Some local mp3 files not listed after latest update

[Amigos2]

Country

UK

Device

Windows Desktop PC (Dell) and Laptop (Sony Vaio)

Operating System

Windows 11

My Question or Issue

I have 40,608 local (mp3) files on my windows 11 desktop PC.

After the last Spotify update (1.2.3.1115.gd61a8f5c), Spotify now only lists 40,601 of them.

With so many files, it is virtually impossible to work out what seven files are now not showing.  This is happening on two separate PCs (both running Windows 11 with the same number of local mp3 files on the system). I've checked a few things - eg. the largest files, the most recent files, and they are listed. So it must be something else. 

[kaworu_bloodpaw]

Hi there @Amigos2

Could you try disabling Local Files or unselecting the folder that has all of your local music, and exit Spotify by going to File > Exit (Control + Shift + Q)?

 

Then, reopen Spotify and reenable your Local Files/local music folder. After this, restart Spotify again.

This should force Spotify to rescan your local folder(s).

Let me know if that works!

[Amigos2]

Thanks for your suggestions, and for responding so quickly. I've tried following your suggestions, but the same thing happens. There are still seven mp3 files not appearing in the list of my local files on both my PC and my laptop.  The latest Spotify update may be a red herring, but all 40,608 local files were listed on my laptop yesterday evening, and when I launched Spotify this morning, it automatically installed the update and immediately afterwards there were only 40,601 files listed. Is there a way I can backout the latest update to see if the missing files re-appear?  Or do you have any other suggestions?

[kaworu_bloodpaw]

I don't think there's a way to install an old update. Are you using the x64 version or the UWP version of Spotify?

You could also try logging out and back in twice. That can help fix random issues, as well.

Just curious, how much space does your local music take up on your PC?

[kaworu_bloodpaw]

I found some other threads that may prove useful.

One of them involves moving the missing files into another folder (or all of them) and putting them back. Another involves file extension formatting.

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Windows/Local-Files-disappearing/m-p/1655097/highlight/true...

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Windows/Possible-solution-to-SOME-local-files-missing/m-p/5...

[Amigos2]

Thanks again for the suggestions. I'm still none the wiser though.  I'm using the Spotify for Windows 64-bit, and I have tried logging off and on again - as well as re-installing the latest version (Spotify for Windows 1.2.3.1115.gd61a8f5c). I've looked at the other threads you mention and they are interesting, although they haven't shed any light on my problem at the moment (although I can't actually tell which of the files are missing without manually comparing 40k names). I vaguely remember a similar problem a few years ago, and that turned out to be due to the size of some of the cover art associated with particular mp3 files, but that doesn't seem to be the issue here. I also seem to remember disabling Spotify updates at some point in the past, but I can't remember how I did that now. My music files take up about 330Gb on my PCs, and are used with Logitech Media Server to stream to my hifi system using a Logitech Squeezebox, although more often than not I just listen to them using Spotify local files while using the computer. Thanks again for your help and suggestions. I'll keep investigating.

[kaworu_bloodpaw]

You could try installing the MS Store version instead of the version on the Spotify website. Not sure if it would work though.

I'll see what else I can find.

That's a lot of music. I only have 2,572 songs saved currently, which is most of the songs I listen to. I probably know more, but don't care for them enough to add them.

[Amigos2]

I think I have discovered the cause of the problem. Spotify (now?) seems to be excluding duplicate tracks from the list of local files. It is excluding "duplicate" tracks that have the same title, the same album name, and (possibly) the same durations. Some of my missing files are indeed duplicates, although some are NOT duplicates but just had the same title (eg. "intro") on the same album with the same duration. I can sort out my own mp3 files now (by renaming the track title), although I'm not sure why Spotify seems to have only just started doing this.

[haoui]

HI. I have a similar issue on a mac. I think I've worked it out ...
Spotify seems to get it's song title from the metadata only. So, if the title is duplicated in the metadata of another file, it will class it as a duplicate and not include it in local files, - even if the filename is different.
So, check the missing file's 'title' metadata isn't duplicated in another file, and/or use a basic music file editor to edit or remove the metadata entries.
It worked for me!

[kaworu_bloodpaw]

Cool!

Thanks @haoui for the update.

[Amigos2]

Thanks for the info/update. I think Spotify must have changed the way they handle duplicates in local files. I would have preferred it if they leave my own local files alone (especially as some files are now being excluding as duplicates, even though they are not necessarily identical).  Still, now I know they are doing that, at least I can check for files being excluded in this way. In my case, it was only for a small number anyway. Mind you, it would have been easier (for me) if there was an option to actually see what files were being ignored!