Wrong Track Matches: Causes & How to Fix Them – Soundiiz Support

TROUBLESHOOTING

Why Some Tracks Don't Match Correctly

Understanding why you might get the wrong version of a song, and how to fix it.

How Track Matching Works

When you transfer a playlist, Soundiiz uses multiple methods to find the best match for each track on the destination platform. If the exact match isn't available, it finds the closest alternative.

Common Matching Issues

Issue	Why it happens
Live version instead of studio	The studio version isn't available, or the live version has a closer title match
Remix instead of original	Original not in catalog, or remix appears first in search results
Remastered instead of original	Platforms often replace old albums with remastered versions
Cover version instead of original	Same song title by different artist; original may be unavailable
Completely wrong song	Artists with same name, or songs with identical titles
Track not found	Song not available on destination platform (regional restrictions, removed from catalog)

Why Does This Happen?

Different Catalogs. Each streaming platform has different licensing agreements. A song available on Spotify might not be on Apple Music, or vice versa. The exact version you have may not exist on the destination.

Metadata Differences. Platforms store song information differently. "The Beatles" vs "Beatles", "feat." vs "ft.", or accented characters can all affect matching accuracy.

Same Name, Different Artist. Many artists share names. There are dozens of bands called "The National" or artists named "Jordan". If the original artist isn't on the platform, a different artist with the same name might be matched.

Regional Availability. Some tracks are only available in certain countries. If the exact track isn't available in your region, a different version might be substituted.

How to Fix Wrong Matches

Use Matching Rules
Set up your own matching rules in Settings. A rule links one track, album or artist on one music service to the exact item you want on another, and Soundiiz uses that link instead of its automatic result in later transfers and Sync runs.
Fix After Transfer
After the transfer completes, open its result. Every track Soundiiz could not find carries a Fix button, and the track you pick there is saved as a matching rule for the next runs. A track matched with the wrong version has no Fix button: change it on the destination platform, or add the rule yourself.
Report Persistent Issues
If specific tracks consistently match incorrectly, let us know. We can investigate and improve our matching algorithm for those cases.

Pro Tip: Set Up Matching Rules

Go to Settings, then Matching Rules, to see every link you have saved, add one for a track, an album or an artist, and remove the ones you no longer want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Soundiiz guarantee 100% accurate matching?

No service can guarantee perfect matching because platforms have different catalogs and metadata. We optimize for the best possible match, but some manual correction may be needed.

Why did it match a cover instead of the original?

The original may not be available on the destination platform. Soundiiz finds the closest available match rather than skipping the track entirely.

A track shows as "not found" but I can find it manually. Why?

Soundiiz matches on metadata, so a small difference (spelling, punctuation, featured artists) is enough for a track not to match automatically. Use the Fix button on that track in the transfer result to point it to the right one, or contact us so we can investigate.

Will fixing matches improve future transfers?

A track you fix inside Soundiiz is saved as a matching rule and reused on the next runs. A change you make by hand on the destination platform stays there and is not reused. Reporting consistent issues also helps us improve our algorithm for everyone.

Found a matching issue?

Let us know which track matched incorrectly and what the correct match should be. We'll look into it.

Report an Issue