# Albums showing as grey squares despite having covers (ref#44UHKI) **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [July 2, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556 "2025-07-02T18:36:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/nick/32/266_2.png) [@Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Nick)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/1 "2025-07-02T18:36:28Z")
#### What’s happening? · Other #### How can we help? · None of the above #### Other options · Other ## Describe the issue I added some new albums rips to Roon and identified them. In the Album View, the albums are shown as grey squares even though they all have covers (confirmed in the Edit screen). ## Describe your network setup Wired Ethernet ![](https://api.typeform.com/responses/files/47566a9adc28cab216b04c531468f073347611a7db3c846b97c28dc7e380c2a5/Untitled.png) ---
**Author:** ![Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/nick/32/266_2.png) [@Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Nick)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/2 "2025-07-02T18:40:32Z")
Two additional data points: 1. I already tried clearing the cache 2. When I scroll the window, the correct album art draws for a split second and then is immediately replaced by the grey square. I have a screen recording that demonstrates this, if that is helpful. ---
**Author:** ![benjamin](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/benjamin/32/348120_2.png) [@benjamin](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/benjamin)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/3 "2025-07-02T19:43:56Z")
Hey @Nick, Thanks for sharing your report! Are you only seeing this for Grateful Dead albums? Sharing the video would be helpful - if you could upload it to the link below: [https://workdrive.zohoexternal.com/collection/nqcgjac23027d90a441bda2c314de49d7958a/external](https://workdrive.zohoexternal.com/collection/nqcgjac23027d90a441bda2c314de49d7958a/external) > [@Nick](#): > > When I scroll the window, the correct album art draws for a split second and then is immediately replaced by the grey square. This points to a rendering or caching/display bug rather than a problem with the file metadata or album identification itself. Can you confirm: - In the _Edit \> Album Artwork_ section, is “Prefer File” or “Prefer Roon” selected? Try switching it to the opposite and saving. - Image Size/Format: If the covers are particularly large (e.g. \>10MB or very high resolution), Roon can sometimes struggle with loading them in grid view. You can try resizing or re-encoding the image to something like JPEG \<1MB as a test. - Does this happen no matter the remote used? Thanks Nick! We’ll await your reply. 🙏 ---
**Author:** ![Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/nick/32/266_2.png) [@Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Nick)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/4 "2025-07-02T20:38:25Z")
I just uploaded the file. It is “nick.roon bug.zip”. > the _Edit \> Album Artwork_ section, is “Prefer File” or “Prefer Roon” selected? It is “Prefer Best.” Switching it to “Prefer Roon” makes no difference. Switching it to “Prefer File” cause the file artwork to display correctly. It is not the artwork that I want, of course. I want the Roon art. From there, switching it back to “Prefer File” or “Prefer Best” brings the problem back. > Image Size/Format The file is 550x550. The Roon image is (oddly) 1000x999. I have no way to know the actual file size (correct?). Maybe you can check it on your side, since it comes from Roon. > Does this happen no matter the remote used? Yes. I tried a MacBook that is using a wired Ethernet connection, a MacMini using Wifi, and an iPhone. All have the same problem. ---
**Author:** ![Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/nick/32/266_2.png) [@Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Nick)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 8:42pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/5 "2025-07-02T20:42:32Z")
> Are you only seeing this for Grateful Dead albums? Only for the Grateful Dead: Enjoying the Ride box set (60 discs!) that I ripped and copied into my Roon core recently. I have not ripped anything since and all of my earlier rips are fine. ---
**Author:** ![noris](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/noris/32/161230_2.png) [@noris](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/noris)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/6 "2025-07-02T21:28:24Z")
Hi @Nick , Does the issue still occur if you reboot your Roon Server? Or does it not trigger any change in behavior? ---
**Author:** ![MusicD](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/musicd/32/372347_2.png) [@MusicD](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/MusicD)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/7 "2025-07-02T21:49:33Z")
FWIW - I have this boxset, the cover art I use is a 500 x 500 @ 262kb. This displays fine. If Roon attempts to identify them, it shows with no image. ![image](https://roon-community-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/original/4X/7/8/5/785c974cd723165d372e85cecc6e17fbc0efed89.jpeg) ![image](https://roon-community-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/original/4X/b/8/3/b83f90e53fde4adc4974d2615d805748e6c987dc.jpeg) ![folder](https://roon-community-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/original/4X/9/d/2/9d2963d9b65a25eaede621ffeefaa965a8468d10.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/nick/32/266_2.png) [@Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Nick)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/8 "2025-07-02T22:05:39Z")
Yes, that’s exactly the problem I’m describing. So it’s not just me I don’t want to use that cover art. Roons art provides a different image for each volume, and I greatly prefer that ---
**Author:** ![Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/nick/32/266_2.png) [@Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Nick)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/9 "2025-07-02T22:06:54Z")
Rebooting makes no difference. ---
**Author:** ![vadim](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/vadim/32/335515_2.png) [@vadim](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/vadim)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 9:59am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/10 "2025-07-03T09:59:16Z")
Hello @Nick It might be helpful to have the file(s) for testing on our end as well. Can you please upload a few of them here and let us know? [https://workdrive.zohoexternal.com/collection/nqcgjac23027d90a441bda2c314de49d7958a/external](https://workdrive.zohoexternal.com/collection/nqcgjac23027d90a441bda2c314de49d7958a/external) ---
**Author:** ![Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/nick/32/266_2.png) [@Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Nick)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/11 "2025-07-03T14:21:00Z")
I uploaded Volume 20 as a zip file. ---
**Author:** ![benjamin](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/benjamin/32/348120_2.png) [@benjamin](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/benjamin)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/12 "2025-07-03T18:19:56Z")
Thanks @Nick, our team will take a closer look and should have more information to share soon! 👍 ---
**Author:** ![connor](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/connor/32/172788_2.png) [@connor](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/connor)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/15 "2025-07-03T19:53:26Z")
Hi @Nick, There are two distinct metadata entities associated with this box set, representing the Rhino digital download and the Rhino cassette/CD release,e respectively. The metadata sources serving Roon offer a single artwork file for the digital download (the compass image shared above, ie. the front cover of the box set itself). The metadata sources for the CD version offer distinct artwork files for about 2/3 of the individual CDs in the collection. The logic is likely failing to resolve because MusicBrainz considers these 60 CDs to be discs within a multi-disc album, rather than individual releases with separate artwork. Roon recognizes the availability of the separate, individual artwork, but then eventually defaults to the boxed set cover. They grey squares are either a symptom of the artwork logic failure or a result of the actual boxed set cover being too large. We’ll investigate that as a separate issue. Just to confirm a few details: 1. Have you separated the CDs (volumes) into their own folders in your local file storage structure? 2. Do you have the artwork you prefer (ie. the individual disc covers for the volumes) stored as PDFs anywhere? It sounds like when you set “prefer file,” it defaults to the boxed set cover, so I’m assuming that PDF is stored alongside the local files somewhere. We’ll watch for your response. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![MusicD](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/musicd/32/372347_2.png) [@MusicD](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/MusicD)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/16 "2025-07-03T21:10:44Z")
It’s a monster of a boxset to get it right. For Roon to correctly identify this I had to merge all Volumes into one and rename within Roon to ‘Enjoying the Music’ to match MusicBrainz. I then had to disable multi-part following the merge and it then identifies as the Rhino Digital release, because that’s what it is. To have these as individual albums, with separate artwork will need someone to input this into MusicBrainz and a lot of time. Note: my metadata is correct based on how it was downloaded 🤷‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/nick/32/266_2.png) [@Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Nick)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/17 "2025-07-03T22:15:27Z")
Have you listened too much of it yet? I haven’t had a chance to start it. Looks like there’s some great shows in there though. ---
**Author:** ![MusicD](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/musicd/32/372347_2.png) [@MusicD](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/MusicD)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 10:43pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/18 "2025-07-03T22:43:50Z")
Not as much as I want to, but I’m half way through Vol1. I’m a huge GD fan. I’ve also got the Europe ‘72 boxset and a few more. I may have to put some time aside for a GD session. ---
**Author:** ![Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/nick/32/266_2.png) [@Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Nick)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/19 "2025-07-03T23:56:09Z")
I’m a big fan too. I was at the shows in Volumes 17 and 18. ---
**Author:** ![Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/nick/32/266_2.png) [@Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Nick)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/20 "2025-07-03T23:57:42Z")
> [@connor](#): > > - Have you separated the CDs (volumes) into their own folders in your local file storage structure? I have each volume, which are multi-disk, in its own folder. > [@connor](#): > > Do you have the artwork you prefer (ie. the individual disc covers for the volumes) stored as PDFs anywhere? I don’t, but I could probably find it online. I’d like to see the bug fixed, but I can take care of getting other cover art for myself. ---
**Author:** ![Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/nick/32/266_2.png) [@Nick](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Nick)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/21 "2025-07-03T23:59:26Z")
I found very nice versions of the cover art here: [[Album] Enjoying The Ride (2025) ![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54563650846_864141e756_z.jpg "Enjoying The Ride (2025)") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/104729480@N03/albums/72177720326563000/) ---
**Author:** ![MusicD](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/musicd/32/372347_2.png) [@MusicD](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/MusicD)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 12:47am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556/22 "2025-07-04T00:47:23Z")
That’s was the album art I first saw when I imported the boxset, then things went weird and then I just had the compass cover and took more work this time importing it to get it to identify. [Next page](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/albums-showing-as-grey-squares-despite-having-covers-ref-44uhki/302556.md?page=2)