# Playback Error: An error occurred loading items to play

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/playback-error-an-error-occurred-loading-items-to-play/871042>\
**Category:** Plex Media Server\
**Tags:** server-windows, plex-web, library-management\
**Created:** [March 2, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/playback-error-an-error-occurred-loading-items-to-play/871042 "2024-03-02T18:08:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bgs7b6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@bgs7b6](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bgs7b6)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/playback-error-an-error-occurred-loading-items-to-play/871042/1 "2024-03-02T18:08:30Z")

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Server Version#: 1.40.0.7998  
Player Version#: 4.123.2  
PMS.log attached. This was the only logfile with relevant timestamps for the error event.  
[Plex Media Server.log](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/7hslnCbQZWj9ttjGcIvAONTsWQI.log) (1.9 KB)

I have a library defined (“Music”), with audio files (.MP3) stored in a root directory (D:\Music) defined in the library. Within Plex Web App, both from the Server as well as from a local client, within the Folders view

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/d/2/3/d2398e96809a9c413bdd321da38d71073b92837f.png)  
every attempt to play an audio file located in the root directory by clicking the ‘play’ triangle located on the album art icon results in a playback error:  
 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/9/3/c/93c430422555693ac28e976e09a74ed9e4ec7ba1.png)  
 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/b/f/e/bfe04fb2313c2bb87fed1d174244a4df09f2ea05.png)

However, if I click the selection circle

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/5/6/0/560b94fcf0087b377430ddc1ec2f81cd87c323ad.png) for the audio file, and then click the ‘play’ triangle above, the audio file will play without error.  
 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/5/3/3/5333c85c42db2a7b8942a2a35ae5b0f58d8e3158.png).

This error occurs for every audio file located in a root directory of a library, and never occurs for any audio file located not in a root directory.

Please note the workaround described above, but if a solution can be coded into Plex Web App or Plex Server, that would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Same error reported in 2020 without resolution: [Single MP3's in root of music folders won't play on PC Win 10 desktop, using FOLDER view. "Playback Error - An error occurred loading items to play."](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-mp3s-in-root-of-music-folders-wont-play-on-pc-win-10-desktop-using-folder-view-playback-error-an-error-occurred-loading-items-to-play/606199)

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/playback-error-an-error-occurred-loading-items-to-play/871042/2 "2024-05-31T18:08:38Z")

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