Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

iOS, iPad, iPhone, tvOS specific usage questions
sduck
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Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby sduck » 28 Oct 2020 18:43

Hi - this is with an ipad Pro 12.9, running the latest iOS 14.1. My mac is a 2017 macbook pro, running the newest version of catalina, 10.15.7.

I connect the ipad to my mac with a usb-lightning cable, and via the finder, and the files tab am able to transfer two new movie files to VLC. They show up in the finder/files tab as being uploaded properly. They also show up in the ipad's files app as being uploaded. But they don't show up in VLC (there are several other older movies in there that do show up, just not the new ones). I can start these files playing in VLC via the files app, but even after doing this they still don't show up in VLC, and this is a weird way to work things, as it doesn't remember where I am if I pause or stop the movie.

What's the deal with this? And can it be fixed?

sduck
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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby sduck » 29 Oct 2020 05:07

I did some messing around with this and think I found a solution. Not that it doesn't need fixing, but it's not that big a deal. I deleted just about everything, and then re-added the movie files, one at a time. Disconnecting the ipad between each file. Apparently if you add 2 files at once it chokes and doesnt (always) know what to do. Everything is showing up nicely now.

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby pmcccar » 12 Nov 2021 13:09

Hi thanks came accross the same problem, turns out in my case it was better / worked perfectly when I would transfer a folder to the iPad. If the folder contained (example) 25 video files they all appeared for me. But when I transfer 25 video files at once instead of 1 folder containing those 25 files, many were missing.

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby bubu? » 12 Nov 2021 15:34

Hello,

Thank you for the details.

We will look into this issue.
Soomin Lee - bubu

XHLX
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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby XHLX » 16 Mar 2022 07:44

I'm having this exact same issue. When I add files one by one going itunes -> vlc, they tend to show up on VLC on the ipad the majority of times (today I had exceptions), but if I transfer more than 1 at once, some of them will show and others don't.

The files that don't show up, I have to add them again and select overwrite, even thought they were transfered fully (itunes -> VLC show the file name and size). Tonight, I transfered a video 3 times and it didn't show up.

I understand that this is not a big issue, but when I need to transfer large files or a lot of them I have to spend extra time on this task (15 extra minutes every time I transfer stuff, which is about 3 times per week). Hopefully a solution may be done so this time wasted doesn't add up :)

A workaround might be to use "Force VLC to rescan the library" option on the preferences, but I just tried it once and seemed to work to show the last file that wasn't showing. When I transfer more files that are not showing I will check again if this option fixes the problem in the meantime

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby fkuehne » 16 Mar 2022 15:29

@XHLX: would you be interested in testing our beta to see if the problem is resolved for you?
VideoLAN
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Medic. VLC developer for appleOS since before you were born.
Blog: https://www.feepk.net

XHLX
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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby XHLX » 18 Mar 2022 20:30

@XHLX: would you be interested in testing our beta to see if the problem is resolved for you?
Yes, please. I just hope it's compatible with the ipad I'm using, since it's kind of old, but works great for up to 1080p 60 fps videos

Current IOS version on this ipad is 10.3.3 (14G60), which shows as up to date and no longer receives updates
Current VLC version on this Ipad is: 3.2.13 (375)

Btw, I tested again, out of 20 files added in about 3 different drag & drop, 6 didn't show up. I had to find what was missing and add them separately. I tested the rescan option again 3 different times after diferent files where missing, but they didn't show up after rescaning

Can the beta version be installed in this old ipad to see if it solves the problem?

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby XHLX » 24 Mar 2022 13:43

Still having problems with the transfers. Some transfers don't work even after the 2nd or 3rd try. I also updated VLC to version 3.3.0 (21/Mar/22) but the problem continues.

Sadly it causes a lot of time to be wasted. Is there a way to find what could be causing this?

This problem seem to have been for at least 11 years https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2587756

I tried the transfer via wifi like this guy: https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?t=155289 , but sadly it brings another problem: the old file keeps taking space which is already limited on the ipad

The only solution would be to delete the app (to delete files files that don't show up), download the app again, and transfer files ONLY via wifi which seems to not have this problem

XHLX
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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby XHLX » 31 Mar 2022 09:21

Willing to test the beta version to see if it solves the issue :>

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby XHLX » 10 Apr 2022 01:37

Hey, I'm still wondering if there is a way to fix this if possible. I have been transfering using wifi which doesn't have the problem of files not appearing.

The problem with wifi is that it seems to make the internet unstable to my family while transfering because my router is basic and probably limite bandwitch (ISP provided). I have been transfering files of around 3 gb each and each take around 14-16 minutes. Some times my family is doing something that they like or working and I don't want to make the internet unstable for them for 15, 30 or even 45 minutes 1-3 times per day. Is there something I can do to help a developer identify what could be causing this problem?

Btw, transfering via cable is around 3-4 times faster vs wifi in my case, so it will potentially save me 10 to 30 minutes (1 to 3 big files) each transfer, which motivates me to help find a solution for this

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby XHLX » 11 Apr 2022 20:35

I feel a bit sorry to keep at this topic but, some times transfering files ONE by ONE via itunes using cable doesn't work either. The file is supposedly transfered correctly (shows the full size in itunes, but it doesn't appear on VLC). Could it be an itunes problem or a VLC problem?

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby luv2skyski » 18 Apr 2022 17:16

Hello everyone and good morning.
Has anyone found a fix for this?
I've been having the same issue.
Transferring via usb cable.
On the finder under iPad, VLC, the media is shown but on the app on the iPad nothing.
I've tried one file at a time, I've transferred using wifi with the network address of the iPad (too slow).
It was nice when iTunes was still around. Transferring worked at lease and you could see the progress.
Sincerely, Dave.

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby XHLX » 01 May 2022 23:51

Hello everyone and good morning.
Has anyone found a fix for this?
I've been having the same issue.
Transferring via usb cable.
On the finder under iPad, VLC, the media is shown but on the app on the iPad nothing.
I've tried one file at a time, I've transferred using wifi with the network address of the iPad (too slow).
It was nice when iTunes was still around. Transferring worked at lease and you could see the progress.
Sincerely, Dave.
You can no longer use itunes to transfer files? I read that "finder" replaced it on certain operating systems. Have you checked if it lets you install it?

I'm on windows and I use itunes to transfer to VLC. I agree with you that wifi transfers are too slow, at least for some of us. I have good news too

I think I found a solution for it. First you have to delete the files (from the IPAD) that won't show up. On itunes, you go to VLC, select the file that won't show up and press "delete" on keyboard, then confirm. On finder it could be similar.

The important step afterwards, is to make sure that VLC is closed on the ipad before and while transfering. You may already know this, but in case you don't:
Tapping the home button on ipad once sends you to your "home", but double tapping quickly will make it show the apps you have opened. To close the apps, you need to slide it upwards: do this to close VLC in case it appears there

If VLC is closed before the transfers, the new files that you transfer will show up, at least it was the solution for me. Hopefully it works for you as well

It's a bug that vlc doesn't update properly if transfers are done while it's open, although it doesn't always happens

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby IrwinMFletcher » 24 May 2022 07:07

@XHLX - thanks for that tip !!! Been trying to get this working again for the past TWO years. The "important step" was exactly what I needed to do in order for me to be able to upload ALLOT of media via iTunes File Sharing with VLC. Until now, I had to upload them ONE-AT-A-TIME before they would show up in VLC. Uploading more than one file at a time worked randomly and you ended up with some files missing.

WIth VLC completely shut down, I uploaded a few hundred videos. Once the upload in iTunes was complete, fired up VLC and it instantly and quickly parsed and ordered them into folders.

The other thread where I originally shared my dilemma: https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.ph ... 7ae4a1c129

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby Fred4 » 03 Sep 2022 00:51

I couldn’t find a good solution here, but found one on my own.
Reloading all of the media files is not a solution for one missing file for a bug in VLC. It really needs to be fixed!
The file was visible in the iOS Files app, but not VLC. It will even play in VLC if I click it in the Files app, but VLC still won’t list it.
Rescanning the media files does nothing.
I duplicated the file in the Files app, then deleted the original and renamed the duplicate. VLC was still unable to see it.
I then duplicated it again, deleted the original, and this time, I renamed the duplicate in VLC instead of the Files app, and now VLC can see it.
I hope this helps those that don’t want to completely reload all of their media files for one missing file bug.

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby adw_uk » 18 Sep 2022 19:36

I've found a quick solution for me.

I have the issue with .mp4 files so I open them in MKVToolnix and within a few seconds its remuxed the video, audio and sub stream into a .mkv file and it then adds fine from my Windows PC/iTunes to my iPad.

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby whynotbuy » 16 Oct 2022 04:55

Hi, (I'm on iPad Air Gen 5 iPad OS 15.7)
the problems that I have been facing seem to be slightly different from what everyone else is having:

my files transfer perfectly well (regardless of how many or how big the files are), although this may be because the dev team fixed this issue.
However, the issue is that the media files appear correctly in the files app on my iPad and VLC right after transferring it, but after only a short while (pretty much after I leave the files app) the files will become seemingly hidden in the files app. When I go onto "On My iPad", the VLC folder shows that there are 5 items in there, but when I open this folder, all I can see is this document that reads "Place media here to add them" and all the other 4 items are invisible. I cannot even select them through the files app. But as I wrote earlier, the files are accessible through VLC (except the subtitle files that I added). And just to check, I downloaded nPlayer Lite to see if I could view the files; it worked, I could access the media files and the associated subtitles.
I would like to be able to add the files to just the regular Files app but I'm using iTunes on my windows computer to transfer the files via cable but I don't really know how else to transfer them. So, if anyone could give me some advice on how to add the media files directly to the Files app I'd be really grateful.

Thanks!

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby jackpalen2022 » 16 Oct 2022 13:45

Hi Guys
I have tried mostly all the tips above and finally, got an alternative to that.
Download the app "Documents" by Readdle https://apps.apple.com/us/app/documents ... d364901807, then you can upload your files there.
Once done, you can select the files on your iPhone, then tap on share then copy to VLC.
Thank me later :wink:
Cheers

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby billjermaine » 23 Apr 2023 06:04

This issue has been floating around for years now .. and continues with 10th-gen ipad in 2023.

The best solution for me has been going into the Files app in ipad, locating your VLC files — the ones that won't appear in the VLC app — and simply renaming them (then renaming them back if needed).

txer77
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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby txer77 » 22 Oct 2023 04:10

In 'Settings' go to the "Media Library" section and click "Force VLC to rescan the media library". That worked for me (as did renaming as per the poster above me).

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby nasirk » 25 Oct 2023 02:31

The following reply worked for me. Thank you.
In 'Settings' go to the "Media Library" section and click "Force VLC to rescan the media library". That worked for me (as did renaming as per the poster above me).

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Re: Movie files transferred but not showing up in app

Postby LieutenantBarclay » 27 Oct 2023 21:39

In 'Settings' go to the "Media Library" section and click "Force VLC to rescan the media library". That worked for me (as did renaming as per the poster above me).
THIS WORKED FOR ME TOO. In fact, I created this account just to say that I think this is the solution for now. Maybe a future release should include some automatic rescan thing. Thanks, txer77.


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