Downloaded audiobook won't play with error #725

New Issue

2026-04-24T23:35:41+02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:35:41 +02:00

Originally created by @MI3Guy on GitHub (Oct 8, 2023).

Steps to reproduce

Download an audiobook that causes this issue to internal storage. The audiobook I am having the issue with is a retagged version of https://librivox.org/the-chessmen-of-mars-version-3-by-edgar-rice-burroughs/
Play the audiobook.

Expected behaviour

The audiobook plays.

Actual behaviour

An error message pops up: Playback Failed: Source error

Note that this audiobook plays as expected when streaming from the server.

Environment data

Audiobookshelf Version: 2.4.4, app version 0.9.66-beta

Android App?
iOS App?

Android Issue

Android version: 13
Device model: Pixel 5a
Stock or customized system: GrapheneOS

Originally created by @MI3Guy on GitHub (Oct 8, 2023). ### Steps to reproduce 1. Download an audiobook that causes this issue to internal storage. The audiobook I am having the issue with is a retagged version of https://librivox.org/the-chessmen-of-mars-version-3-by-edgar-rice-burroughs/ 2. Play the audiobook. ### Expected behaviour - The audiobook plays. ### Actual behaviour - An error message pops up: `Playback Failed: Source error` Note that this audiobook plays as expected when streaming from the server. ### Environment data Audiobookshelf Version: 2.4.4, app version 0.9.66-beta - [x] Android App? - [ ] iOS App? #### Android Issue Android version: 13 Device model: Pixel 5a Stock or customized system: GrapheneOS

adam added the bug label 2026-04-24 23:35:41 +02:00

adam closed this issue

2026-04-24 23:35:42 +02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:35:44 +02:00

@Grzy7316 commented on GitHub (Oct 30, 2023):

Running into the same issue with Pixel 6 & android app, as well as Cat S42 & android app. The Cat S42 is on android 10 , & the pixel 6 is on android 13

@Grzy7316 commented on GitHub (Oct 30, 2023): Running into the same issue with Pixel 6 & android app, as well as Cat S42 & android app. The Cat S42 is on android 10 , & the pixel 6 is on android 13

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:35:45 +02:00

@nichwall commented on GitHub (Oct 30, 2023):

May be related to an issue with the file.

(Linked wrong issue, correct one is this)
https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/issues/1872

@nichwall commented on GitHub (Oct 30, 2023): May be related to an issue with the file. (Linked wrong issue, correct one is this) https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/issues/1872

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:35:45 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Oct 30, 2023):

Yeah most likely the same m4b encoding issue. I haven't tested that sample file yet but every time this comes up re-encoding the file fixes it.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Oct 30, 2023): Yeah most likely the same m4b encoding issue. I haven't tested that sample file yet but every time this comes up re-encoding the file fixes it.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:35:45 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Nov 16, 2023):

I just got around to testing that audiobook you linked and this works fine for me. It direct streams from the server and plays when downloaded on a Pixel 6 Android 13.

This may have been an issue when you tagged the audio file. I would suggest re-encoding the audio file or downloading it again and testing.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Nov 16, 2023): I just got around to testing that audiobook you linked and this works fine for me. It direct streams from the server and plays when downloaded on a Pixel 6 Android 13. This may have been an issue when you tagged the audio file. I would suggest re-encoding the audio file or downloading it again and testing.

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Reference: starred/audiobookshelf-app#725