Skip to content
MetaTana

These docs are for MetaTana 2.0, coming soon

On this page

Artwork Not Loading

A poster slot is empty after a fetch, an image shows a broken-image icon, or the same artwork keeps coming back after every refresh. Artwork has more moving parts than text fields: providers, artwork kinds, language preferences, locks, and files on disk all play a part.

Common causes, in order of likelihood

  1. The providers have nothing for that slotNot every show or movie has every kind of artwork. Some indie titles have no fanart, some shows have no clearart. The slot is correctly empty.
  2. The language filter rejected what providers returnedIf your artwork languages allow only English and the title only has Japanese or Korean logos, every candidate is filtered out.
  3. The slot is lockedYou (or a bulk lock) locked the slot earlier. Fetches skip it, even when better candidates appear.
  4. The saved artwork link is deadThe provider's image address stopped working. MetaTana still has the old link, and the image now fails to load. Common for posters the provider changed or removed.
  5. The artwork URL points at this computer or your networkMetaTana does not download artwork from an NFO or provider URL that leads to this computer or a local network address, such as localhost or 192.168.x.x. Artwork that MetaTana itself serves still works. Pick a different candidate, or save the image next to the media file.
  6. The image file is outside your library foldersMetaTana shows artwork only from files inside your library folders. An artwork path that points somewhere else, such as your home folder, shows the placeholder.
  7. Source priority leaves out the right providerThe provider order for artwork doesn't include a provider that has it (for example TMDb only, when only Fanart.tv has good clearart for this show).

Diagnose

Check the slot in the editor's Artwork tab

Open the title, select Edit, then Artwork. Each slot shows:

  • The current artwork (or an empty placeholder)
  • Whether it is locked
  • The provider it came from
  • Resolution and language
  • How many candidates the providers returned; 0 means none had anything for this slot

If there are candidates but the slot is empty, check the filters next.

Check artwork preferences

Open Settings › Providers: Artwork under Source priority, and Artwork languages under More sources › Artwork & people. Check that:

  • The artwork languages allow what the providers have (an empty or wider list lets more through)
  • The provider order for Artwork includes a provider that has this kind of artwork

Widen the setting for a moment, fetch again, and see whether a candidate now passes. Then narrow it back if you want.

Check the providers

In Settings › Providers › Source priority, make sure providers known to have this kind of artwork are on. Fanart.tv is the usual answer for clearart, logos, and disc art on movies, and it needs its key in Settings › Providers › Your keys unless you have Pro.

Check the artwork's URL directly

If a slot is filled but the image is broken, open the slot in the editor's Artwork tab. The candidate browser shows the current artwork's URL. Open it; if it no longer loads, the saved link is dead.

Fix

  • Providers have nothing: accept the empty slot, or open the slot and use Upload a file to set your own image.
  • Filters too strict: widen Artwork languages in Settings › Providers › More sources, then select Fill N empty slots in the title's Artwork tab again.
  • Locked artwork: artwork locked with Lock artwork in Library stays as it is; unlock it there, then fetch again.
  • Dead link: select the slot, use Show options, and pick another image, or select Clear and then Fill N empty slots.
  • Image outside your library folders: move the image into the title's folder, then refresh the title.
  • Very large image: artwork fetches stop at 25 MB. Pick a smaller image or upload your own.
  • Wrong provider order: add a provider for Artwork in Source priority (Fanart.tv for movie clearart, TVDB for show banners, and so on), then fetch again.
Manual upload as a last resort You can always use your own image: open the slot in the editor's Artwork tab and select Upload a file, or Browse local folder for an image already next to the media. Useful for shows where no provider has good artwork.

Going deeper