Troubleshooting

Symptom, likely cause, fix — for files that will not analyse, numbers that look wrong, and playback that stays silent.

Symptom	Likely cause & fix
"Files up to 1 GB — this one is …"	The file is over the cap. Export a lower bit depth or a shorter section; a 24-bit 48 kHz stereo WAV is about 16 MB per minute.
"This browser cannot stream-decode … the whole file must be decoded at once"	The format is not WAV or MP3, or the browser has no streaming MP3 decoder (older Safari). Export a WAV, use Chrome or Edge, or trim the file under the size shown.
The bar sits at 99 % for a long time	For MP3 and formats that decode whole, the bar follows the measurement, which runs at roughly 50–100× realtime: a one-hour file takes about a minute on a laptop. If it never finishes, reload once (a stale service-worker build) and write to support with the format.
"Could not decode this file"	The browser does not understand the codec (some AAC profiles, DSD, video containers), or the file is truncated. Export a WAV from the source.
"No MPEG audio frames found"	The file has an .mp3 name but is not MPEG audio — often an AAC in disguise. Rename or re-export.
LUFS-I reads about 3 LU lower than expected	The file is mono. Loudness sums channels; the same programme in stereo reads 3 LU louder. Compare against a stereo target only with a stereo file.
True peak is higher than Peak	Normal: the waveform between samples overshoots. True peak is what platforms check.
Clips on the MP3 but not on the WAV	Encoder overshoot. Limit the master to −1 dBTP before encoding.
The orange curve is flat at the bottom	The file is very quiet (below −60 LUFS momentary) or silent. Check the export's routing.
Playback is silent	Browser autoplay rules: click play again, and check the volume slider and the OS output. The waveform still draws without playback.
Playback works but the playhead does not move	The tab is in the background; browsers throttle animation. Bring it to the front.
Analysis is slow on a phone	Phones decode at a few times realtime. A 60-minute WAV can take a minute. WAV and MP3 stream, so memory is not the problem; time is.
Verdict says "too quiet" with a limiter in the fix	The gain needed would push true peak over the platform's ceiling. Raise the level with a true-peak limiter at that ceiling, not with plain gain — or press Fix it.
"Fix it writes a … MB WAV — the limit is 400 MB"	The fixed file would be too large to hold in memory. Choose 16-bit, or fix a shorter export.
The fixed file reads slightly off target	Heavy limiting removes energy, so a file that needed a lot of peak reduction lands a few tenths below the target. Fix it once more from the fixed file, or accept it — the platform will not turn it down.
Encode preview takes long	Encoding runs at roughly 30–60× realtime in the browser; a one-hour episode takes about a minute. Keep the tab in front.
Noise floor shows a number on a clean master	The estimate takes the quietest 100 ms blocks that are not digital silence — a fade-out or a breath counts. It matters only against the audiobook spec.
"AAC preview needs a browser with WebCodecs audio encoding"	Only Chrome and Edge ship an AAC encoder. Use MP3 preview elsewhere; the encoder behaviour on peaks is similar.
The speech/music strip is wrong for my file	It is a heuristic on modulation and spectral tilt. Sung vocals, spoken word over drones and heavily compressed speech confuse it. The per-class numbers are still right for what it labelled; the whole-file LUFS-I is unaffected.
The History tab shows no trend	It needs two files of the same series in this browser (same name minus the episode number or date), and only originals count — fixed, trimmed and preview rows are skipped.
A/B plays only one file	Pick a second file under "B" first; without it the button plays A alone with the "Hear A as" turn-down. Both files must have finished analysing.
My targets do not show on another device	Sign in on both; targets sync through the account. Without an account they live in one browser.
The share sheet does not list LoudSense	Install the app first (Add to Home Screen on iPhone, install prompt in Chrome). Share targets need the installed app.
Health says "wide stereo image" on speech	The channels differ a lot; for a mono voice that usually means a stereo reverb or two mics. Fine for music, worth a check for a podcast.

Still stuck?

Copy the report (the button under the panel) and send it with the file format and your browser to support@squaresmile.de. The file itself is not needed for most questions, and you never have to send it.

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