Plex does not show embedded album cover art

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
,
1

Server Version#: 1.41.8.9834
Player Version#: 4.146.0

I have a problem where occasionally Plex will not read the embedded album cover.

It looks like this:

image
image1409×796 34.8 KB

When in foobar2000 it looks like this:

image
image910×549 78.2 KB

In MPC-BE it looks like this:

image
image445×570 88.5 KB

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<MediaContainer size="1" allowSync="1" identifier="com.plexapp.plugins.library" librarySectionID="13" librarySectionTitle="Music" librarySectionUUID="0c19eb28-deb7-4d6e-aa5e-0e86fb18a0ce" mediaTagPrefix="/system/bundle/media/flags/" mediaTagVersion="1748352070">
<Track ratingKey="41578" key="/library/metadata/41578" parentRatingKey="41577" grandparentRatingKey="41576" guid="mbid://a6c4f6f0-e315-4191-b746-2761db865802" parentGuid="mbid://15d219c1-7031-4f1b-901c-3658cfe4d9e4" grandparentGuid="plex://artist/5d07bd86403c6402905f6f04" type="track" title="Intro" grandparentKey="/library/metadata/41576" parentKey="/library/metadata/41577" librarySectionTitle="Music" librarySectionID="13" librarySectionKey="/library/sections/13" grandparentTitle="Oskar Hallbert" parentTitle="1123581321345589" summary="" index="1" parentIndex="1" parentYear="2009" grandparentThumb="/library/metadata/41576/thumb/1752502556" duration="45505" addedAt="1752502532">
<Media id="63670" duration="45505" bitrate="320" audioChannels="2" audioCodec="mp3" container="mp3" hasVoiceActivity="0">
<Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="70511" key="/library/parts/70511/1752502743/file.mp3" duration="45505" file="/MUSIC/Oskar Hallbert/2009-10-08 - 1123581321345589 [album] {zym023}/01 - Intro.mp3" size="2207356" container="mp3" hasThumbnail="1">
<Stream id="220907" streamType="2" selected="1" codec="mp3" index="0" channels="2" bitrate="320" audioChannelLayout="stereo" samplingRate="44100" displayTitle="MP3 (Stereo)" extendedDisplayTitle="MP3 (Stereo)">
</Stream>
</Part>
</Media>
<Image alt="Intro" type="coverPoster" url="/library/metadata/41576/thumb/1752502556"/>
<Extras size="0">
</Extras>
<Related>
</Related>
</Track>
</MediaContainer>

Jul 14, 2025 16:24:34.870 [23024727501624] Debug — Request: [127.0.0.1:57668 (Loopback)] GET /identity (14 live) #e318b Signed-in
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:34.870 [23024848550712] Debug — Completed: [127.0.0.1:57668] 200 GET /identity (14 live) #e318b 0ms 417 bytes (pipelined: 1)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:35.255 [23024670505784] Debug — Request: [192.168.1.50:62105 (Subnet)] OPTIONS /library/metadata/41576/refresh (13 live) #e3149 TLS GZIP Signed-in
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:35.255 [23024850660152] Debug — Completed: [192.168.1.50:62105] 200 OPTIONS /library/metadata/41576/refresh (13 live) #e3149 TLS GZIP 0ms 713 bytes (pipelined: 26)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:35.261 [23024591088440] Debug — Request: [192.168.1.50:62105 (Subnet)] PUT /library/metadata/41576/refresh (13 live) #e31a1 TLS GZIP Signed-in Token (nova_admin)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:35.263 [23024591088440] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Refreshing metadata for 'Oskar Hallbert' (agent: tv.plex.agents.music)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:35.263 [23024591088440] Debug — [Req#e31a1] MetadataAgentPostProcessor: adding id 41576 to refresh queue (0 items in queue)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:35.263 [23024850660152] Debug — Completed: [192.168.1.50:62105] 200 PUT /library/metadata/41576/refresh (13 live) #e31a1 TLS GZIP 1ms 327 bytes (pipelined: 27)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:35.267 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Activity: registered new activity f1acb75e-653a-4b97-9a1c-5b21551ed5a8 - "Updating Metadata"
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:35.567 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1/JobRunner] Job running: FFMPEG_EXTERNAL_LIBS='/config/Library/Application\ Support/Plex\ Media\ Server/Codecs/46f74ab-560174306fe167a5978a79dd-linux-x86_64/' X_PLEX_TOKEN=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex Media Scanner" --match --type 8 --log-file-suffix " Matcher" --item 41576 --match-tag-mode=exclusive
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:35.568 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1/JobRunner] Jobs: Starting child process with pid 235401
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.338 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Killing job.
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.338 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Signalling job ID 235401 with 9
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.338 [23024861055800] Debug — Jobs: '/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex Media Scanner' exit code for process 235401 is 0 (success)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.341 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Loaded metadata for Oskar Hallbert (ID 41576) in 3ms
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.342 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Done with metadata update for 41576
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.344 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Activity: updated activity f1acb75e-653a-4b97-9a1c-5b21551ed5a8 - completed -1.0% - Updating Metadata
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.453 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1/JobRunner] Job running: FFMPEG_EXTERNAL_LIBS='/config/Library/Application\ Support/Plex\ Media\ Server/Codecs/46f74ab-560174306fe167a5978a79dd-linux-x86_64/' X_PLEX_TOKEN=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex Media Scanner" --match --type 8 --log-file-suffix " Matcher" --item 41577 --match-tag-mode=exclusive
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.453 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1/JobRunner] Jobs: Starting child process with pid 235404
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.470 [23024727501624] Debug — Request: [192.168.1.50:62105 (Subnet)] GET /library/metadata/41577 (13 live) #e31b6 TLS GZIP Signed-in Token (nova_admin)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.471 [23024670505784] Debug — Request: [192.168.1.50:62115 (Subnet)] GET /library/metadata/41576/children?excludeAllLeaves=1 (13 live) #e3131 TLS Page 0-0 GZIP Signed-in Token (nova_admin)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.472 [23024848550712] Debug — Completed: [192.168.1.50:62105] 200 GET /library/metadata/41577 (13 live) #e31b6 TLS GZIP 2ms 1075 bytes (pipelined: 28)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.473 [23024670505784] Debug — [Req#e3131] Setting container serialization range to [0, 0] (total=-1)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.475 [23024670505784] Debug — [Req#e3131] Setting container serialization range to [0, 0] (total=1)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:36.475 [23024848550712] Debug — Completed: [192.168.1.50:62115] 200 GET /library/metadata/41576/children?excludeAllLeaves=1 (13 live) #e3131 TLS GZIP Page 0-0 3ms 1421 bytes (pipelined: 11)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:37.256 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Killing job.
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:37.256 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Signalling job ID 235404 with 9
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:37.256 [23024861055800] Debug — Jobs: '/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex Media Scanner' exit code for process 235404 is 0 (success)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:37.261 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Loaded metadata for 1123581321345589 (ID 41577) in 3ms
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.972 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Done with metadata update for 41577
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.975 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Loaded metadata for Intro (ID 41578) in 0ms
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.977 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Done with metadata update for 41578
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.978 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Loaded metadata for Prime Number (ID 41579) in 1ms
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.979 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Done with metadata update for 41579
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.981 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Loaded metadata for From The Stockholm Tape 2 (ID 41580) in 0ms
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.981 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Done with metadata update for 41580
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.982 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Loaded metadata for Look It's Kama Aina In My Garden (ID 41581) in 0ms
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.983 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Done with metadata update for 41581
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.985 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Loaded metadata for From The Stockholm Tape 1 (ID 41582) in 0ms
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.985 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Done with metadata update for 41582
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.986 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Loaded metadata for Fractal (ID 41583) in 0ms
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.987 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Done with metadata update for 41583
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.988 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Loaded metadata for Unsent Letter (ID 41584) in 0ms
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.988 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Done with metadata update for 41584
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.989 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Loaded metadata for Not OK. (ID 41585) in 0ms
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.990 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Done with metadata update for 41585
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.991 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Loaded metadata for Harrold & Maud (ID 41586) in 0ms
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.991 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Done with metadata update for 41586
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.992 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Loaded metadata for Entertainment (ID 41587) in 0ms
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.993 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Done with metadata update for 41587
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.993 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Activity: updated activity f1acb75e-653a-4b97-9a1c-5b21551ed5a8 - completed 89.0% - Updating Metadata
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:38.993 [23024665033528] Debug — [Req#e31a1] Activity: Ended activity f1acb75e-653a-4b97-9a1c-5b21551ed5a8.
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.065 [23024591088440] Debug — Request: [192.168.1.50:62105 (Subnet)] GET /library/metadata/41576 (13 live) #e3231 TLS GZIP Signed-in Token (nova_admin)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.067 [23024727501624] Debug — Request: [192.168.1.50:62115 (Subnet)] GET /library/metadata/41577 (13 live) #e3240 TLS GZIP Signed-in Token (nova_admin)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.067 [23024591088440] Debug — There were 1 top-level paths for Oskar Hallbert.
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.067 [23024591088440] Debug — Request: [192.168.1.50:62169 (Subnet)] GET /library/metadata/41576?includeConcerts=1&includeExtras=1&includeOnDeck=1&includePopularLeaves=1&includePreferences=1&includeReviews=1&includeChapters=1&includeStations=1&includeExternalMedia=1&asyncAugmentMetadata=1&asyncCheckFiles=1&asyncRefreshAnalysis=1&asyncRefreshLocalMediaAgent=1 (13 live) #e3134 TLS GZIP Signed-in Token (nova_admin)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.067 [23024848550712] Debug — Completed: [192.168.1.50:62105] 200 GET /library/metadata/41576 (13 live) #e3231 TLS GZIP 2ms 1856 bytes (pipelined: 29)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.069 [23024591088440] Debug — [Req#e3134] Activity: registered new activity f51443f0-c92c-497d-b10e-7c9d3b6a525e - "Refreshing"
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.069 [23024617872184] Debug — [Req#e3134] Activity: updated activity f51443f0-c92c-497d-b10e-7c9d3b6a525e - completed 0.0% - Refreshing
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.069 [23024617872184] Debug — [Req#e3134] Activity: updated activity f51443f0-c92c-497d-b10e-7c9d3b6a525e - completed 33.0% - Refreshing
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.070 [23024617872184] Debug — [Req#e3134] Activity: updated activity f51443f0-c92c-497d-b10e-7c9d3b6a525e - completed 66.0% - Refreshing
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.070 [23024850660152] Debug — Completed: [192.168.1.50:62115] 200 GET /library/metadata/41577 (13 live) #e3240 TLS GZIP 3ms 1075 bytes (pipelined: 12)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.070 [23024617872184] Debug — [Req#e3134] Activity: Ended activity f51443f0-c92c-497d-b10e-7c9d3b6a525e.
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.070 [23024591088440] Debug — There were 1 top-level paths for Oskar Hallbert.
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.081 [23024850660152] Debug — Completed: [192.168.1.50:62169] 200 GET /library/metadata/41576?includeConcerts=1&includeExtras=1&includeOnDeck=1&includePopularLeaves=1&includePreferences=1&includeReviews=1&includeChapters=1&includeStations=1&includeExternalMedia=1&asyncAugmentMetadata=1&asyncCheckFiles=1&asyncRefreshAnalysis=1&asyncRefreshLocalMediaAgent=1 (13 live) #e3134 TLS GZIP 13ms 2273 bytes (pipelined: 4)
Jul 14, 2025 16:24:39.916 [23024670505784] Debug — Request: [127.0.0.1:57670 (Loopback)] GET /identity (14 live) #e3196 Signed-in
2

I have enabled Prefer local metadata (When scanning this library, prefer embedded tags and local files if present.) And I am using the “Plex music” as the scanner and “Plex Music” as the agent.

I also tried to convert the cover art and re-add it to the MP3 files and re-scan. Didn’t work.

3

I tried to remove and delete the album from Plex. Empty the trash and re-add the files without luck.

4

I have tried Ottos answer (Set Album Art to “Local Files Only”)from here: Music Album Cover - #2 by OttoKerner. It doesn’t help even after deleting the music, emptying trash, re-adding the music and re-scanning metadata.

Here is an example (another example) where the album cover does not display:

5

Do you have the album art saved as a separate cover.jpg in the same folder as the album tracks as described in the Plex support articles?

6

I think this is a server-side regression, as I’ve also noticed that files of mine that previously displayed the embedded album art now use the Plex Music option. I can manually select the correct (embedded) poster art, but this appears to be a regression, where it is ignoring the library preferences.

7

Nope.

8

maybe try that then?

9

Thanks, but I already know I can add a folder.jpg or add the cover art in Plex, but Plex is supposed to work with embedded metadata. Please stick to the issue at hand. Embedded album covers are supposed to work and usually do, but not consistently.

1 Like
10

For some strange reason today when I came back to Plex all I had to do was to refresh metadata and voila — the correct embedded album art is displayed. I am not sure why it suddenly works. I know I have done this 10 times earlier. My hypothesis is that I might have restarted the server in combination with switching to Set Album Art to “Local Files Only” in combination with clean bundles and optimize database. If I can replicate the problem and the solution I will definitely come back here to post it.

11

Did you get the latest PMS update (1.41.9.9961)…

FIXES:

(Music) Music files with embedded Release Type tags are failing to extract local metadata (PM-3751)

12

This issue is still occurring for me in the latest beta (PMS 1.42.0.9975), so I don’t think it’s related to the release type tags change.

13

That’s a shame. Have you added any new artists since this beta? Mine don’t get any “Similar Artists” metadata and wondered if it’s just a glitch or something more

14

No, nothing new added since I updated to the latest beta.

15

Hey @DaveBinM! Hope you’re doing well.

Get me some logs after trying to refresh these items. I’ve been unable to repro this myself, working correctly for me.

1 Like
16

Hello! Yeah, I’m doing well, I hope you are too! I’ve reproduced this with Evanescence’s album “Fallen”, and attached the logs. I also grabbed a copy of the db, in case that’s helpful too.

Thanks for your help! :plexheart:

Plex Media Server Logs_2025-07-19_14-46-55 2.zip (5.2 MB)

17

Thanks, I don’t see any errors relating to this in the logs - everything seems to be working as expected.

I’d need to get a sample of the file itself to try and repro this - could you DM this to me?

Cheers

18

Yeah, I didn’t spot anything obvious in the logs when I was looking either. I’ll DM you with the file.

19

I would gladly send you the sample I had issues with. I am DM-ing you now.

20

Hi drzoidberg33,

Here is an mp3 file that would not immediately display the correct embedded album art in my Plex instance. It was me who opened this thread but I assume you might also want a sample from @DaveBinM

https://1drv.ms/f/c/b9cdd4d34ff06a75/Elfa8-RH9lBFjJcuETV6X0oBl_J8MHg-zCBecbDj5AE5Dw?e=zWQIec

For some odd reason after waiting a day the embedded cover displayed correctly.