Local files disappearing after search

[ananiko]

Plan

Premium

Country

US

Device

PC

Operating System

Windows 10

My Question or Issue

When searching local files, if there are no matching results, it shows the screen that says to go to settings to add source for local files (see attached image). If I backspace the search input, the local files don't show back up. Additionally, there are sources added for local files, and they work correctly up until using the search functionality. The only way to get the local files to show back up is to restart the spotify desktop app. If there is a matching search result, everything works fine, but there's some kind of bug when there are no matching search results that causes local files to no longer display.

[KidNextDoor65]

Plan

Premium

Country

USA

Device

(PC)

Operating System

(Windows 10)

My Question or Issue

Hi! i can't add a source after i reinstall my window 10.
I spend more 3 hours to do this, find all method but nothing working. Always in screen "Listen to local files / Add a source or turn off local files in settings"

Before i reinstall my window, i had 20 songs in local files and the lastest song i added at 21/10/21 with japanese symbol, it normal to play on pc and phone. I think it enough information. 

Sorry for my bad English!
Help me pls! Thanks

[miguelich2000]

¡Hola!

Me comentas que es un ordenador/PC de Windows 10.

Puedes descargar la aplicación de Spotify para Windows 10 aqui .

_________________________________________________________

Si tienes alguna duda o pregunta responde a este mensaje.

[KidNextDoor65]

Have someone? Pls help!

[Ver]

Hey @ananiko,

Thanks for posting here.

Could you give these steps a go and run a clean reinstall to see if anything changes?

If that doesn't help, could you please share with us the following? We'll look into this further.

• The exact Spotify version that is running on your device.
• When did this occur?
• If you've tried other troubleshooting steps?

Keep us in the loop.

[Yordan]

Hi @KidNextDoor65,

Welcome to the Community and thanks for reaching out!

Can you confirm that you've enabled Local Files in the app's settings? Make sure also that the folder where your local files are located is also toggled on. You should then see your local files in the Spotify app by going to Your Library > Local Files.

If you don't see any songs under Local Files in Your Library, you can try moving your files to another folder and adding it as a new source by clicking on ADD A SOURCE.

In case the issue persists, you can send us some screenshots of your app's settings and your library so we can have a closer look.

Cheers!

[KidNextDoor65]

Thanks for replay!

2 thing you write up there, i did thousand time but always in screen "Listen to local files / Add a source or turn off local files in settings"

[fabtorres31]

Plan

Premium

Country

United States of America

Device

Windows Laptop - ASUS Zephyrus G15 2021

Operating System

Windows 10 -- Desktop Program Installation version (NOT WINDOWS MS STORE VERSION

Program/App Version
Spotify for Windows
1.1.80.699.gc3dac750
--------------------------------------------------------

My Question or Issue

Hi Spotify Community/Devs,

I'm currently having an issue where when trying to browse my local files. To get to my local files, I click:

Your Library -> Local Files

However, If I search with ctrl+f for a specific song, if no matches are found, it shows me this error to add a source for local files in my settings. Almost as if it acts as if I don't have any local files. However, this screen persists for local files for the remainder of the session that I have the Spotify program open. I have to restart the windows 10 program to be able to look at my local files again.

It all works fine if I make sure not to type an incorrect letter so that it doesn't run into a wall where it can't find search results. But this is incredibly frustrating.

Please fix this soon, and if other are also experiencing this or know a fix, please don't hesitate to comment down below!

[Alex]

Hey @KidNextDoor65,

Thanks for the reply.

Can you try the following:

1. Reinstall the app, following this Guide for Windows 10. Make sure to delete all folders in %AppData%. These folders might cause issues with the app, this is why it's better to delete them.
2. After this, open the app > Settings > turn 'Show Local Files' On > Add a source.
3. Choose your music folder.

Note that Spotify supports only the use of local files obtained legally, and can't guarantee that mp3s downloaded from online converters or illegal sources will work with the app.

Keep us posted.

[xx-ludis]

came in here to say that i have the exact same issue

[ananiko]

Hi @Ver, thanks for the response.

I tried the clean reinstall, but nothing changed.

Spotify version:
Spotify for Windows
1.1.79.763.gc2965cdf

I first noticed it 2/27/22. I don't use local files that often, so I don't know the last time it worked properly.

I tried removing and re-adding sources for local files, but only restarting the spotify desktop app gets the local files to show up again. I also am experiencing the same issue on a different windows 10 pc (same spotify version). To clarify, when the 'go to settings' screen shows up, I actually don't have the option to backspace the search input, because the search bar disappears. I noticed on the spotify android app when searching for a local file that doesn't yield any results, a similar screen shows up; however, the search bar is still present, so I can backspace the search input and the local files show back up. Since I cannot backspace the search input on the desktop app, maybe that's why the local files won't show back up.

[ananiko]

edit: ignore this, was duplicate of reply above

[exwum]

Easy fix for this: Simply close spotify and reopen it.

Don't close this post though. This is a bug and needs to be fixed.

Easy Reproduction steps for devs:

1. Go to settings
2. Give local files a single source with one audio file (perferably with some metadata)
3. Go to local files and attempt to search something completely irrelevant to the singular audio file
4. Local files screen is now softlocked.

The bug appears to happen when you search something that doesn't exist, The intended result of doing this should be showing a blank page: 

I can easily remove the search to get rid of the blank screen, but this is essentially spotify's way of saying "no results"

Instead, Local files does this:

I believe this happens because spotify, after getting the blank search, incorrectly believes that there are no local files so it defaults to the "add a source" page.

After being softlocked, The only way to fix it is restarting spotify. Switching menus and Reapplying the music source doesn't remove the softlock.

Again, it's a simple fix, but if you're a mod and you see this, please escalate this. Thanks.

[Ver]

Hey everyone.

Thanks for reporting this to us.

We went ahead and passed your info on to the right team so they can investigate this further. We'll let you know as soon as we have any updates on this.

The Community is here for you if there's anything else!
 

[melinamomeni1]

Hi, so i have been using local files for a while now and whenever I try to use it now, it says I need a source so i added one. But, it still isn't working none of the new songs are showing up. I have added any possible source in my computer that i can. How can i get this issue to stop, I even deleted the app 3 times and deleted the cache. Please help

Plan

US

Device

Macbook pro 2020

Operating System

Newsest Os

[Yawed]

I have the exact same issue but on a macbook. Up until the last update all my local files were showing up on the desktop version, now everytime I click on “Local Files” I get that message

 

 

[KidNextDoor65]

I found solution, i just moved to apple music and solved 🙂

[mv47]

Plan

Premium

Country

United States

Device

(PC)

Operating System

(Windows 10)

Not sure if others are experiencing this but I have encountered an odd bug on Your Library > Local Files. Specifically, on the Local Files search bar function. I have Local Files turned on on my device, and have all my music on a folder I created myself.

Here's the issue:

When you type up a search input on your Local Files search bar, you can see that Spotify will automatically refresh your local files list to match your current search input. The issue appears once you type up any search input that will not give you any songs back as a results of it.

If no songs/files match your search input, Spotify will trigger something that tells the application that your Local Files are turned off in your settings. It will prompt you with a screen telling you to add a source for your local files or turn off local files all together, when in fact the setting for Local Files is already turned on. If I spam for example, "aaaa" on my Local Files search bar, the bug occurs since I have no files on my folder that will match the search input "aaaa".

The big problem with this is that once this bug occurs, you will not be able to access the Local Files window at all, unless you restart the application all together.

I believe I am on the latest windows version as I don't see an option to update anywhere. I've attached a short video demonstrating the bug.

[Jeremy]

Hi there @mv47,

Thank you for reaching out to the Community and for the detailed explanation.

We'd like to investigate this further so it would be great if you can provide us your exact Spotify version.

We'll keep an eye out for your reply.

Take care!

[mv47]

Spotify for Windows
1.1.80.699.gc3dac750