Playlists_Missing

PLAYLISTS NOT SHOWING
ON THE CDJ?

Last verified: 12 August 2026

Applies to: CDJ-3000X CDJ-3000 CDJ-2000NXS2 CDJ-2000NXS CDJ-2000 CDJ-1500X CDJ-900NXS CDJ-900 XDJ-1000MK2 XDJ-700 OPUS-QUAD XDJ-AZ XDJ-XZ OMNIS-DUO XDJ-RX3 XDJ-RX2 XDJ-RX XDJ-RR

Short version: if tracks play but playlists are missing, your music arrived, the rekordbox database didn't. Either the export skipped it, the eject corrupted it, or the drive was filled by drag-and-drop instead of rekordbox.

Why it happens
  • Files were dragged onto the USB in Finder/Explorer, that copies music, not the database. Playlists only exist after a rekordbox EXPORT-mode sync.
  • The export was interrupted or ejected unsafely, the database is written near the end of a sync; pull early and tracks survive but playlists don't.
  • Mixed exports from two computers, a second computer's rekordbox can overwrite the device database with its own (empty) view.
  • Very old player firmware meeting a new rekordbox database version.

At the venue (5 minutes)
  • No laptop? Use SOURCE → USB → FOLDER, your music is still playable by folder, the gig is safe.
  • With a laptop: open rekordbox in EXPORT mode, connect the USB, drag this gig's playlists onto the device, wait for the full sync, eject with the rekordbox button.
  • Re-insert on the player and check the PLAYLIST browse tab, not FOLDER.

The permanent fix
  • One rule: music gets on gig drives only via rekordbox export. Never Finder, never Explorer.
  • One computer owns the drive. If you must use two, let one be the only writer.
  • After every library change: re-export, eject properly, verify the playlists load before leaving home.

Related: A rekordbox export failed The CDJ will not read the USB

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