# Why album artwork is missing in NotchStar Now Playing

> NotchStar shows a music note instead of a cover when the player gives no artwork, a new track has not sent its art yet, or in the AppleScript fallback.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-album-artwork-missing/
Last updated: 2026-11-04

Published 2026-11-04.

NotchStar shows a grey square with a music note when it has no cover for the track. That happens when the playing app gives no artwork, when a new track has not delivered its cover yet, or when NotchStar is using the AppleScript fallback for Music.

## The three common causes

1. **The player sends none.** NotchStar takes the cover from the system Now Playing data. It does not look covers up by song name. If the app publishes no image, there is nothing to show.
2. **A new track just started.** NotchStar clears the old cover when the track changes and waits for the new one. It will never show the previous song's art on the new song. Wait a second or two.
3. **The fallback is active.** In the AppleScript fallback, Spotify supplies a cover address that NotchStar loads. Music supplies none, so the placeholder stays.

## What to try

- Pause and play, or skip to the next track and back.
- Close the notch and reopen it on Home so it reconnects.
- Check the Control Center Now Playing tile. If macOS also has no cover there, the app is not providing one.

## Why not look it up

Matching a cover by name can show the wrong album. A placeholder is honest. See [which apps show up](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-now-playing-sources/) and the [Now Playing page](https://www.notchstar.com/features/now-playing/). For Music details read [Apple Music behaviour](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-apple-music-now-playing/).

## Keep reading.

- [Now playing, with real album art](https://www.notchstar.com/features/now-playing/): See the song playing on your Mac with album artwork and controls in the notch. Live updates, and a progress bar when the player provides one.
- [How NotchStar Now Playing works with Apple Music](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-apple-music-now-playing/): Apple Music tracks show with artwork and controls through the system Now Playing service. Radio style items have no duration, so there is no progress bar.
- [Spotify is not showing in NotchStar Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-spotify-not-showing/): If Spotify does not appear in the NotchStar Home tab, start a track, reopen the notch, and allow Automation for Spotify if macOS asks. Steps and the fallback.
- [Which apps show up in NotchStar Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-now-playing-sources/): NotchStar shows any app that reports to the macOS Now Playing service. Music and Spotify also work through an AppleScript fallback. Other apps may not appear.

## More in Home and Now Playing.

- [Which apps show up in NotchStar Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-now-playing-sources/): NotchStar shows any app that reports to the macOS Now Playing service. Music and Spotify also work through an AppleScript fallback. Other apps may not appear.
- [Spotify is not showing in NotchStar Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-spotify-not-showing/): If Spotify does not appear in the NotchStar Home tab, start a track, reopen the notch, and allow Automation for Spotify if macOS asks. Steps and the fallback.
- [How NotchStar Now Playing works with Apple Music](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-apple-music-now-playing/): Apple Music tracks show with artwork and controls through the system Now Playing service. Radio style items have no duration, so there is no progress bar.
- [Why there is no progress bar in NotchStar Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-now-playing-no-progress-bar/): NotchStar draws the progress bar only when the player gives a real duration and elapsed time. Radio style Apple Music items and some streams give neither.
- [The perl process NotchStar starts for Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-now-playing-helper-process/): NotchStar starts one Apple signed perl process to read Now Playing while the Home card is open. It ends when you leave Home or quit.
- [Why NotchStar asks to control Music and Spotify](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-automation-permission-music-spotify/): macOS may ask if NotchStar may control Music or Spotify when the AppleScript fallback runs. Allow it for Now Playing; the main route needs no prompt.