Android Auto Album Art not showing with VPN (Wireguard)

[b.schikora 1]

Update: With my IPhone and Carplay, the Covers are showing. So it really seems to be a problem that only comes up with AA + VPN + Emby…

@LukeI have another question regarding Carplay and emby: When I am selecting an Album to play, i can no scroll through the album songs to select any specific song…Is Emby Carplay set up like this or am I missing something?

[Luke 42706]

On 1/30/2025 at 3:11 AM, b.schikora said:

Update: With my IPhone and Carplay, the Covers are showing. So it really seems to be a problem that only comes up with AA + VPN + Emby…

@LukeI have another question regarding Carplay and emby: When I am selecting an Album to play, i can no scroll through the album songs to select any specific song…Is Emby Carplay set up like this or am I missing something?

Hi @b.schikorano, this is not normal. Can you please create a topic in the apple section of the community and show us a specific example? Thanks !

[JFJFJF 1]

Just wanted to mention that this is still an issue with Android Auto + VPN + Emby.  I'm running server version 4.8.11.0 and Emby app version 3.4.74. Artwork is missing everywhere - when playing, when viewing songs, when viewing playlists, etc.

I am running the server on http not https - could that be the problem?

[JFJFJF 1]

In the logs, I do see a bunch of errors related to images

2025-09-13 14:46:14.791 Error App: Error downloading image: emby://genrecollage
	*** Error Report ***
	Version: 4.8.11.0
	Command line: /opt/emby-server/system/EmbyServer.dll -programdata /var/lib/emby -ffdetect /opt/emby-server/bin/ffdetect -ffmpeg /opt/emby-server/bin/ffmpeg -ffprobe /opt/emby-server/bin/ffprobe -restartexitcode 3 -updatepackage emby-server-deb_{version}_arm64.deb
	Operating system: Linux version 6.6.74+rpt-rpi-v8 (serge@raspberrypi.com) (gcc-12 (Debian 12.2.0-14) 12.2.0, GNU ld (GNU Binutils for Debian) 2.40) #1 SMP PREEMPT Debia
	Framework: .NET 6.0.36
	OS/Process: arm64/arm64
	Runtime: opt/emby-server/system/System.Private.CoreLib.dll
	Processor count: 4
	Data path: /var/lib/emby
	Application path: /opt/emby-server/system
	System.ArgumentNullException: System.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null. (Parameter 'url')
	   at Emby.Providers.Manager.UrlImageSource..ctor(String url, IFileSystem fileSystem, ILogger logger)
	   at Emby.Providers.Manager.ProviderManager.SaveImage(BaseItem item, LibraryOptions libraryOptions, String source, ReadOnlyMemory`1 mimeType, ImageType type, Nullable`1 imageIndex, Nullable`1 saveLocallyWithMedia, Int64[] generatedFromItemIds, IDirectoryService directoryService, Boolean updateImageCache, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	   at Emby.Server.Implementations.Library.LibraryManager.GetLazyImage(String key, BaseItem item, ImageType type, Int32 imageIndex, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	   at Emby.Server.Implementations.Library.LibraryManager.ConvertImageToLocal(BaseItem item, ItemImageInfo image, Int32 imageIndex, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	Source: Emby.Providers
	TargetSite: Void .ctor(System.String, MediaBrowser.Model.IO.IFileSystem, MediaBrowser.Model.Logging.ILogger)
	
2025-09-13 14:46:14.793 Info HttpClient: GET http://coverartarchive.org/release/6073601c-7627-48e5-91bf-66f126d3b196/13319989444.jpg
2025-09-13 14:46:14.853 Error Server: Error processing request
	*** Error Report ***
	Version: 4.8.11.0
	Command line: /opt/emby-server/system/EmbyServer.dll -programdata /var/lib/emby -ffdetect /opt/emby-server/bin/ffdetect -ffmpeg /opt/emby-server/bin/ffmpeg -ffprobe /opt/emby-server/bin/ffprobe -restartexitcode 3 -updatepackage emby-server-deb_{version}_arm64.deb
	Operating system: Linux version 6.6.74+rpt-rpi-v8 (serge@raspberrypi.com) (gcc-12 (Debian 12.2.0-14) 12.2.0, GNU ld (GNU Binutils for Debian) 2.40) #1 SMP PREEMPT Debia
	Framework: .NET 6.0.36
	OS/Process: arm64/arm64
	Runtime: opt/emby-server/system/System.Private.CoreLib.dll
	Processor count: 4
	Data path: /var/lib/emby
	Application path: /opt/emby-server/system
	System.InvalidOperationException: System.InvalidOperationException: Operation is not valid due to the current state of the object.
	   at Emby.Server.Implementations.Library.LibraryManager.ConvertImageToLocal(BaseItem item, ItemImageInfo image, Int32 imageIndex, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	   at Emby.Drawing.ImageProcessor.ProcessImage(ImageProcessingOptions options, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	   at Emby.Api.Images.ImageService.GetImage(ImageRequest request, Int64 itemId, BaseItem item, Boolean isHeadRequest)
	   at Emby.Server.Implementations.Services.ServiceController.GetTaskResult(Task task)
	   at Emby.Server.Implementations.Services.ServiceHandler.ProcessRequestAsync(HttpListenerHost httpHost, IServerApplicationHost appHost, IRequest httpReq, IResponse httpRes, IStreamHelper streamHelper, RestPath restPath, String responseContentType, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	   at Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer.HttpListenerHost.RequestHandler(IRequest httpReq, ReadOnlyMemory`1 urlString, ReadOnlyMemory`1 localPath, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	Source: Emby.Server.Implementations
	TargetSite: Void MoveNext()
	
2025-09-13 14:46:14.862 Info Server: http/1.1 Response 500 to host1. Time: 82ms. GET http://192.168.192.5:8096/emby/Items/10812/Images/Primary?maxHeight=250&maxWidth=250&tag=ccf0d5c9af303c37c340ca116edf4e0b&quality=90
2025-09-13 14:46:14.879 Info HttpClient: GET http://coverartarchive.org/release/c633e43a-9181-4f1b-996f-96e0e41f725a/1200189305.jpg
2025-09-13 14:46:16.611 Info HttpClient: GET http://coverartarchive.org/release/ac535aea-ce03-40da-9469-d886a3d35fc1/10306638982.jpg
2025-09-13 14:46:16.662 Info HttpClient: GET http://coverartarchive.org/release/00e0e312-f138-4913-a302-31d6d78a0bfd/10369530306.jpg
2025-09-13 14:46:17.986 Info HttpClient: GET http://coverartarchive.org/release/9bc4688e-2268-4765-9d1c-f7c7d621304c/7535656529.jpg
2025-09-13 14:46:20.848 Info HttpClient: GET https://www.theaudiodb.com/images/media/artist/thumb/vuspwy1393538724.jpg
2025-09-13 14:46:20.907 Info HttpClient: GET https://www.theaudiodb.com/images/media/artist/thumb/tpvrqv1357471841.jpg
2025-09-13 14:46:21.096 Info HttpClient: GET http://coverartarchive.org/release/db4baedf-bfe1-4e04-b359-99761f1b3deb/30211741092.jpg
2025-09-13 14:46:21.149 Info HttpClient: GET https://assets.fanart.tv/fanart/music/811900b2-68fc-4d41-8bad-69b7a1f4d628/albumcover/nellyville-52f5fa62e5b27.jpg
2025-09-13 14:46:21.888 Error Server: Error processing request
	*** Error Report ***
	Version: 4.8.11.0
	Command line: /opt/emby-server/system/EmbyServer.dll -programdata /var/lib/emby -ffdetect /opt/emby-server/bin/ffdetect -ffmpeg /opt/emby-server/bin/ffmpeg -ffprobe /opt/emby-server/bin/ffprobe -restartexitcode 3 -updatepackage emby-server-deb_{version}_arm64.deb
	Operating system: Linux version 6.6.74+rpt-rpi-v8 (serge@raspberrypi.com) (gcc-12 (Debian 12.2.0-14) 12.2.0, GNU ld (GNU Binutils for Debian) 2.40) #1 SMP PREEMPT Debia
	Framework: .NET 6.0.36
	OS/Process: arm64/arm64
	Runtime: opt/emby-server/system/System.Private.CoreLib.dll
	Processor count: 4
	Data path: /var/lib/emby
	Application path: /opt/emby-server/system
	System.InvalidOperationException: System.InvalidOperationException: Operation is not valid due to the current state of the object.
	   at Emby.Server.Implementations.Library.LibraryManager.ConvertImageToLocal(BaseItem item, ItemImageInfo image, Int32 imageIndex, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	   at Emby.Drawing.ImageProcessor.ProcessImage(ImageProcessingOptions options, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	   at Emby.Api.Images.ImageService.GetImage(ImageRequest request, Int64 itemId, BaseItem item, Boolean isHeadRequest)
	   at Emby.Server.Implementations.Services.ServiceController.GetTaskResult(Task task)
	   at Emby.Server.Implementations.Services.ServiceHandler.ProcessRequestAsync(HttpListenerHost httpHost, IServerApplicationHost appHost, IRequest httpReq, IResponse httpRes, IStreamHelper streamHelper, RestPath restPath, String responseContentType, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	   at Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer.HttpListenerHost.RequestHandler(IRequest httpReq, ReadOnlyMemory`1 urlString, ReadOnlyMemory`1 localPath, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	Source: Emby.Server.Implementations
	TargetSite: Void MoveNext()

 

embyserver-63893404799.txt

[freshj 3]

Well this is disappointing, I was messing around with Android Auto, Emby and Tailscale looking to enjoy my music library on the go using this setup rather than OpenVPN. Same issue as others have come across. No images in Emby using Tailscale with Android Auto. If I use Symfonium, its all good. Will be following the thread to see if a solution presents itself, using Tailscale would be my preferred setup. Sorry I can't offer any insight or fix, just came across it as well.

[Luke 42706]

Hi, can you try updating to the new 4.9 server release and see if that helps?

[KeithA 5]

Hello

 

I have been having the same issue and updating to 4.9 didn't fix it.  

 

Thanks

[freshj 3]

I did try the new 4.9 server update also without any success, images/artwork still missing, same as before. 

[AweSmAsh 0]

having same issue with tailscale

[SergioIT 0]

Hi everyone, I wanted to share my findings after spending a lot of time troubleshooting this same issue.

My setup: Emby Server 4.9.5.0 on a Synology DS220+, connected via Tailscale VPN, Emby Android app 3.5.36, Android 16, Android Auto both wired and wireless.

After extensive testing I can confirm that album art briefly flashes on screen for a fraction of a second and then disappears. This happens consistently regardless of network conditions — I verified that my Tailscale connection is direct peer-to-peer (not relay), latency around 52ms, so slow network is not the cause. I also enabled HTTPS on the server with a valid Let's Encrypt certificate via Tailscale — no improvement.

The most interesting finding: I checked the Emby server logs during Android Auto playback and there are simply no image requests arriving at the server at all. The app is not even asking for the images.

To rule out Tailscale and Android Auto as the culprits, I tested Symfonium connected to the exact same Emby server over the exact same Tailscale connection — album art works perfectly in Android Auto with Symfonium.

This strongly suggests the issue is in the official Emby Android app specifically when connected via Tailscale.

Has this been acknowledged as a known bug and reported to the developers? Is there an open issue we can follow?

[SergioIT 0]

One more thing I wanted to add after further testing: I also tried Plexamp connected to a Plex server over the same Tailscale connection — same result, no album art in Android Auto. So the issue is not specific to Emby but affects any self-hosted server accessed via Tailscale VPN.

Could this mean the issue is specific to how each app passes image data to Android Auto? As far as I know, the Android MediaMetadata API offers two approaches: passing a remote URI that Android Auto fetches independently, or passing a pre-loaded Bitmap already in memory. Could it be that Symfonium pre-fetches and caches images locally before passing them to Android Auto, while Emby passes a remote URI that Android Auto then tries to fetch over the VPN? If so, could that explain the difference in behavior? Just a thought — maybe someone with knowledge of the codebase can confirm or rule this out.

[Luke 42706]

Quote

Could it be that Symfonium pre-fetches and caches images locally before passing them to Android Auto, while Emby passes a remote URI that Android Auto then tries to fetch over the VPN?

It could be, yes.