Why can't I find music files I have transferred to my Android phone from my PC?

[AC Question]

I have my music library on my PC. I have tried to transfer the files to my Android phone, using a USB connection. The file manager on my PC shows the files have transferred, but I cannot find them on my phone, either under Downloads (shows No items) or in the Music section (or anywhere else) when looking under Storage in the Settings menu.

 

[chanchan05]

What phone? Any music app should be able to find them

 

[ManiacJoe]

You might need to restart the phone to get the new music files indexed.

When using File Explorer, which folder did you drop the files into?

 

[51EveshamRoad]

Thanks for replying.

The phone is an Alba 4'', bought last year.

I have tried switching it off and on again, but still cannot see any music files on the phone itself.

In File Manager on my PC, the album I copied and pasted to the phone appears under Alba 4.0'' Smartphone, then Internal Storage, then the Music sub-folder.

 

[ManiacJoe]

Using your file browser app on the phone, are your music files where you expect them to be?
What kind of files are they? (mp3, aac, m4a)
Which music app are you using?

 

[B. Diddy]

Also, see if there's a file called ".nomedia" in the Music folder. If so, delete it.

 

[51EveshamRoad]

Thanks for your patience, chaps.

I have now found the album on my phone, under Files, then the Music folder. When I tap on a track to try to play it, though, I get a message "Couldn't play the track you requested". I think the problem is that I do not have a music player app on my phone that is working (something like Windows Media Player on my PC). The phone has the Android PlayMusic app already installed, but this appears to be a subscription service, when all I want is a free app that will play my existing music from my CD collection. I see there are free apps available on the Play Store. Do I need to download one of those? Any suggestions which one?

 

[chanchan05]

That's weird. The Play Music app should play files fine. The subscription is not available in my country and I can play mp3 files with the Play Music app. However, what format are your music files in, and where did you get them? They may be DRM protected.

 

[B. Diddy]

Google Play Music does not require a subscription in order to play your own music. The Subscribe button is usually prominent, but you don't have to tap it. I think the first time you use Google Play Music, a subscription screen might come up, but you should be able to skip it, or tap a "Not Now" button.