Fix: “File not found, tap to learn more” YouTube Music

The “File not found, tap to learn more” error in YouTube Music appears when the app tries to access a downloaded song that is no longer stored in its local cache or has been removed from YouTube’s servers. This often happens even though the track still appears in your library or playlist, creating the false impression that it’s available.

YouTube Music doesn’t store audio as regular files. Instead, it uses a protected cache and a streaming link to make the song playable. If that cached copy expires or the link becomes invalid, playback fails and this error appears. This can also occur if the track was removed from the catalog or if the app can’t refresh the file due to storage restrictions.

1. Re-download Your Offline Song

Deleting the broken download and downloading it again forces the app to create a valid file path, fetch a fresh copy of the track from its server, and re-sync it with your account. This removes the dead reference that caused the error and replaces it with a working one.

1. Open YouTube Music and tap on the Library tab at the bottom.
2. Select Downloads from the list.
   
3. Look for any song or playlist showing “File Not Found”.
4. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) next to the affected item.
5. Select Remove download (or Delete download, depending on your device).
6. Repeat this for each problematic track.
7. Return to the same playlist, album, or song.
8. Tap the download icon (↓) again to start a new download.
   
9. Ensure your internet connection is stable and your device has enough storage space.

2. Avoid Using Third-Party Cleaners

Third-party cleaners (such as SD Maid, CCleaner, or phone booster tools) scan for what they identify as “unused,” “temporary,” or “cache” files. Because YouTube Music’s offline cache is stored as generic app data, these tools often delete it to “free up space.”

When this happens:

• The actual audio files are deleted.
• The download list still shows those tracks as available.
• When the app tries to play them, it cannot locate the file path.

This mismatch immediately triggers the “File not found” message. To prevent this, avoid using any storage cleaner or optimization tool that scans, modifies, or deletes data from the app’s private folder.

3. Allow File and Music Access Permission

YouTube Music requires permission to access your device’s storage and media files to save offline tracks and manage its local cache. If these permissions are denied or restricted, the app won’t be able to read or refresh downloaded songs.

1. Open Settings.
   
2. Tap Apps and select YouTube Music.
   
3. Tap Permissions.
   
4. Open Music and audio and select Allow.
   
5. Open Photos and videos or Images and videos if available, then select Always allow all.
   
6. Return to the app, force close it, and relaunch YouTube Music to try downloading or playing the song again.

4. Disable “Unused App” Settings

Android includes a feature that can automatically revoke permissions and limit background activity for apps that haven’t been opened for a while. If this is enabled for YouTube Music, it can silently remove storage access or offload cached files, often causing the “File not found, tap to learn more” error when trying to play downloaded songs.

1. Open Settings on your device.
2. Go to Apps and select YouTube Music.
   
3. Scroll down and toggle off Manage app if unused or Pause app activity if unused (the wording may vary depending on your Android version).
   
4. Turn this option off to keep Android from revoking permissions or clearing the app’s cache automatically.
5. Reopen YouTube Music and test the playback or download again.

If Still Not Fixed:

By this stage, the error should be resolved since the most common causes have been addressed. If the issue continues, it usually points to a corrupted configuration or damaged local cache. In that case, clearing all downloads and rebuilding the library forces the app to remove invalid file references and rebuild fresh ones.

When you clear the downloads, the app removes any broken references. Restarting refreshes the system cache, and re-downloading your playlists re-establishes the correct file paths, eliminating the error.

1. Open Settings in the YouTube Music app.
2. Go to Downloads settings.
   
3. Tap Clear downloads.
   
4. Wait about a minute to let the app reset its cache.
5. Restart your phone.
   
6. Re-download your playlists or albums.