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Dazza76
Contributor I
Apr 21, 2024 9:49 PM UTC
Answered

Local library not showing on app

I have my music library stored on an external SDD. I’ve added the folder to the music library on the Sonos app but none of the music appears. Can the Sonos app only recognise music stored in the standard “music” folder? I’m on a Mac by the way. 

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Dazza76Answer
Contributor I
Apr 22, 2024 9:44 AM UTC

Ok. I’ve spoken to Sonos and I now have the answer. It’s really weird but it turns out that it related to the format of the drive your music is on. If it’s on the internal storage of a Mac, then it can deal with APFS fine but if you have your music on an external drive connected to your Mac then it has to be either  Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or HFS+. So if you have your music on an external drive then that drive has to be using a legacy format but if it’s on the internal storage then the current format is fine. 

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8 replies

Airgetlam
Airgetlam
Apr 21, 2024 10:01 PM UTC

So, the external SSD is not set up as an NAS? Just a mapped drive in the Mac OS? Assuming the external SSD is ‘on’ and reachable by the Mac’s OS, the Sonos client should be able to see it. Of course, we’re making all sorts of assumptions about which MacOS you’re using, and which Sonos client you have installed on the Mac, and what device you’re using as a controller.

I’d be tempted to submit a system diagnostic, and call Sonos Support to discuss it.

There may be information included in the diagnostic that will help Sonos pinpoint the issue and help you find a solution.

When you speak directly to the phone folks, they have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your network and Sonos system.

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Bruce
Airgetlam
Airgetlam
Apr 21, 2024 10:03 PM UTC

It’s important to note, however, that it isn’t the Sonos controller/device it is running on that is playing the music, the ‘player’ is on the Sonos speaker, and it is the thing reaching across your network to reach this data. 

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Bruce
Airgetlam
Airgetlam
Apr 22, 2024 2:21 AM UTC

What an odd response.

1) and 2) don’t apply here at all. And I’m unsure of what library app is being talked about in 3), 4) and 5). But 6)  makes sense, as it echoes something I’ve already suggested.

If I were to guess, this is a chat bot generated response. 

Moderator edit: AI-generated post to which this is a response has been trashed.

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Bruce
Dazza76Author
Contributor I
Apr 22, 2024 6:34 AM UTC

So, the external SSD is not set up as an NAS? Just a mapped drive in the Mac OS? Assuming the external SSD is ‘on’ and reachable by the Mac’s OS, the Sonos client should be able to see it. Of course, we’re making all sorts of assumptions about which MacOS you’re using, and which Sonos client you have installed on the Mac, and what device you’re using as a controller.

I’d be tempted to submit a system diagnostic, and call Sonos Support to discuss it.

There may be information included in the diagnostic that will help Sonos pinpoint the issue and help you find a solution.

When you speak directly to the phone folks, they have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your network and Sonos system.

 Thanks Bruce. To clarify: Yes, the external SSD is NOT set up as a NAS. It’s just connected to the Mac via USB and is being mapped by the OS. I’m running macOS 14.4.1 on an M2 Pro Mac Mini. The app is Sonos Controller for Mac version 16.1. 

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Dazza76AuthorAnswer
Contributor I
Apr 22, 2024 9:44 AM UTC

Ok. I’ve spoken to Sonos and I now have the answer. It’s really weird but it turns out that it related to the format of the drive your music is on. If it’s on the internal storage of a Mac, then it can deal with APFS fine but if you have your music on an external drive connected to your Mac then it has to be either  Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or HFS+. So if you have your music on an external drive then that drive has to be using a legacy format but if it’s on the internal storage then the current format is fine. 

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    Airgetlam
    Airgetlam
    Apr 22, 2024 2:50 PM UTC

    Interesting, I was unaware of this. Thanks for posting the data here!

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    Bruce
    Dazza76Author
    Contributor I
    Apr 22, 2024 2:56 PM UTC

    Interesting, I was unaware of this. Thanks for posting the data here!

    No problem. I’ve seen quite a few posts about this but none that have got a definitive answer so I hope this helps others. 

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      agd3
      Lyricist III
      Jun 8, 2024 6:02 PM UTC

      Does anyone have a solution for this? @Sonos, I haven’t had my library since the new app, and keep getting turned back when Sonos asks for my password and tries to access the file share.  My last successful setup was done with the old app.  Desparately hoping this will work from the app again soon.

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