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Troubleshooting

Find the symptom that matches what you see. Each entry gives the usual cause and the fix.

Server​

I can't reach the server at all​

Work through these in order:

  1. Use https://. The server speaks HTTPS by default. Plain http:// only works from your home network (plain HTTP at home). Try https://your-server:8080.
  2. Check the port. The default is 8080. Under Docker, check the port is published ("8080:8080").
  3. Check the firewall. If it works on the server itself but not from your phone, allow the port through the server's firewall.
  4. From outside your home? See Reach your server from outside your home.

The container stops at start-up with "pthread_create failed"​

Your Docker is older than 20.10.10 and blocks something the server needs. Update Docker (on a NAS, update its container app or system), then start the container again. docker version shows your version.

The container keeps restarting, or the log says the server can't write to a folder​

The server runs as the user in PUID and PGID. It needs read and write access to its data and backups folders, and read access to your books. At start the container tries to make that user the owner of the data folder. A NAS share can refuse that, and the container's log then says so:

audiosilo: WARNING: the server can't write to /data: it runs as user 1000:1000 and the folder belongs to 1026:100.
audiosilo:   Changing its owner to 1000:1000 failed (a NAS share with ACLs or a read-only mount refuses it).
audiosilo:   Fix: set PUID=1026 and PGID=100 (the folder's owner) on the container, or give user 1000:1000 read and write access to the folder on the host.
error: the data folder isn't usable: the server can't write to /data: permission denied. The server runs as user 1000:1000 and the folder belongs to 1026:100. Set PUID=1026 and PGID=100 (the folder's owner) on the container, or give user 1000:1000 read and write access to the folder.

The last line is the server stopping, so the container restarts and stops again. Do what the Fix line says. Either:

  • Set PUID and PGID to the owner the log names (here 1026 and 100), then recreate the container.
  • Give the user the log names access to the folder on the host. On a Synology NAS, see Give that user access.

The same warning can name other folders:

  • The backups folder you set in AUDIOSILO_BACKUP_DIR. The server starts, but backups fail until you fix it. For this folder and for the default one, the server's log warns backups will fail at start, and once a backup fails, the Backups notice in the console says why.
  • A books folder, which needs read access only. The warning ends with Until then, a library in that folder shows as offline. The library shows Folder unavailable in the console. After the fix, press Retry on the library.

A share that doesn't answer is a different problem. The log says audiosilo: WARNING: /library didn't answer within 5 seconds: a network share that is slow, or whose server is gone. Check that the share is mounted on the host.

Run the container with user: instead of PUID and PGID? Then the Fix line says to run it as the folder's owner, for example user: "1026:100".

My browser warns about the certificate​

That's expected with the default self-signed certificate. At home, accept the warning; the connection is still encrypted. To get rid of it, use Let's Encrypt or a reverse proxy. See Reach your server from outside your home.

Where do I find the server's log?​

In the admin console under Server > Logs. It holds the newest lines since the last restart. For older lines and the first-run banner, use docker compose logs, journalctl -u audiosilo, or the terminal you started the server from. On a NAS, use its container app's log view (Unraid, Synology).

I lost the first-run admin password​

The server prints it only once. From least to most drastic:

  1. Check the logs. docker compose logs often still has it, unless the container was recreated.
  2. Ask another admin to set a new password for you in Invite people.
  3. Run reset-admin. It sets a new admin password and prints it, and your books, people and listening stay as they are. If you lose the password has the command for each install, and what to do if it refuses.
  4. Reset the database, only if reset-admin can't run. Stop the server, move audiosilo.db (and any audiosilo.db-wal / audiosilo.db-shm) out of the data folder, and start it again. You get a new password.
warning

Resetting the database never touches your audiobooks, but it erases all accounts, listening progress, bookmarks, notes and shares. Move the files aside rather than deleting them.

I went back to an older server version​

An older server may not understand what a newer one added to the database. Run the newer version again, or restore the backup the server made before the update.

Connecting​

My invite code doesn't work​

  • It expired or was used up. An invite from the admin console lasts 7 days and 5 uses by default. Ask the admin to Rotate it.
  • A newer invite replaced it. Each person has one active invite. Use the newest one.
  • Too many wrong tries. The message says how long to wait. Then copy the code exactly.

See also When signing in doesn't work.

Scanning the QR code opened a web page, not the app​

The phone's camera app opens a QR code in the browser. Open the AudioSilo app instead, tap Scan a QR code and scan the code there. See Sign in the app with a QR code.

Everyone gets "Too many tries" at once​

The server is behind a reverse proxy that isn't in Trusted proxies, so every visitor looks like the same address. One device retrying an old sign-in then locks everyone out for a while. Add the proxy's address under Server > Settings > Network & HTTPS > Trusted proxies (see Behind a reverse proxy). It applies at once.

tip

Set a password on your account so you can always sign back in without a new invite.

I was signed out, or a "Reconnect" bar appeared​

The server stopped accepting this device: an admin signed it out, your password changed, or the server was rebuilt. Tap Reconnect and sign in again; the address is already filled in.

The top bar says a server "isn't answering"​

That server stopped answering. Books from your other servers keep working, and its lists fill in again once it's back. If it stays, see I can't reach the server at all.

A page says "You're offline"​

Your phone, tablet or computer has no network, so the page can't ask your server. Turn on Wi-Fi or mobile data. The page loads by itself once the network is back.

Meanwhile, your downloaded books still play. With no connection lists what works offline.

Search says the same when none of your servers answer. If your device has a network, see I can't reach the server at all.

A bookmark, note or rating won't save​

These are stored on your server, so saving one needs a connection to it. Check the connection, then add it again. With no connection says what the apps do with one made offline.

The app can't connect, but the browser can​

The iOS and Android apps can't accept the default self-signed certificate. At home they use plain HTTP instead. Check:

Test in the phone's browser with http:// in front, like http://192.168.1.20:8080/web. If that loads, type the same address into the app.

The app doesn't use the home address at home​

See If the app doesn't switch to the home address.

Playback​

A book plays in the app but won't play in the browser​

Some formats (Apple Lossless, AC-3) don't play in browsers, so the server converts them as you listen. If one still won't play:

  • Ask your admin to check Server > Transcoding shows ffmpeg as found.
  • Ask your admin to rescan the book once ffprobe is available.
  • Or listen in the iOS or Android app, or convert the file to .m4b or .mp3.

A book plays in the browser but not in the app​

It's probably an .mka file with AAC, Opus or FLAC inside. The apps can't play those reliably. Convert them to .m4b or .mp3 (see Supported formats). For a download on an iPhone, see Books in MKA files.

Playback stops with an error mid-book​

Usually a flaky connection. Press Retry, which reloads the track. For travel, download the book first.

A book won't start​

The message says why when it can. If the server isn't answering, see I can't reach the server at all. If one book's audio keeps failing, ask your admin to check its files. Your place is kept, and Retry starts from there.

"This book isn't in the library"​

The book was moved, renamed or removed since the link was made, or you can't see its library. Search for it, or find it in its new folder.

A podcast episode won't start​

An episode marked Plays on demand downloads first, which can take a minute or two. If it stops with a message, see Playing an episode. Your admin can check that Podcasts is on in Server > Settings > Modules and the Bridge is online.

No podcasts at all? Update the app, and ask your admin whether you can see the podcast library.

An episode download says the server couldn't get it​

An episode that isn't on your server yet has to be fetched there before it can download. The message under the download says why your server couldn't fetch it. Tap Retry download on the episode's page, or Retry on the Downloads page, to ask again. If it says your server can't fetch episodes now, ask your admin.

My book restarted from the beginning​

Your place is saved on the server and on the device, so losing it is very unlikely. If a book shows 0:00 with an error, don't scrub. Press Retry to fetch your real place.

AudioSilo doesn't appear in Android Auto or CarPlay​

See Getting AudioSilo into the car.

Library and files​

My library shows no books, or books suddenly vanished​

  • Wrong folder path. Under Docker, the library's folder is the path inside the container (like /library), not on the host. Check it in Libraries.
  • A network share dropped. The server keeps every book and everyone's progress, and marks the library Folder unavailable. Remount the share, then press Retry on the library.
  • The server can't read the folder. The library also shows Folder unavailable. See Permission denied.

AudioSilo never deletes your files.

New books I added aren't showing up​

The folder view shows new files at once. Search and lists need a scan. Press Rescan on the library, or scan on a schedule. A waiting scan shows in Health > Jobs.

One folder shows as one giant book, or as many one-chapter books​

Set a per-folder override with Folder detection... on the library: Separate books or Always one book. See Folder detection and Books split into disc folders.

A book has no chapters (or only a few broad ones)​

A long file without chapter marks shows 30-minute Parts. To use chapters from the community database:

  1. Turn on community metadata in Server > Settings.
  2. Match the book with Match with community metadata on its page.
  3. Check its Community chapters panel.

If they're "for another edition", your copy differs and they can't be used. See Community chapters.

Covers are missing​

Drop a cover.jpg into the book's folder and rescan. Or upload a cover on the book's page in the admin console (see Covers).

Reading​

A book has no Read the ebook button​

  • The folder must hold exactly one .epub.
  • For a single-file book, the EPUB needs the same name as the audio file.
  • Rescan the library after adding it.
  • Update the iOS or Android app.

See Which books have it.

The ebook reader doesn't start​

In a browser, it's usually a reverse proxy adding its own security headers. Let the proxy pass the server's own headers through for /web/reader.html. An old browser can't run the reader either.

In the app, the phone probably ran short of memory. Press Try again, and close other apps if it keeps stopping.

Downloads​

My downloads are gone after reinstalling the app​

Updating the app keeps downloads. Deleting and reinstalling it removes them, so download the books again. Your listening progress is on the server and is safe.

The web player won't offer downloads (or downloaded books won't play offline)​

Offline listening in a browser needs HTTPS. Over plain HTTP, downloads are hidden. Use HTTPS (see Reach your server from outside your home) or the iOS or Android app. If downloads say offline playback isn't ready, reload the page once.

Demo​

"This server has no demo"​

Only servers set up for it offer a demo. Try the public demo.

The demo says it's at capacity​

Too many demo accounts are live at once. The server removes idle ones after about a day, so try again later.