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Scratch audio and music not playing - Complete troubleshooting guide

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AM

AudioFixer_Mike

Posted on July 29, 2020 • Beginner

🔊 Audio and music not playing in Scratch

Hi everyone! I’m having issues with audio in my Scratch project. Some of my sounds work fine, but others show a length of 0.00 seconds and won’t play at all. I have about 20 different songs, but only half of them work properly.

I’ve tried this on multiple computers and the same problem occurs. The volume is turned up and other sounds work fine. Has anyone else experienced this issue?

Also, my music extension seems to have stopped working completely. Any help would be greatly appreciated! 🎵

ST

SoundTech_Expert

Replied 2 hours later • ⭐ Best Answer

Great question @AudioFixer_Mike! Audio issues in Scratch are quite common. Here’s a comprehensive troubleshooting guide:

🔍 Audio Troubleshooting Flowchart

Here’s how to diagnose and fix audio problems:

flowchart TD A[🎵 Audio Not Working] --> B{Check Browser} B -->|Chrome/Edge| C[✅ Good Browser] B -->|Safari/Firefox| D[⚠️ Try Chrome] C --> E{Check Volume} D --> E E -->|Volume Up| F{Check File Format} E -->|Volume Down| G[🔊 Increase Volume] F -->|MP3/WAV| H[✅ Good Format] F -->|Other Format| I[🔄 Convert to MP3/WAV] H --> J{Check File Size} I --> J J -->|< 10MB| K[✅ Good Size] J -->|> 10MB| L[📉 Reduce File Size] K --> M{Test Sound Block} L --> M M -->|Works| N[🎉 Problem Solved!] M -->|Doesn't Work| O[🔧 Advanced Fixes] G --> E style A fill:#ffebee style N fill:#e8f5e8 style O fill:#fff3e0

🔧 Step 1: Browser Compatibility Check

Different browsers handle audio differently in Scratch:

  • Chrome: Best audio support
  • Microsoft Edge: Good compatibility
  • ⚠️ Firefox: Some audio issues
  • Safari: Limited audio support

Quick Fix: Try your project in Google Chrome first!

🎵 Step 2: Audio File Requirements

Scratch has specific requirements for audio files:

    // Supported audio formats:
// ✅ MP3 (recommended)
// ✅ WAV (high quality)
// ❌ FLAC, OGG, M4A (not supported)

// File size limits:
// ✅ Under 10MB (recommended)
// ⚠️ 10-25MB (may cause issues)
// ❌ Over 25MB (will fail)
  

🔊 Step 3: Volume and System Settings

Check these settings in order:

  1. Scratch volume: Click the speaker icon in Scratch
  2. Browser volume: Check browser tab audio settings
  3. System volume: Ensure computer volume is up
  4. Headphones/speakers: Test with different audio devices

🎮 Step 4: Code-Based Solutions

Sometimes the issue is in your code:

    // Common audio problems and fixes:

// Problem: Sound cuts off
when flag clicked
play sound [music v] until done  // Use 'until done'
wait [0.1] seconds  // Small delay between sounds

// Problem: Multiple sounds overlap
when flag clicked
stop all sounds  // Clear previous sounds
play sound [background music v]

// Problem: Sound doesn't start
when flag clicked
wait [0.5] seconds  // Wait for project to load
set volume to [100] %
play sound [intro music v]
  

🔧 Step 5: Music Extension Issues

If the Music extension isn’t working:

    // Music extension troubleshooting:

// 1. Remove and re-add the extension
// Go to Extensions → Remove Music → Add Music again

// 2. Use alternative sound blocks
when flag clicked
play sound [drum beat v] until done
wait [0.1] seconds
repeat [4]
play sound [note C v]
wait [0.5] seconds
end

// 3. Create custom music with sound effects
define play custom beat
play sound [kick v]
wait [0.25] seconds
play sound [snare v]
wait [0.25] seconds
  

🚀 Advanced Troubleshooting

For persistent issues:

  • Clear browser cache: Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Chrome)
  • Disable browser extensions: Ad blockers can interfere
  • Check internet connection: Slow connections affect audio loading
  • Try incognito mode: Rules out extension conflicts
  • Update browser: Ensure you have the latest version

📱 Mobile Device Issues

Audio on tablets and phones has special considerations:

  • iOS devices require user interaction before audio plays
  • Android devices may have different audio codec support
  • Mobile browsers often have stricter audio policies

Hope this comprehensive guide helps solve your audio issues! Let me know which solution worked for you! 🎵

BF

BrowserFix_Sarah

Replied 30 minutes later

@SoundTech_Expert covered most issues perfectly! I want to add one more common cause:

🚫 Ad Blockers and Privacy Extensions

Many ad blockers and privacy extensions can interfere with Scratch audio. Try these steps:

  1. Disable ad blocker for scratch.mit.edu
  2. Add Scratch to your browser’s trusted sites
  3. Check if “block autoplay media” is enabled
  4. Try browsing in incognito/private mode

This fixed the issue for me when nothing else worked! 🎉

AM

AudioFixer_Mike

Replied 1 hour later

@SoundTech_Expert @BrowserFix_Sarah Thank you both so much! 🙏

The browser switch to Chrome solved most of my issues! It turns out I was using Firefox, which was causing the problems. The ad blocker tip also helped - I had to whitelist Scratch.

My music extension is working again and all my audio files are playing properly. You saved me hours of frustration! 🎵✨

MH

MusicHelper_Tom

Replied 2 hours later

For anyone still having issues with the Music extension specifically, here’s a quick workaround:

    // Instead of using Music extension blocks:
// play drum [1 v] for [0.25] beats

// Use regular sound blocks with drum sounds:
when flag clicked
play sound [drum-kick v]
wait [0.25] seconds
play sound [drum-snare v]
wait [0.25] seconds
  

You can download drum sound files and import them as regular sounds. Works just as well! 🥁

VB

Vibelf_Community

Pinned Message • Moderator

🚀 Master Audio Programming in Scratch

Excellent troubleshooting discussion! For those looking to create more advanced audio experiences, our community can help you with:

  • 🎵 Interactive music systems
  • 🔊 Dynamic sound effects
  • 🎙️ Voice recording integration
  • 🎹 Custom music composition tools

📚 Related Topics

Ready to create amazing audio experiences? Get expert guidance from our sound programming specialists in the Vibelf app!