Fixes
Troubleshooting
Audio problems usually come down to a handful of causes: an unsupported format, a damaged or fake file, poor playback settings, a glitch in the music library. This section collects typical situations and the first steps to take in each. Start simple: try another player, another device and your backup before deleting or reinstalling anything.
Before you fix anything, make a copy. Most library mishaps happen during a careless "fix".
How this section works: we describe the first steps in general terms, without tying them to specific programs. Look up the exact names of settings in the help for your player or device. If a file is behaving suspiciously, read the steps at the bottom of the page first.
If something is wrong
A file won't play — what should I do?
Check the file's real extension and whether your player supports that format. Try opening the file in another program or on another device. If it won't open anywhere, the file is probably damaged — take it from your backup or from the original legal source.
The sound is quieter than usual or distorted — why?
Check the system and player volume, the equaliser and effects: excessive gain causes distortion. Compare with another file. If only one track distorts, the cause may be the recording itself or repeated re-encoding.
Wrong tags and cover art — how do I fix them?
Copy the folder and fix the tags in a tag editor, ideally for the whole album at once. If your library program shows old data, refresh or rebuild its database. Embed cover art in the file so it does not get lost when you move it.
An "mp3" file turned out to be an .exe — what does that mean?
It is not an audio file but a program disguised as music. Do not run it. Delete the file, empty the recycle bin and scan your computer with antivirus software. If you have already run it, follow the steps at the bottom of this page.
My music library has vanished — how do I get it back?
First check whether the files themselves are still there: often only the program's database disappears, while the music stays in its folder. Point the program to the folder again. If the files were deleted, restore them from a backup and do not write anything new to that drive until the recovery is done.
The audio lags behind the video — what should I do?
If the delay only appears with wireless headphones, it is caused by how the audio is transmitted — try a wired connection. If the lag is in the file itself, many players let you shift the audio relative to the video in their settings.
If you have opened a suspicious file
Disconnect from the network
Turn off Wi-Fi or unplug the network cable so that the malware cannot send data or download additional components.
Scan your computer
Run a full system scan with antivirus software. If it finds anything, follow its recommendations and scan again after restarting.
Remove anything unwanted
Look through the list of installed programs and browser extensions. Remove anything that arrived with the file or that you did not install yourself.
Change your passwords
From a different, clean device, change the passwords for your email, banking and music services and turn on two-factor authentication.
Start with your email: it is used to recover access to your other accounts.
Check your backups
Make sure your copies of your music library and documents are intact. If files have been encrypted or corrupted, restore them from a copy made before the infection.
Related sections
- Security
The risks of pirate sites, fake installers and "free" downloaders, phishing, and copyright in general terms.
- Guides
Step-by-step guides: choosing an archive format, converting without needless loss, metadata, backups, checking files. Also home to the article catalogue.
- FAQ
Answers about this reference, formats and files, the law and security.
Sources
- ISO/IEC 11172-3
- Xiph.Org — FLAC
Information on formats and standards is based on official sources as of the preparation date. Software, services and laws change, so check the current documentation, the services' help pages and the laws in force.