Troubleshooting

🔇 Stream is connected but no audio on the website

Symptoms: The encoder shows "Connected" and the stream is live, but listeners hear nothing.

• Make sure music is actually playing — start AutoDJ or press Play on a deck with a loaded track.
• Confirm your library files have valid audio. Corrupt or DRM-protected files produce silence.
• Check the Encoders panel status text for errors and the log (Tools → Log Viewer) for CaptureSample and Sending messages.
• If you muted a source with the M button, only your speakers are muted — the stream continues. That's by design.
• Verify the stream codec/bitrate in the encoder matches what the server expects.

🔌 Can't connect to the stream server

Common causes and fixes:

• Wrong host/port — double-check the source port and hostname from your hosting panel. Some panels show a DJ port for listening and a separate source port for broadcasting.
• Wrong password or username — verify the stream password and source username.
• Mount point — Icecast requires the correct mount point (e.g. /stream or /live).
• Server type — make sure Icecast / SHOUTcast v1 / v2 matches your server.
• Firewall — the server may block the source port from your IP. Test with telnet host port or ask your host.

🛠️ ffmpeg.exe not found / encoder won't start

Planet Hosts Studio uses ffmpeg to encode the stream. It's normally installed automatically next to the app.

• If you get "FFmpeg was not found", place ffmpeg.exe in the same folder as PlanetHostsStudio.App.exe and restart.
• Install it system-wide with winget install FFmpeg (Windows) or sudo apt install ffmpeg (Ubuntu) / brew install ffmpeg (macOS).
• If ffmpeg requires administrator privileges, copy it to a user-writable folder and point to it, or run once from an admin shell.

💬 Chat tab is blank

• Make sure a chat URL is set: Settings → Chat → Chat Embed URL.
• Use a token URL generated at https://planet-hosts.com/user/chat → Desktop / Embed Tokens for automatic login.
• Click Reload in the Chat tab, or restart the app.
• On Windows 10, install the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime (the chat uses WebView2).

🔊 No sound from speakers but the stream works

• Check Master Volume and per-source volumes in the mixer panel.
• Make sure Master Mute (Tools menu) isn't on.
• Verify the correct output device in Settings → Audio.
• Try the Audio Test tool (Tools menu) to confirm the speakers work.

📉 Stream keeps dropping / reconnecting

• Auto-reconnect is on by default. Increase Settings → Broadcast → Reconnect delay if the server is slow to recover.
• Unstable internet or server firewall rate-limiting can cause drops — check your upload speed.
• Watch the Notifications strip (Tools → Show Notifications) for drop reasons.

💥 App crashes on startup

• Rename/remove the settings file %APPDATA%\PlanetHostsStudio\settings.json (or ~/Library/Application Support/PlanetHostsStudio / ~/.config/PlanetHostsStudio) to reset to defaults.
• Update your graphics drivers.
• Check the crash log at %APPDATA%\PlanetHostsStudio\crash.log and share it when reporting the bug.

🔐 Login fails / no stations returned

• Verify the API Base URL on the login screen is correct (https://planet-hosts.com/api by default).
• Confirm your username/password/API key are correct and the account is active.
• If login succeeds but no stations appear, add a station manually via the Encoders panel (+ Add Stream).

🌐 WebView2 missing on Windows 10

Windows 11 includes WebView2; Windows 10 may not. Install the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime from https://developer.microsoft.com/microsoft-edge/webview2/ and restart the app. This is required for the Chat tab.

🎚️ No audio device found / wrong device playing

• Open Settings → Audio, select the correct playback and microphone devices, and save.
• Ensure no other app is exclusively using the device.
• Replug the device or update its driver.