No album artwork is showing on the screen

Album artwork is a key part of the music experience, helping you visually connect with your music collection. If your Naim streamer isn’t displaying artwork—especially after ripping a CD with the Uniti Core—this guide explains why it happens and how to fix it.

Common Scenarios

There are two main situations where album artwork might not appear:

1. After Ripping a CD with Uniti Core

You’ve just ripped a CD, but no artwork is showing on your Naim streamer or in the Focal & Naim app.

2. While Playing Music from a Server or USB Drive

You’re browsing or playing music, but the album art is missing from the screen or app interface.

Why Artwork Might Be Missing

Here are the most common reasons:

• No Internet Connection During Ripping
   The Uniti Core fetches artwork and metadata from online databases. If it’s offline during the rip, the CD will be saved without artwork.
• Metadata Not Found
   Some CDs—especially rare or obscure ones—may not have artwork available in the online database.
• Artwork Not Embedded in Files
   If you're playing music from a USB drive or external server, the files may not contain embedded artwork or may use unsupported formats. Please note that if playing from a USB connected storage device, Naim streamers will not be able to display the artwork
• File Format Limitations
   Some formats (like WAV) do not support embedded artwork in a way that Naim devices can read consistently.

How to Fix It

✓ If You Ripped the CD with Uniti Core:

1. Reconnect to the Internet if it was offline during the rip.
2. Open the Focal & Naim app.
3. Navigate to the album with missing artwork.
4. Use the app’s “Edit Metadata” feature to fetch or manually add artwork.

✓ If You’re Using External Files:

• Use a metadata editor to embed artwork into the files.
• Ensure the artwork is in JPEG format and under 1MB in size.
• Re-scan the music folder in the Focal & Naim app.

Best Practices

• Always keep your Uniti Core connected to the internet when ripping CDs.
• Use FLAC instead of WAV if you want to ensure better metadata and artwork compatibility.
• Regularly update your Naim device firmware via the app to benefit from metadata handling improvements.

Final Notes

Missing artwork doesn’t affect playback quality but restoring it can greatly enhance your browsing and listening experience. If issues persist, consult your retailer or Naim Technical Support.