up in my Music Library folders is a single folder. So I can't really check what's missing that way.