Use this guide if a crate looks empty, songs are missing, your export does not look right, or Crate Hackers seems stuck.

Most issues come down to one of three things: Crate Hackers has not scanned the right music folder, the crate has not been matched yet, or your DJ software cannot find the original files.

Start with the simple fixes first. Do not start smashing buttons like the app owes you money.

Fast Fix

  1. Confirm your music folder has been added in Library > Music Sources.
  2. Run or re-run the scan.
  3. Make sure your external drive or cloud folder is connected.
  4. Open the crate again.
  5. Check that tracks are selected or matched.
  6. Save the crate to My Crates if needed.
  7. Click Export and choose your DJ software or M3U.
  8. Open your DJ software and test the crate.
  9. If the app is stuck, close and reopen Crate Hackers.
  10. If it still fails, contact support at help@cratehackers.com.

Problem: My Crate Is Empty

If a crate looks empty, Crate Hackers may not have enough information yet to show or match your tracks.

Step 1: Check Your Music Sources

Make sure Crate Hackers knows where your music files live.

  1. Open Crate Hackers.
  2. Go to Library.
  3. Open Music Sources.
  4. Click Add Folder if your music folder is not listed.
  5. Choose the folder where your music files are stored.
  6. Run the scan.

If your music is on an external hard drive, plug it in before opening Crate Hackers. If the drive is not connected, the app cannot scan those files.

Step 2: Re-sync Your Music Folder

If you recently added new music, re-sync your music source.

  1. Go to Library.
  2. Open Music Sources.
  3. Find the folder you updated.
  4. Click Re-sync or Re-sync Folder.
  5. Wait for the scan to finish.

Do not export before the scan finishes. That is how songs look missing even though they are sitting right there on your drive, judging everyone.

Step 3: Make Sure the Crate Has Tracks

Open the crate and confirm it actually has songs inside it.

  • If you are browsing a Crate Hackers crate, open the crate and review the track list.
  • If you imported from Spotify, confirm the playlist imported correctly.
  • If you imported from text or CSV, confirm the song list generated correctly.
  • If you built the crate yourself, confirm songs were added before exporting.

Empty input creates empty output. The app is not being mysterious. It is being painfully honest.

Step 4: Save the Crate to My Crates

If you are using a curated crate or imported list, save it to My Crates before editing or exporting.

  1. Open the crate.
  2. Review the track list.
  3. Click Save to My Crates.
  4. Rename the crate if needed.
  5. Open it from My Crates.

Saving the crate gives you your own working version to match, edit, and export.

Step 5: Check Track Matching

Crate Hackers needs to match crate songs against your scanned library.

Tracks may show as:

  • Matched: Crate Hackers found a likely version in your library.
  • Missing: Crate Hackers did not find that track in your scanned folders.
  • Needs review: A similar track may exist, but you should confirm the exact version.

If everything looks missing, you may have scanned the wrong folder, your external drive may be disconnected, or your cloud files may not be downloaded locally.

Problem: Songs Are Missing

Missing songs usually mean Crate Hackers cannot find matching files in your scanned music sources.

Check These First

  • Did you add the correct music folder?
  • Did the scan finish?
  • Did you add new music after the last scan?
  • Is your external drive plugged in?
  • Are your Dropbox or Google Drive files downloaded locally?
  • Are you using a different version of the song than the crate expects?

Version differences matter. Clean, explicit, intro edit, short edit, extended edit, remix, and live version are not the same thing. Your DJ software knows. Your crowd may also find out, usually at the worst possible moment.

If You Added New Music

Add the new files to a folder Crate Hackers already scans, then re-sync that folder.

  1. Add the new tracks to your music folder.
  2. Open Crate Hackers.
  3. Go to Library.
  4. Open Music Sources.
  5. Click Re-sync.
  6. Return to the crate and check the matches again.

Problem: Exported Crate Is Empty in DJ Software

If the crate looks fine in Crate Hackers but appears empty or broken in your DJ software, check the export and file path.

Check the Export

  • Open the crate inside Crate Hackers.
  • Click Export.
  • Choose the correct DJ software export option if available.
  • Use M3U if you need a universal playlist file.
  • Open your DJ software and confirm the crate imported correctly.

PDF, CSV, and Spotify backup options are useful for reference or sharing, but they are not the same as exporting a playable crate to your DJ software.

Check the Music Files

DJ software needs access to the actual audio files.

  • If your music is on an external drive, plug it in before opening your DJ software.
  • If your music is in Dropbox or Google Drive, make sure the files are downloaded locally.
  • If you moved your music after exporting, your DJ software may need to relocate the files.
  • If the files were deleted, the crate cannot load them.

Problem: Crate Hackers Seems Frozen

If Crate Hackers seems stuck, frozen, or slow, try the safe steps first.

Step 1: Wait a Moment

If the app is scanning a large library, importing a long playlist, or matching a big crate, it may take time.

Large libraries and huge crates can slow things down. A 900-song crate is not preparation. It is a cry for help with track numbers.

Step 2: Close and Reopen Crate Hackers

  1. Close Crate Hackers.
  2. Wait a few seconds.
  3. Open Crate Hackers again.
  4. Try the same action again.

Step 3: Restart Your Computer

If the app is still frozen, restart your computer and try again.

It is annoying. It also works more often than anyone wants to admit.

Step 4: Update Crate Hackers

Make sure you are using the latest version of Crate Hackers.

Download the current app here: cratehackers.com/ch11

Step 5: Avoid Risky Reset Options Unless Support Tells You

Some older instructions mention clearing app data or using a Clear All option. Do not use reset or clear options unless you understand what they remove or support tells you to do it.

Clearing the wrong thing can remove local app data and make you set up your music sources again. That may be fixable, but it is not the first move.

Problem: Cloud Music Is Not Showing

If your music is stored in Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, or another cloud service, make sure the files are actually downloaded to your computer.

  • Online-only files may not scan correctly.
  • Cloud folders may need time to finish syncing.
  • Your DJ software may not load files that are not stored locally.
  • After the files download, re-sync the folder in Crate Hackers.

Cloud storage is convenient until it silently decides your file exists spiritually but not locally. Very modern. Very irritating.

Problem: External Drive Songs Are Missing

If your music is on an external drive, the drive must be connected before Crate Hackers or your DJ software can find those files.

  1. Close Crate Hackers.
  2. Plug in the external drive.
  3. Confirm the drive appears on your computer.
  4. Open Crate Hackers.
  5. Go to Library > Music Sources.
  6. Confirm the external drive folder is listed.
  7. Run Re-sync.

Also plug in the drive before opening your DJ software. Otherwise, the exported crate may show missing files even if the export itself worked.

Best Troubleshooting Order

Follow this order before contacting support:

  1. Confirm your music folder is added in Library > Music Sources.
  2. Make sure external drives are plugged in.
  3. Make sure cloud files are downloaded locally.
  4. Run Re-sync.
  5. Open the crate again.
  6. Confirm the crate has tracks.
  7. Confirm tracks are matched or selected.
  8. Save the crate to My Crates.
  9. Export again.
  10. Open your DJ software and test.
  11. Restart Crate Hackers if needed.
  12. Restart your computer if the app still seems stuck.

When to Contact Support

Contact support if you have tried the steps above and the crate is still empty, the app still freezes, or the export still fails.

Email us at help@cratehackers.com.

To help us solve it faster, include:

  • Your computer type: Mac or Windows
  • Your operating system version
  • Your DJ software: Serato, VirtualDJ, Rekordbox, djay Pro, or another platform
  • The crate name
  • What you were trying to do
  • What happened instead
  • Whether your music is on your computer, external drive, or cloud storage
  • Any screenshots or screen recordings that show the issue

Screenshots help. “It broke” is emotionally valid, but technically useless.

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