Merge branch 'master' into artwork-explain-ui

The explainable-kind list and the report's time format each existed twice,
kept in sync by a comment pointing at the other copy. Both now live in
core/artwork beside their siblings.

FormatAgents returned a CLI-worded sentence, so the web UI rendered starred
agents with no legend at all. It now reports a bool and each caller words its
own note.

Drop kind, id, chainOrigin and the numeric priority from the explain
response: all four were serialized and never read, and chainOrigin is
derivable from stored.attemptedAt on an endpoint that never walks.

ExpandInfoDialog takes an optional resource instead of a node-or-map content
prop. A page mounts one dialog per resource, which removes the silent
blank-dialog failure mode when a map was missing a key.

Outcome chips read the MUI palette rather than hardcoded hex, so they follow
the dark theme.

Dockerfile

@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ LABEL org.opencontainers.image.source="https://github.com/navidrome/navidrome"
 # - libwebp + symlinks: enables native WebP encoding via purego/dlopen
 # The mesa/LLVM stack mpv pulls in for video output is dropped in this same layer,
 # otherwise the deleted bytes still ship in the image.
-RUN apk add -U --no-cache curl ffmpeg mpv sqlite libwebp libwebpdemux libwebpmux && \
+RUN apk add -U --no-cache ffmpeg mpv sqlite libwebp libwebpdemux libwebpmux && \
     for lib in libwebp libwebpdemux libwebpmux; do \
         target=$(ls /usr/lib/$lib.so.* 2>/dev/null | head -1) && \
         [ -n "$target" ] && ln -sf "$target" /usr/lib/$lib.so; \

cmd/artwork.go

@@ -8,9 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"slices"
-	"strconv"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/consts"
@@ -76,7 +74,7 @@ var artworkExplainCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short: "Explain why an item's artwork resolved the way it did",
 	Long: "Explain why an item's artwork resolved the way it did.\n\n" +
 		"The item can be given as a bare id, a full artwork id (e.g. al-<id>), or a <kind> <id> pair.\n" +
-		"<kind> is one of: " + kindPrefixes(explainKinds) + ".\n" +
+		"<kind> is one of: " + kindPrefixes(artwork.ExplainKinds) + ".\n" +
 		"A disc artwork id is the album id and the disc number, joined by a colon: <albumID>:2",
 	Args: cobra.RangeArgs(1, 2),
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
@@ -264,7 +262,7 @@ func configState(rep statusReport) string {
 func printQueueStats(w io.Writer, stats []model.ArtworkQueueStat, total int64, countHeader, indent string) {
 	fmt.Fprintf(w, "%sKIND\tPRIORITY\t%s\n", indent, countHeader)
 	for _, s := range stats {
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s%s\t%s\t%d\n", indent, kindName(s.ItemKind), priorityName(s.Priority), s.Count)
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s%s\t%s\t%d\n", indent, kindName(s.ItemKind), artwork.PriorityName(s.Priority), s.Count)
 	}
 	fmt.Fprintf(w, "%sTOTAL\t\t%d\n", indent, total)
 }
@@ -276,37 +274,14 @@ func kindName(prefix string) string {
 	return prefix
 }
 
-type artworkPriority struct {
-	name  string
-	value int
-}
-
-// knownPriorities is the one listing behind both the name and the parse, so they cannot drift.
-var knownPriorities = []artworkPriority{
-	{"bump", model.ArtworkPriorityBump},
-	{"scan", model.ArtworkPriorityScan},
-	{"recheck", model.ArtworkPriorityRecheck},
-	{"backfill", model.ArtworkPriorityBackfill},
-}
-
-// priorityName falls back to the number: a row written by a newer version still has to print.
-func priorityName(p int) string {
-	for _, ap := range knownPriorities {
-		if ap.value == p {
-			return ap.name
-		}
-	}
-	return strconv.Itoa(p)
-}
-
 func priorityNames() string {
-	return strings.Join(slice.Map(knownPriorities, func(ap artworkPriority) string { return ap.name }), ", ")
+	return strings.Join(slice.Map(artwork.KnownPriorities, func(ap artwork.Priority) string { return ap.Name }), ", ")
 }
 
 func parseArtworkPriority(s string) (int, error) {
-	for _, ap := range knownPriorities {
-		if ap.name == s {
-			return ap.value, nil
+	for _, ap := range artwork.KnownPriorities {
+		if ap.Name == s {
+			return ap.Value, nil
 		}
 	}
 	return 0, fmt.Errorf("invalid priority %q, expected one of: %s", s, priorityNames())
@@ -678,13 +653,6 @@ func refreshItems(ctx context.Context, ds model.DataStore, targets []model.Artwo
 	return failed
 }
 
-// explainKinds is every kind explain accepts: it reports stored state and config too, so a kind
-// with no chain to walk still has something to answer with.
-var explainKinds = []model.Kind{
-	model.KindArtistArtwork, model.KindAlbumArtwork, model.KindDiscArtwork,
-	model.KindMediaFileArtwork, model.KindPlaylistArtwork, model.KindRadioArtwork,
-}
-
 func kindPrefixes(kinds []model.Kind) string {
 	return strings.Join(model.KindPrefixes(kinds), ", ")
 }
@@ -746,106 +714,15 @@ func artworkKindAndID(ctx context.Context, ds model.DataStore, arg string) (mode
 	return model.ArtworkID{Kind: kind, ID: arg}, nil
 }
 
-// explainAgents accounts for every configured agent: one the CLI cannot construct (a plugin, or a
-// built-in missing its credentials) never reaches the Chain, so the raw list alone overstates it.
-func explainAgents(configured string, available []string) string {
-	if strings.TrimSpace(configured) == "" {
-		return "(none)"
-	}
-	var unavailable bool
-	names := slice.Map(strings.Split(configured, ","), func(name string) string {
-		name = strings.TrimSpace(name)
-		if slices.Contains(available, name) {
-			return name
-		}
-		unavailable = true
-		return name + "*"
-	})
-	line := strings.Join(names, ", ")
-	if unavailable {
-		line += "  (* not available to the CLI)"
-	}
-	return line
-}
+// cliUnavailableNote marks agents the CLI cannot construct; a running server loads them all.
+const cliUnavailableNote = "  (* not available to the CLI)"
 
-// availableImageAgents names the agents that can actually supply an image for kind.
-func availableImageAgents(ds model.DataStore, mgr *plugins.Manager, kind model.Kind) []string {
-	ag := agents.GetAgents(ds, mgr)
-	if kind == model.KindArtistArtwork {
-		return slice.Map(ag.ArtistImageAgents(), func(a agents.ArtistImageAgent) string { return a.Name })
+// cliAgents words the CLI's own legend for the starred agents FormatAgents reports.
+func cliAgents(rep artwork.ExplainReport) string {
+	if rep.AgentsIncomplete {
+		return rep.Agents + cliUnavailableNote
 	}
-	return slice.Map(ag.AlbumImageAgents(), func(a agents.AlbumImageAgent) string { return a.Name })
-}
-
-// explainResult states the verdict of the walk. A skipped or failed external tier, or a local
-// candidate that would not open, leaves the outcome unknown: nothing observed that there is no artwork.
-func explainResult(source string, steps []artwork.TraceStep) string {
-	if source != "" {
-		for _, s := range steps {
-			if s.Outcome == artwork.OutcomeHit {
-				break
-			}
-			// An external winner discards the earlier error, so the resolver settles it with no retry.
-			if s.Outcome == artwork.OutcomeError && strings.HasPrefix(s.Candidate, artwork.ExternalPrefix) &&
-				!strings.HasPrefix(source, artwork.ExternalPrefix) {
-				return "resolved from " + source +
-					" (indeterminate: a higher-priority external lookup failed; this may resolve differently on a retry)"
-			}
-		}
-		return "resolved from " + source
-	}
-	for _, s := range steps {
-		switch {
-		case s.Outcome == artwork.OutcomeError && strings.HasPrefix(s.Candidate, artwork.ExternalPrefix):
-			return "indeterminate (an external lookup failed; the item may resolve on a later attempt)"
-		// A stage error or an unreadable candidate means a source was found but not processed; the
-		// worker retries rather than settling absent, so neither reads as a clean miss.
-		case s.Outcome == artwork.OutcomeError, s.Outcome == artwork.OutcomeUnreadable:
-			return "indeterminate (a candidate was found but could not be processed; the worker retries rather than settling absent)"
-		}
-	}
-	return "not resolved"
-}
-
-// explainConfig names the setting that decides where a kind's artwork comes from, and its value.
-func explainConfig(kind model.Kind) (name, value string) {
-	switch kind {
-	case model.KindArtistArtwork:
-		return "ArtistArtPriority", conf.Server.ArtistArtPriority
-	case model.KindAlbumArtwork:
-		return "CoverArtPriority", conf.Server.CoverArtPriority
-	case model.KindDiscArtwork:
-		return "DiscArtPriority", conf.Server.DiscArtPriority
-	case model.KindMediaFileArtwork:
-		return "EnableMediaFileCoverArt", strconv.FormatBool(conf.Server.EnableMediaFileCoverArt)
-	}
-	return "", ""
-}
-
-type explainReport struct {
-	kind   model.Kind
-	id     string
-	name   string
-	stored *model.ItemArtwork
-	queued *model.ArtworkQueueItem
-	agents string
-	// steps is the chain walk: recorded when the item was resolved, or performed just now when walked.
-	steps      []artwork.TraceStep
-	source     string
-	walked     bool
-	resolveErr error
-}
-
-// explainChainOrigin says whether the operator is reading history or a walk performed just now,
-// since the two can disagree after a config change.
-func explainChainOrigin(rep explainReport) string {
-	if rep.walked {
-		return "walked now"
-	}
-	if rep.stored != nil {
-		return "recorded " + formatTime(rep.stored.AttemptedAt)
-	}
-	return "not recorded"
+	return rep.Agents
 }
 
 // writeSteps prints the trace rows. An empty last cell would end tabwriter's column block and
@@ -866,107 +743,100 @@ func writeStepTable(w io.Writer, title string, steps []artwork.TraceStep) {
 	writeSteps(w, "    ", steps)
 }
 
-func formatExplain(rep explainReport) string {
+func formatExplain(rep artwork.ExplainReport) string {
 	var sb strings.Builder
 	w := newTabWriter(&sb)
-	explainable := artwork.Explainable(rep.kind)
-	stateful := artwork.KeepsState(rep.kind)
-	unrecorded := !rep.walked && rep.stored == nil
+	explainable := artwork.Explainable(rep.Kind)
+	stateful := artwork.KeepsState(rep.Kind)
+	unrecorded := !rep.Walked && rep.Stored == nil
 
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "Item")
-	fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Kind:\t%s (%s)\n", rep.kind, rep.kind.Prefix())
-	fmt.Fprintf(w, "  ID:\t%s\n", rep.id)
-	fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Name:\t%s\n", rep.name)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Kind:\t%s (%s)\n", rep.Kind, rep.Kind.Prefix())
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "  ID:\t%s\n", rep.ID)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Name:\t%s\n", rep.Name)
 
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "\nStored")
 	switch {
 	case !stateful:
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  (%s artwork is resolved on every request and never recorded)\n", rep.kind)
-	case rep.stored == nil:
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  (%s artwork is resolved on every request and never recorded)\n", rep.Kind)
+	case rep.Stored == nil:
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, "  (no artwork state recorded)")
 	default:
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Source:\t%s\n", displaySource(rep.stored.Source))
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Hash:\t%s\n", cmp.Or(rep.stored.Hash, "(absent)"))
-		if rep.stored.SourcePath != "" {
-			fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Source path:\t%s\n", rep.stored.SourcePath)
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Source:\t%s\n", displaySource(rep.Stored.Source))
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Hash:\t%s\n", cmp.Or(rep.Stored.Hash, "(absent)"))
+		if rep.Stored.SourcePath != "" {
+			fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Source path:\t%s\n", rep.Stored.SourcePath)
 		}
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Attempted at:\t%s\n", formatTime(rep.stored.AttemptedAt))
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Attempted at:\t%s\n", artwork.FormatTime(rep.Stored.AttemptedAt))
 	}
 
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "\nQueue")
 	switch {
 	case !stateful:
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, "  (never queued)")
-	case rep.queued == nil:
+	case rep.Queued == nil:
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, "  (not queued)")
 	default:
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Priority:\t%s (%d)\n", priorityName(rep.queued.Priority), rep.queued.Priority)
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Attempts:\t%d\n", rep.queued.Attempts)
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Retry at:\t%s\n", formatTime(rep.queued.RetryAt))
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Priority:\t%s (%d)\n", artwork.PriorityName(rep.Queued.Priority), rep.Queued.Priority)
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Attempts:\t%d\n", rep.Queued.Attempts)
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Retry at:\t%s\n", artwork.FormatTime(rep.Queued.RetryAt))
 	}
-	if rep.queued != nil {
-		writeStepTable(w, "Last attempt failed", artwork.DecodeTrace(rep.queued.Trace, ""))
+	if rep.Queued != nil {
+		writeStepTable(w, "Last attempt failed", rep.LastAttemptFailed())
 	}
-	if rep.stored != nil {
-		writeStepTable(w, "Gave up after", artwork.DecodeTrace(rep.stored.LastFailure, ""))
+	if rep.Stored != nil {
+		writeStepTable(w, "Gave up after", rep.GaveUpAfter())
 	}
 
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "\nConfig")
-	if setting, value := explainConfig(rep.kind); setting == "" {
+	if setting, value := artwork.ConfigFor(rep.Kind); setting == "" {
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, "  (no artwork source configuration applies)")
 	} else {
 		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  %s:\t%s\n", setting, value)
-		if rep.agents != "" {
-			fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Agents:\t%s\n", rep.agents)
+		if rep.Agents != "" {
+			fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Agents:\t%s\n", cliAgents(rep))
 		}
 	}
 
-	fmt.Fprintf(w, "\nChain (%s)\n", explainChainOrigin(rep))
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "\nChain (%s)\n", rep.ChainOrigin())
 	switch {
 	case !explainable:
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  (%s artwork does not walk a priority chain)\n", rep.kind)
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  (%s artwork does not walk a priority chain)\n", rep.Kind)
 	case unrecorded:
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, "  (no resolution recorded yet; re-run with --live to walk the chain now)")
-	case !rep.walked && len(rep.steps) == 0 && rep.stored.Hash != "":
+	case !rep.Walked && len(rep.Steps) == 0 && rep.Stored.Hash != "":
 		// A stored image with no chain can only predate trace recording: a recorded resolution that
 		// found an image always records its winning candidate.
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, "  (this item was resolved before traces were recorded; re-run with --live)")
-	case !rep.walked && len(rep.steps) == 0:
+	case !rep.Walked && len(rep.Steps) == 0:
 		// Absent with no chain: an empty priority list walked nothing, or a pre-tracing absent row.
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, "  (no candidates were recorded; re-run with --live to walk the chain now)")
 	default:
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, "  CANDIDATE\tOUTCOME\tDETAIL")
-		writeSteps(w, "  ", rep.steps)
+		writeSteps(w, "  ", rep.Steps)
 	}
 
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "\nResult")
 	switch {
-	case rep.resolveErr != nil:
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  resolution failed: %s\n", rep.resolveErr)
+	case rep.ResolveErr != nil:
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  resolution failed: %s\n", rep.ResolveErr)
 	case !explainable:
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, "  not evaluated (no chain was walked; see Stored above)")
 	case unrecorded:
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, "  not evaluated (nothing recorded; re-run with --live to walk the chain now)")
 	default:
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  %s\n", explainResult(rep.source, rep.steps))
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "  %s\n", rep.Result())
 	}
 
 	w.Flush()
 	return sb.String()
 }
 
-func formatTime(t time.Time) string {
-	if t.IsZero() {
-		return "-"
-	}
-	return t.Format(time.RFC3339)
-}
-
 func runExplain(ctx context.Context, args []string) {
 	defer db.Init(ctx)()
 	ds, ctx := getAdminContext(ctx)
 
-	targets, failures, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, args, explainKinds)
+	targets, failures, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, args, artwork.ExplainKinds)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(ctx, err)
 	}
@@ -978,45 +848,29 @@ func runExplain(ctx context.Context, args []string) {
 	}
 	kind, id := targets[0].Kind, targets[0].ID
 
-	name, err := artwork.ItemName(ctx, ds, kind, id)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatal(ctx, "Item not found", "kind", kind, "id", id, err)
+	var opts artwork.ExplainOptions
+	// Only artist and album reach an agent, and the load must precede the resolver, which reads the
+	// same manager. Leaving ag nil elsewhere avoids handing agents.GetAgents a not-yet-loaded manager.
+	var ag *agents.Agents
+	if kind == model.KindArtistArtwork || kind == model.KindAlbumArtwork {
+		mgr := loadPluginAgents(ctx, explainLive)
+		defer func() { _ = mgr.Stop() }()
+		ag = agents.GetAgents(ds, mgr)
 	}
-	rep := explainReport{kind: kind, id: id, name: name}
-	if artwork.KeepsState(kind) {
-		rep.stored, err = ds.Artwork(ctx).GetItemArtwork(kind, id, model.ImageTypePrimary)
-		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, model.ErrNotFound) {
-			log.Fatal(ctx, "Failed to read artwork state", "kind", kind, "id", id, err)
-		}
-		rep.queued, err = ds.ArtworkQueue(ctx).Get(kind, id, model.ImageTypePrimary)
-		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, model.ErrNotFound) {
-			log.Fatal(ctx, "Failed to read the artwork queue", "kind", kind, "id", id, err)
+	// Disc artwork keeps no row, so it has no stored trace and can only be explained by walking now.
+	if explainLive || !artwork.KeepsState(kind) {
+		opts.Walk = func(t *artwork.ChainTrace) *artwork.TracingResolver {
+			return CreateArtworkResolver(t, explainLive)
 		}
 	}
+	rep, err := artwork.Explain(ctx, ds, ag, kind, id, opts)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(ctx, "Failed to explain artwork", "kind", kind, "id", id, err)
+	}
 
-	// Disc artwork keeps no row, so it has no stored trace and can only be explained by walking now.
-	rep.walked = explainLive || !artwork.KeepsState(kind)
-	if artwork.Explainable(kind) {
-		// Only artist and album reach an agent, and the load must precede the resolver, which reads
-		// the same manager.
-		if kind == model.KindArtistArtwork || kind == model.KindAlbumArtwork {
-			mgr := loadPluginAgents(ctx, explainLive)
-			defer func() { _ = mgr.Stop() }()
-			rep.agents = explainAgents(conf.Server.Agents, availableImageAgents(ds, mgr, kind))
-		}
-		switch {
-		case rep.walked:
-			trace := &artwork.ChainTrace{}
-			rep.source, rep.resolveErr = CreateArtworkResolver(trace, explainLive).Resolve(ctx, kind, id)
-			rep.steps = trace.Steps()
-		case rep.stored != nil:
-			rep.steps = artwork.DecodeTrace(rep.stored.Trace, rep.stored.SourcePath)
-			rep.source = rep.stored.Source
-		}
-	}
 	fmt.Print(formatExplain(rep))
 	// The steps taken before a failed walk are the diagnosis, so report them before exiting.
-	if rep.resolveErr != nil {
-		log.Fatal(ctx, "Failed to resolve artwork", "kind", kind, "id", id, rep.resolveErr)
+	if rep.ResolveErr != nil {
+		log.Fatal(ctx, "Failed to resolve artwork", "kind", kind, "id", id, rep.ResolveErr)
 	}
 }

cmd/artwork_test.go

@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ var _ = Describe("parseArtworkKind", func() {
 			_, err := parseArtworkKind(prefix, valid)
 			Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 		},
-		Entry("explain reads disc artwork", "dc", explainKinds),
-		Entry("explain reads media file artwork", "mf", explainKinds),
+		Entry("explain reads disc artwork", "dc", artwork.ExplainKinds),
+		Entry("explain reads media file artwork", "mf", artwork.ExplainKinds),
 		// Disc artwork has no state to clear and the worker cannot resolve it, so refresh must not
 		// accept it: the queue row would be rejected on every drain.
 		Entry("refresh re-queues media files", "mf", artwork.RefreshableKinds),
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ var _ = Describe("resolveArtworkTargets", func() {
 	})
 
 	It("accepts the explicit <kind> <id> leader shared by every id", func() {
-		targets, failures, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, []string{"al", "x", "y"}, explainKinds)
+		targets, failures, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, []string{"al", "x", "y"}, artwork.ExplainKinds)
 		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 		Expect(failures).To(BeEmpty())
 		Expect(targets).To(Equal([]model.ArtworkID{
@@ -78,20 +78,20 @@ var _ = Describe("resolveArtworkTargets", func() {
 	})
 
 	It("resolves a bare id by looking it up across tables", func() {
-		targets, failures, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, []string{"artist1"}, explainKinds)
+		targets, failures, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, []string{"artist1"}, artwork.ExplainKinds)
 		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 		Expect(failures).To(BeEmpty())
 		Expect(targets).To(Equal([]model.ArtworkID{{Kind: model.KindArtistArtwork, ID: "artist1"}}))
 	})
 
 	It("reads the kind from a full artwork id prefix without a database lookup", func() {
-		targets, _, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, []string{"al-realalbum"}, explainKinds)
+		targets, _, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, []string{"al-realalbum"}, artwork.ExplainKinds)
 		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 		Expect(targets).To(Equal([]model.ArtworkID{{Kind: model.KindAlbumArtwork, ID: "realalbum"}}))
 	})
 
 	It("strips the hash suffix from a full artwork id", func() {
-		targets, _, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, []string{"al-realalbum_0123456789abcdef"}, explainKinds)
+		targets, _, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, []string{"al-realalbum_0123456789abcdef"}, artwork.ExplainKinds)
 		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 		Expect(targets).To(Equal([]model.ArtworkID{{Kind: model.KindAlbumArtwork, ID: "realalbum"}}))
 	})
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ var _ = Describe("resolveArtworkTargets", func() {
 	})
 
 	It("collects an id that matches nothing and has no kind prefix", func() {
-		targets, failures, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, []string{"nope"}, explainKinds)
+		targets, failures, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, []string{"nope"}, artwork.ExplainKinds)
 		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 		Expect(targets).To(BeEmpty())
 		Expect(failures).To(HaveLen(1))
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ var _ = Describe("resolveArtworkTargets", func() {
 	})
 
 	It("resolves the valid ids and collects the unresolvable ones", func() {
-		targets, failures, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, []string{"artist1", "nope", "al-realalbum"}, explainKinds)
+		targets, failures, err := resolveArtworkTargets(ctx, ds, []string{"artist1", "nope", "al-realalbum"}, artwork.ExplainKinds)
 		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 		Expect(targets).To(Equal([]model.ArtworkID{
 			{Kind: model.KindArtistArtwork, ID: "artist1"}, {Kind: model.KindAlbumArtwork, ID: "realalbum"}}))
@@ -122,126 +122,36 @@ var _ = Describe("resolveArtworkTargets", func() {
 	})
 })
 
-var _ = Describe("explainResult", func() {
-	It("reports the winning source", func() {
-		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{{Candidate: "folder", Outcome: "hit", Detail: "/music/a.jpg"}}
-		Expect(explainResult("folder", steps)).To(ContainSubstring("resolved from folder"))
-	})
-
-	It("reports not resolved when every candidate was tried and missed", func() {
-		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{
-			{Candidate: "artist.*", Outcome: "miss"},
-			{Candidate: "external:deezer", Outcome: "miss"},
-		}
-		Expect(explainResult("", steps)).To(Equal("not resolved"))
-	})
-
-	It("reports indeterminate when a local candidate exists but could not be read", func() {
-		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{
-			{Candidate: "cover.*", Outcome: "miss"},
-			{Candidate: "embedded", Outcome: "unreadable"},
-		}
-		Expect(explainResult("", steps)).To(ContainSubstring("indeterminate"),
-			"the worker retries an unreadable candidate instead of settling absent, so this is not a clean miss")
-	})
-
-	It("reports indeterminate when a processing stage errored after a candidate was found", func() {
-		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{
-			{Candidate: "cover.*", Outcome: "hit", Detail: "/music/cover.jpg"},
-			{Candidate: "store", Outcome: "error", Detail: "disk full"},
-		}
-		Expect(explainResult("", steps)).To(ContainSubstring("indeterminate"),
-			"a stage error is a processing failure the worker retries, not a definitive miss")
-	})
-
-	It("does not qualify a hit that an earlier unreadable candidate preceded", func() {
-		// chainState.try stamps only the external error onto a hit and drops the local one, so the
-		// worker settles this as found; warning about it would be a false alarm.
-		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{
-			{Candidate: "embedded", Outcome: "unreadable"},
-			{Candidate: "cover.*", Outcome: "hit", Detail: "/music/cover.jpg"},
-		}
-		Expect(explainResult("folder", steps)).To(Equal("resolved from folder"))
-	})
-
-	It("reports indeterminate when an external lookup failed transiently", func() {
-		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{
-			{Candidate: "artist.*", Outcome: "miss"},
-			{Candidate: "external:deezer", Outcome: "error", Detail: "context deadline exceeded"},
-		}
-		Expect(explainResult("", steps)).To(ContainSubstring("indeterminate"),
-			"a failed network call is not evidence that the item has no artwork")
-	})
-
-	It("qualifies a win a failed higher-priority external lookup could have taken", func() {
-		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{
-			{Candidate: "external:deezer", Outcome: "error", Detail: "context deadline exceeded"},
-			{Candidate: "artist.*", Outcome: "hit", Detail: "/music/artist.jpg"},
-		}
-		res := explainResult("artist.*", steps)
-		Expect(res).To(ContainSubstring("resolved from artist.*"))
-		Expect(res).To(ContainSubstring("indeterminate"),
-			"the resolver serves this hit but retries later, so the winner is provisional")
-	})
-
-	It("does not qualify an external win that followed a failed external lookup", func() {
-		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{
-			{Candidate: "external:deezer", Outcome: "error", Detail: "context deadline exceeded"},
-			{Candidate: "external:lastfm", Outcome: "hit", Detail: "http://img"},
-		}
-		Expect(explainResult("external:lastfm", steps)).To(Equal("resolved from external:lastfm"),
-			"a later agent supplying the image discards the earlier error, so there is no retry to warn about")
-	})
-
-	It("does not qualify a win that outranked the failed external lookup", func() {
-		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{
-			{Candidate: "artist.*", Outcome: "hit"},
-			{Candidate: "external:deezer", Outcome: "error", Detail: "context deadline exceeded"},
-		}
-		Expect(explainResult("artist.*", steps)).To(Equal("resolved from artist.*"))
-	})
-})
-
-var _ = Describe("explainAgents", func() {
-	It("accounts for every configured agent, marking the ones the CLI could not use", func() {
-		out := explainAgents("artist-nfo-metadata,apple-music,deezer,lastfm", []string{"deezer"})
-		for _, name := range []string{"artist-nfo-metadata", "apple-music", "deezer", "lastfm"} {
-			Expect(out).To(ContainSubstring(name),
-				"a configured agent missing from this line reads as if it had never been configured")
-		}
-		Expect(out).To(ContainSubstring("not available to the CLI"))
-	})
-
-	It("does not mark anything when every configured agent is available", func() {
-		out := explainAgents("deezer, lastfm", []string{"lastfm", "deezer"})
-		Expect(out).To(Equal("deezer, lastfm"))
-	})
-
-	It("reports an empty configuration as none, not as an unavailable agent", func() {
-		Expect(explainAgents("", nil)).To(Equal("(none)"))
-	})
-})
-
 var _ = Describe("formatExplain", func() {
-	var rep explainReport
+	var rep artwork.ExplainReport
 
 	BeforeEach(func() {
 		DeferCleanup(configtest.SetupConfig())
 		conf.Server.ArtistArtPriority = "external, artist.*"
-		rep = explainReport{
-			kind:   model.KindArtistArtwork,
-			id:     "ar-1",
-			name:   "Radiohead",
-			agents: "lastfm,spotify",
-			walked: true,
-			steps: []artwork.TraceStep{
+		rep = artwork.ExplainReport{
+			Kind:   model.KindArtistArtwork,
+			ID:     "ar-1",
+			Name:   "Radiohead",
+			Agents: "lastfm,spotify",
+			Walked: true,
+			Steps: []artwork.TraceStep{
 				{Candidate: "upload", Outcome: "skipped", Detail: "no uploaded image"},
 				{Candidate: "external:deezer", Outcome: "error", Detail: "context deadline exceeded"},
 			},
-			source: "",
+			Source: "",
 		}
 	})
 
+	It("explains the star on an agent the CLI could not construct", func() {
+		rep.AgentsIncomplete = true
+
+		Expect(formatExplain(rep)).To(ContainSubstring("(* not available to the CLI)"))
+	})
+
+	It("leaves the agent line unadorned when every agent is available", func() {
+		Expect(formatExplain(rep)).ToNot(ContainSubstring("not available to the CLI"))
+	})
+
 	It("reports the item, its config and the chain it walked", func() {
 		out := formatExplain(rep)
 		Expect(out).To(ContainSubstring("Radiohead"))
@@ -260,11 +170,11 @@ var _ = Describe("formatExplain", func() {
 
 	It("prints the stored state and the queue row when they exist", func() {
 		attempted := time.Date(2026, 8, 13, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
-		rep.stored = &model.ItemArtwork{Source: "folder", Hash: "abc123",
+		rep.Stored = &model.ItemArtwork{Source: "folder", Hash: "abc123",
 			SourcePath: "/music/cover.jpg", AttemptedAt: attempted}
-		rep.queued = &model.ArtworkQueueItem{Priority: model.ArtworkPriorityScan, Attempts: 2,
+		rep.Queued = &model.ArtworkQueueItem{Priority: model.ArtworkPriorityScan, Attempts: 2,
 			RetryAt: attempted.Add(time.Hour)}
-		rep.source = "folder"
+		rep.Source = "folder"
 
 		out := formatExplain(rep)
 		Expect(out).To(ContainSubstring("abc123"))
@@ -275,12 +185,12 @@ var _ = Describe("formatExplain", func() {
 	})
 
 	It("marks a known-absent stored state instead of printing an empty hash", func() {
-		rep.stored = &model.ItemArtwork{AttemptedAt: time.Now()}
+		rep.Stored = &model.ItemArtwork{AttemptedAt: time.Now()}
 		Expect(formatExplain(rep)).To(ContainSubstring("absent"))
 	})
 
 	It("reports a failed walk as failed, not as unresolved", func() {
-		rep.resolveErr = errors.New("no such directory")
+		rep.ResolveErr = errors.New("no such directory")
 
 		out := formatExplain(rep)
 		Expect(out).To(ContainSubstring("resolution failed: no such directory"))
@@ -290,9 +200,9 @@ var _ = Describe("formatExplain", func() {
 
 	It("says a kind that does not walk a chain has no chain, without an empty table", func() {
 		conf.Server.CoverArtPriority = "cover.*, embedded"
-		rep.kind = model.KindPlaylistArtwork
-		rep.steps = nil
-		rep.agents = ""
+		rep.Kind = model.KindPlaylistArtwork
+		rep.Steps = nil
+		rep.Agents = ""
 
 		out := formatExplain(rep)
 		Expect(out).To(ContainSubstring("does not walk a priority chain"))
@@ -306,11 +216,11 @@ var _ = Describe("formatExplain", func() {
 
 	It("says disc artwork keeps no state instead of reporting it as unresolved state", func() {
 		conf.Server.DiscArtPriority = "cover.jpg, embedded"
-		rep = explainReport{
-			kind: model.KindDiscArtwork, id: "al-1:2", name: "OK Computer (disc 2)",
-			steps:  []artwork.TraceStep{{Candidate: "cover.jpg", Outcome: "hit", Detail: "/music/cover.jpg"}},
-			source: "folder",
-			walked: true,
+		rep = artwork.ExplainReport{
+			Kind: model.KindDiscArtwork, ID: "al-1:2", Name: "OK Computer (disc 2)",
+			Steps:  []artwork.TraceStep{{Candidate: "cover.jpg", Outcome: "hit", Detail: "/music/cover.jpg"}},
+			Source: "folder",
+			Walked: true,
 		}
 
 		out := formatExplain(rep)
@@ -325,15 +235,15 @@ var _ = Describe("formatExplain", func() {
 
 	Context("stored traces", func() {
 		BeforeEach(func() {
-			rep.walked = false
-			rep.steps = nil
+			rep.Walked = false
+			rep.Steps = nil
 		})
 
 		It("labels a recorded chain with when it was recorded, not as a walk done now", func() {
 			attempted := time.Date(2026, 8, 13, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
-			rep.stored = &model.ItemArtwork{Source: "folder", Hash: "abc", AttemptedAt: attempted}
-			rep.steps = []artwork.TraceStep{{Candidate: "artist.*", Outcome: "hit", Detail: "/music/artist.jpg"}}
-			rep.source = "folder"
+			rep.Stored = &model.ItemArtwork{Source: "folder", Hash: "abc", AttemptedAt: attempted}
+			rep.Steps = []artwork.TraceStep{{Candidate: "artist.*", Outcome: "hit", Detail: "/music/artist.jpg"}}
+			rep.Source = "folder"
 
 			out := formatExplain(rep)
 			Expect(out).To(ContainSubstring("Chain (recorded 2026-08-13T10:00:00Z)"))
@@ -350,7 +260,7 @@ var _ = Describe("formatExplain", func() {
 		})
 
 		It("distinguishes a row written before traces existed from one with an empty chain", func() {
-			rep.stored = &model.ItemArtwork{Source: "folder", Hash: "abc", AttemptedAt: time.Now()}
+			rep.Stored = &model.ItemArtwork{Source: "folder", Hash: "abc", AttemptedAt: time.Now()}
 
 			Expect(formatExplain(rep)).To(ContainSubstring("resolved before traces were recorded"))
 		})
@@ -358,7 +268,7 @@ var _ = Describe("formatExplain", func() {
 		It("does not call an absent row with an empty recorded chain a pre-tracing row", func() {
 			// An empty priority list records a real but empty chain and resolves absent; that is not a
 			// legacy row, so it must not be reported as resolved before tracing existed.
-			rep.stored = &model.ItemArtwork{Source: "", Hash: "", AttemptedAt: time.Now()}
+			rep.Stored = &model.ItemArtwork{Source: "", Hash: "", AttemptedAt: time.Now()}
 
 			out := formatExplain(rep)
 			Expect(out).ToNot(ContainSubstring("resolved before traces were recorded"))
@@ -367,9 +277,9 @@ var _ = Describe("formatExplain", func() {
 		})
 
 		It("prints why the last attempt failed and why it gave up", func() {
-			rep.queued = &model.ArtworkQueueItem{Priority: model.ArtworkPriorityScan, Attempts: 3,
+			rep.Queued = &model.ArtworkQueueItem{Priority: model.ArtworkPriorityScan, Attempts: 3,
 				Trace: `[{"c":"decode","o":"error","d":"bad header"}]`}
-			rep.stored = &model.ItemArtwork{Source: "folder", Hash: "abc", AttemptedAt: time.Now(),
+			rep.Stored = &model.ItemArtwork{Source: "folder", Hash: "abc", AttemptedAt: time.Now(),
 				LastFailure: `[{"c":"read","o":"error","d":"i/o timeout"}]`}
 
 			out := formatExplain(rep)
@@ -388,10 +298,10 @@ var _ = Describe("formatExplain", func() {
 
 	It("reports the setting that governs media file artwork", func() {
 		conf.Server.EnableMediaFileCoverArt = false
-		rep = explainReport{
-			kind: model.KindMediaFileArtwork, id: "mf-1", name: "Airbag",
-			walked: true,
-			steps: []artwork.TraceStep{
+		rep = artwork.ExplainReport{
+			Kind: model.KindMediaFileArtwork, ID: "mf-1", Name: "Airbag",
+			Walked: true,
+			Steps: []artwork.TraceStep{
 				{Candidate: "embedded", Outcome: "skipped", Detail: "EnableMediaFileCoverArt is off"},
 			},
 		}
@@ -404,25 +314,6 @@ var _ = Describe("formatExplain", func() {
 	})
 })
 
-var _ = Describe("explainConfig", func() {
-	BeforeEach(func() {
-		DeferCleanup(configtest.SetupConfig())
-		conf.Server.DiscArtPriority = "cover.jpg"
-		conf.Server.EnableMediaFileCoverArt = true
-	})
-
-	DescribeTable("names the setting that decides where a kind's artwork comes from",
-		func(kind model.Kind, setting, value string) {
-			gotSetting, gotValue := explainConfig(kind)
-			Expect(gotSetting).To(Equal(setting))
-			Expect(gotValue).To(Equal(value))
-		},
-		Entry("disc", model.KindDiscArtwork, "DiscArtPriority", "cover.jpg"),
-		Entry("media file", model.KindMediaFileArtwork, "EnableMediaFileCoverArt", "true"),
-		Entry("playlist has none", model.KindPlaylistArtwork, "", ""),
-	)
-})
-
 var _ = Describe("artwork refresh command", func() {
 	It("requires at least one argument", func() {
 		Expect(artworkRefreshCmd.Args(artworkRefreshCmd, []string{})).To(HaveOccurred())
@@ -495,8 +386,8 @@ var _ = Describe("explain/reprocess source round trip", func() {
 		Expect(art.PutItemArtwork(&model.ItemArtwork{ItemKind: model.KindArtistArtwork.Prefix(),
 			ItemID: "ar-1", ImageType: model.ImageTypePrimary})).To(Succeed())
 
-		shown := storedSource(formatExplain(explainReport{kind: model.KindArtistArtwork, id: "ar-1",
-			stored: &model.ItemArtwork{AttemptedAt: time.Now()}}))
+		shown := storedSource(formatExplain(artwork.ExplainReport{Kind: model.KindArtistArtwork, ID: "ar-1",
+			Stored: &model.ItemArtwork{AttemptedAt: time.Now()}}))
 
 		q := ds.ArtworkQueue(ctx)
 		Expect(validateSources(q, repositorySources([]string{shown}))).To(Succeed(),
@@ -1059,7 +950,7 @@ var _ = Describe("parseArtworkPriority", func() {
 	It("accepts every name status prints", func() {
 		for _, p := range []int{model.ArtworkPriorityRecheck, model.ArtworkPriorityBackfill,
 			model.ArtworkPriorityScan, model.ArtworkPriorityBump} {
-			Expect(parseArtworkPriority(priorityName(p))).To(Equal(p))
+			Expect(parseArtworkPriority(artwork.PriorityName(p))).To(Equal(p))
 		}
 	})
 

cmd/wire_gen.go

@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func CreateNativeAPIRouter(ctx context.Context) *nativeapi.Router {
 	agentsAgents := agents.GetAgents(dataStore, manager)
 	matcherMatcher := matcher.New(dataStore)
 	provider := external.NewProvider(dataStore, agentsAgents, matcherMatcher, broker)
-	router := nativeapi.New(dataStore, share, playlistsPlaylists, insights, library, user, maintenance, manager, uploader, provider)
+	router := nativeapi.New(dataStore, share, playlistsPlaylists, insights, library, user, maintenance, manager, uploader, provider, agentsAgents)
 	return router
 }
 

core/artwork/explain.go

@@ -0,0 +1,215 @@
+package artwork
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"slices"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/agents"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/utils/slice"
+)
+
+// Result states the verdict of the walk. A skipped or failed external tier, or a local candidate
+// that would not open, leaves the outcome unknown: nothing observed that there is no artwork.
+func Result(source string, steps []TraceStep) string {
+	if source != "" {
+		for _, s := range steps {
+			if s.Outcome == OutcomeHit {
+				break
+			}
+			// An external winner discards the earlier error, so the resolver settles it with no retry.
+			if s.Outcome == OutcomeError && strings.HasPrefix(s.Candidate, ExternalPrefix) &&
+				!strings.HasPrefix(source, ExternalPrefix) {
+				return "resolved from " + source +
+					" (indeterminate: a higher-priority external lookup failed; this may resolve differently on a retry)"
+			}
+		}
+		return "resolved from " + source
+	}
+	for _, s := range steps {
+		switch {
+		case s.Outcome == OutcomeError && strings.HasPrefix(s.Candidate, ExternalPrefix):
+			return "indeterminate (an external lookup failed; the item may resolve on a later attempt)"
+		case s.Outcome == OutcomeError, s.Outcome == OutcomeUnreadable:
+			return "indeterminate (a candidate was found but could not be processed; the worker retries rather than settling absent)"
+		}
+	}
+	return "not resolved"
+}
+
+// ConfigFor names the setting that decides where a kind's artwork comes from, and its value.
+func ConfigFor(kind model.Kind) (setting, value string) {
+	switch kind {
+	case model.KindArtistArtwork:
+		return "ArtistArtPriority", conf.Server.ArtistArtPriority
+	case model.KindAlbumArtwork:
+		return "CoverArtPriority", conf.Server.CoverArtPriority
+	case model.KindDiscArtwork:
+		return "DiscArtPriority", conf.Server.DiscArtPriority
+	case model.KindMediaFileArtwork:
+		return "EnableMediaFileCoverArt", strconv.FormatBool(conf.Server.EnableMediaFileCoverArt)
+	}
+	return "", ""
+}
+
+// ImageAgentNames names the agents that can actually supply an image for kind.
+func ImageAgentNames(ag *agents.Agents, kind model.Kind) []string {
+	if kind == model.KindArtistArtwork {
+		return slice.Map(ag.ArtistImageAgents(), func(a agents.ArtistImageAgent) string { return a.Name })
+	}
+	return slice.Map(ag.AlbumImageAgents(), func(a agents.AlbumImageAgent) string { return a.Name })
+}
+
+// FormatAgents accounts for every configured agent: one that cannot be constructed never reaches
+// the chain, so the raw list alone overstates it. Those are starred, and the bool lets each
+// caller word its own legend.
+func FormatAgents(configured string, available []string) (string, bool) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(configured) == "" {
+		return "(none)", false
+	}
+	var unavailable bool
+	names := slice.Map(strings.Split(configured, ","), func(name string) string {
+		name = strings.TrimSpace(name)
+		if slices.Contains(available, name) {
+			return name
+		}
+		unavailable = true
+		return name + "*"
+	})
+	return strings.Join(names, ", "), unavailable
+}
+
+// ExplainOptions configures a single explain. The zero value reads history and never
+// touches the network.
+type ExplainOptions struct {
+	// Walk builds a resolver that records into the trace; nil reads the recorded trace instead.
+	Walk func(*ChainTrace) *TracingResolver
+}
+
+// ExplainReport is everything known about how one item's artwork resolved.
+type ExplainReport struct {
+	Kind   model.Kind
+	ID     string
+	Name   string
+	Stored *model.ItemArtwork
+	Queued *model.ArtworkQueueItem
+	Steps  []TraceStep
+	Source string
+	Agents string
+	// AgentsIncomplete reports that some configured agent is starred in Agents.
+	AgentsIncomplete bool
+	Walked           bool
+	ResolveErr       error
+}
+
+// Explain gathers everything known about how kind/id's artwork resolved: stored state, the
+// queue row, and either the recorded trace or a fresh walk, depending on opts.Walk.
+func Explain(ctx context.Context, ds model.DataStore, ag *agents.Agents, kind model.Kind, id string,
+	opts ExplainOptions) (ExplainReport, error) {
+	name, err := ItemName(ctx, ds, kind, id)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ExplainReport{}, err
+	}
+	rep := ExplainReport{Kind: kind, ID: id, Name: name}
+
+	if KeepsState(kind) {
+		rep.Stored, err = ds.Artwork(ctx).GetItemArtwork(kind, id, model.ImageTypePrimary)
+		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, model.ErrNotFound) {
+			return ExplainReport{}, fmt.Errorf("reading artwork state: %w", err)
+		}
+		rep.Queued, err = ds.ArtworkQueue(ctx).Get(kind, id, model.ImageTypePrimary)
+		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, model.ErrNotFound) {
+			return ExplainReport{}, fmt.Errorf("reading the artwork queue: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	// Set even for a kind the chain never walks, so a caller that asked to walk (e.g. --live on a
+	// playlist) is reported as having tried.
+	rep.Walked = opts.Walk != nil
+	if !Explainable(kind) {
+		return rep, nil
+	}
+	if ag != nil && (kind == model.KindArtistArtwork || kind == model.KindAlbumArtwork) {
+		rep.Agents, rep.AgentsIncomplete = FormatAgents(conf.Server.Agents, ImageAgentNames(ag, kind))
+	}
+
+	switch {
+	case rep.Walked:
+		trace := &ChainTrace{}
+		rep.Source, rep.ResolveErr = opts.Walk(trace).Resolve(ctx, kind, id)
+		rep.Steps = trace.Steps()
+	case rep.Stored != nil:
+		rep.Steps = DecodeTrace(rep.Stored.Trace, rep.Stored.SourcePath)
+		rep.Source = rep.Stored.Source
+	}
+	return rep, nil
+}
+
+// Result reports this report's verdict; see the package-level Result for the rules.
+func (r ExplainReport) Result() string { return Result(r.Source, r.Steps) }
+
+// ChainOrigin says whether the report reads history or a walk performed just now, since the two
+// can disagree after a config change.
+func (r ExplainReport) ChainOrigin() string {
+	if r.Walked {
+		return "walked now"
+	}
+	if r.Stored != nil {
+		return "recorded " + FormatTime(r.Stored.AttemptedAt)
+	}
+	return "not recorded"
+}
+
+// FormatTime renders a timestamp for the report: a zero time reads as unset, not as year 1.
+func FormatTime(t time.Time) string {
+	if t.IsZero() {
+		return "-"
+	}
+	return t.Format(time.RFC3339)
+}
+
+// LastAttemptFailed decodes why the queued row's last attempt failed, if there is one queued.
+func (r ExplainReport) LastAttemptFailed() []TraceStep {
+	if r.Queued == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return DecodeTrace(r.Queued.Trace, "")
+}
+
+// GaveUpAfter decodes the trace of the attempt that exhausted the retry budget, if the stored
+// state recorded one.
+func (r ExplainReport) GaveUpAfter() []TraceStep {
+	if r.Stored == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return DecodeTrace(r.Stored.LastFailure, "")
+}
+
+// Priority names one of the queue's fixed priority levels.
+type Priority struct {
+	Name  string
+	Value int
+}
+
+// KnownPriorities is the one listing behind both the name and the parse, so they cannot drift.
+var KnownPriorities = []Priority{
+	{"bump", model.ArtworkPriorityBump},
+	{"scan", model.ArtworkPriorityScan},
+	{"recheck", model.ArtworkPriorityRecheck},
+	{"backfill", model.ArtworkPriorityBackfill},
+}
+
+// PriorityName falls back to the number: a row written by a newer version still has to print.
+func PriorityName(p int) string {
+	for _, ap := range KnownPriorities {
+		if ap.Value == p {
+			return ap.Name
+		}
+	}
+	return strconv.Itoa(p)
+}

core/artwork/explain_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,213 @@
+package artwork_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf/configtest"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/artwork"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/tests"
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+)
+
+var _ = Describe("Result", func() {
+	It("reports the source when one was found", func() {
+		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{{Candidate: "cover.*", Outcome: artwork.OutcomeHit}}
+		Expect(artwork.Result("folder", steps)).To(Equal("resolved from folder"))
+	})
+
+	It("flags a local win that a failed external lookup could have outranked", func() {
+		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{
+			{Candidate: artwork.ExternalPrefix + "deezer", Outcome: artwork.OutcomeError, Detail: "timeout"},
+			{Candidate: "cover.*", Outcome: artwork.OutcomeHit},
+		}
+		Expect(artwork.Result("folder", steps)).To(ContainSubstring("indeterminate"))
+	})
+
+	It("does not flag an external winner", func() {
+		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{
+			{Candidate: artwork.ExternalPrefix + "lastfm", Outcome: artwork.OutcomeError},
+			{Candidate: artwork.ExternalPrefix + "deezer", Outcome: artwork.OutcomeHit},
+		}
+		Expect(artwork.Result(artwork.ExternalPrefix+"deezer", steps)).
+			To(Equal("resolved from external:deezer"))
+	})
+
+	It("is indeterminate when an external lookup failed and nothing resolved", func() {
+		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{{Candidate: artwork.ExternalPrefix + "deezer", Outcome: artwork.OutcomeError}}
+		Expect(artwork.Result("", steps)).To(ContainSubstring("an external lookup failed"))
+	})
+
+	It("is indeterminate when a candidate could not be processed", func() {
+		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{{Candidate: "cover.*", Outcome: artwork.OutcomeUnreadable}}
+		Expect(artwork.Result("", steps)).To(ContainSubstring("could not be processed"))
+	})
+
+	It("reports a clean miss", func() {
+		steps := []artwork.TraceStep{{Candidate: "cover.*", Outcome: artwork.OutcomeMiss}}
+		Expect(artwork.Result("", steps)).To(Equal("not resolved"))
+	})
+})
+
+var _ = Describe("ConfigFor", func() {
+	BeforeEach(func() {
+		DeferCleanup(configtest.SetupConfig())
+		conf.Server.ArtistArtPriority = "external"
+	})
+
+	It("names the setting for a kind that has one", func() {
+		setting, value := artwork.ConfigFor(model.KindArtistArtwork)
+		Expect(setting).To(Equal("ArtistArtPriority"))
+		Expect(value).To(Equal("external"))
+	})
+
+	It("names the setting for the album kind", func() {
+		conf.Server.CoverArtPriority = "cover.*, embedded"
+		setting, value := artwork.ConfigFor(model.KindAlbumArtwork)
+		Expect(setting).To(Equal("CoverArtPriority"))
+		Expect(value).To(Equal("cover.*, embedded"))
+	})
+
+	It("returns nothing for a kind with no source configuration", func() {
+		setting, _ := artwork.ConfigFor(model.KindPlaylistArtwork)
+		Expect(setting).To(BeEmpty())
+	})
+})
+
+var _ = Describe("FormatAgents", func() {
+	It("reports none when nothing is configured", func() {
+		line, incomplete := artwork.FormatAgents("  ", nil)
+		Expect(line).To(Equal("(none)"))
+		Expect(incomplete).To(BeFalse())
+	})
+
+	It("keeps the configured order and marks what is unavailable", func() {
+		got, incomplete := artwork.FormatAgents("spotify, lastfm", []string{"lastfm"})
+		Expect(incomplete).To(BeTrue())
+		Expect(got).To(Equal("spotify*, lastfm"))
+	})
+
+	It("reports complete when every configured agent is available", func() {
+		line, incomplete := artwork.FormatAgents("lastfm", []string{"lastfm"})
+		Expect(line).To(Equal("lastfm"))
+		Expect(incomplete).To(BeFalse())
+	})
+})
+
+var _ = Describe("PriorityName", func() {
+	It("names a known priority", func() {
+		Expect(artwork.PriorityName(model.ArtworkPriorityScan)).To(Equal("scan"))
+	})
+
+	It("falls back to the number for an unknown priority", func() {
+		Expect(artwork.PriorityName(999)).To(Equal("999"))
+	})
+})
+
+var _ = Describe("Explain", func() {
+	var ds *tests.MockDataStore
+	var artRepo *tests.MockArtworkRepo
+	var queueRepo *tests.MockArtworkQueueRepo
+	var ctx context.Context
+
+	BeforeEach(func() {
+		ctx = context.Background()
+		artRepo = tests.CreateMockArtworkRepo()
+		queueRepo = tests.CreateMockArtworkQueueRepo()
+		ds = &tests.MockDataStore{MockedArtwork: artRepo, MockedArtworkQueue: queueRepo}
+		Expect(ds.Artist(ctx).Put(&model.Artist{ID: "ar-1", Name: "Radiohead"})).To(Succeed())
+	})
+
+	It("returns an error when the item does not exist", func() {
+		_, err := artwork.Explain(ctx, ds, nil, model.KindArtistArtwork, "nope", artwork.ExplainOptions{})
+		Expect(err).To(MatchError(model.ErrNotFound))
+	})
+
+	It("reads the recorded trace when no walker is supplied", func() {
+		// Storage shape mirrors storedStep in trace.go: c=candidate, o=outcome, d=detail.
+		trace := `[{"c":"external:deezer","o":"hit","d":"https://cdn/x.jpg"}]`
+		Expect(artRepo.PutItemArtwork(&model.ItemArtwork{
+			ItemKind: model.KindArtistArtwork.Prefix(), ItemID: "ar-1", ImageType: model.ImageTypePrimary,
+			Hash: "abc", Source: "external:deezer",
+			Trace:       trace,
+			AttemptedAt: time.Date(2026, 9, 1, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC),
+		})).To(Succeed())
+
+		rep, err := artwork.Explain(ctx, ds, nil, model.KindArtistArtwork, "ar-1", artwork.ExplainOptions{})
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(rep.Name).To(Equal("Radiohead"))
+		Expect(rep.Walked).To(BeFalse())
+		Expect(rep.Steps).To(Equal([]artwork.TraceStep{
+			{Candidate: "external:deezer", Outcome: artwork.OutcomeHit, Detail: "https://cdn/x.jpg"},
+		}))
+		Expect(rep.Source).To(Equal("external:deezer"))
+		Expect(rep.Result()).To(Equal("resolved from external:deezer"))
+		Expect(rep.ChainOrigin()).To(ContainSubstring("recorded"))
+	})
+
+	It("renders a zero attempted-at as unset, not as year 1", func() {
+		rep := artwork.ExplainReport{Stored: &model.ItemArtwork{Source: "folder"}}
+		Expect(rep.ChainOrigin()).To(Equal("recorded -"))
+	})
+
+	It("reports nothing recorded when there is no stored state", func() {
+		rep, err := artwork.Explain(ctx, ds, nil, model.KindArtistArtwork, "ar-1", artwork.ExplainOptions{})
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(rep.Stored).To(BeNil())
+		Expect(rep.Steps).To(BeEmpty())
+		Expect(rep.ChainOrigin()).To(Equal("not recorded"))
+	})
+
+	It("includes the queue row and its failure trace", func() {
+		failure := `[{"c":"external:lastfm","o":"error","d":"429"}]`
+		Expect(queueRepo.Enqueue(model.ArtworkQueueItem{
+			ItemKind: model.KindArtistArtwork.Prefix(), ItemID: "ar-1", ImageType: model.ImageTypePrimary,
+			Priority: model.ArtworkPriorityScan,
+		})).To(Succeed())
+		queueRepo.SetTrace(model.KindArtistArtwork, "ar-1", model.ImageTypePrimary, failure)
+
+		rep, err := artwork.Explain(ctx, ds, nil, model.KindArtistArtwork, "ar-1", artwork.ExplainOptions{})
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(rep.Queued).ToNot(BeNil())
+		Expect(rep.Queued.Priority).To(Equal(model.ArtworkPriorityScan))
+		Expect(rep.LastAttemptFailed()).To(Equal([]artwork.TraceStep{
+			{Candidate: "external:lastfm", Outcome: artwork.OutcomeError, Detail: "429"},
+		}))
+	})
+
+	It("records nothing for a kind that keeps no state and has no walker", func() {
+		Expect(ds.Album(ctx).Put(&model.Album{ID: "al-1", Name: "OK Computer"})).To(Succeed())
+
+		rep, err := artwork.Explain(ctx, ds, nil, model.KindDiscArtwork, "al-1:2", artwork.ExplainOptions{})
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(rep.Stored).To(BeNil())
+		Expect(rep.Steps).To(BeEmpty())
+	})
+
+	It("performs a fresh walk and reports its outcome, including a failed one, when a walker is supplied", func() {
+		// GetAll erroring mid-walk is a deterministic way to force ResolveErr without a real library.
+		ds.Album(ctx).(*tests.MockAlbumRepo).SetError(true)
+		opts := artwork.ExplainOptions{Walk: func(t *artwork.ChainTrace) *artwork.TracingResolver {
+			return artwork.NewTracingResolver(ds, nil, nil, t, false)
+		}}
+
+		rep, err := artwork.Explain(ctx, ds, nil, model.KindArtistArtwork, "ar-1", opts)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(rep.Walked).To(BeTrue())
+		Expect(rep.ResolveErr).To(HaveOccurred())
+	})
+
+	It("still reports Walked for a kind with no chain to walk, when a walker is supplied", func() {
+		Expect(ds.Playlist(ctx).Put(&model.Playlist{ID: "pl-1", Name: "Favorites"})).To(Succeed())
+		opts := artwork.ExplainOptions{Walk: func(*artwork.ChainTrace) *artwork.TracingResolver {
+			panic("a kind that cannot walk must never be handed to the walker")
+		}}
+
+		rep, err := artwork.Explain(ctx, ds, nil, model.KindPlaylistArtwork, "pl-1", opts)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(rep.Walked).To(BeTrue())
+	})
+})

core/artwork/housekeeping.go

@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ var ReprocessKinds = []model.Kind{
 // artwork is read through on every request and cached by content key, so it has neither.
 func KeepsState(kind model.Kind) bool { return kind != model.KindDiscArtwork }
 
+// ExplainKinds is every kind Explain accepts: it reports stored state and config too, so a kind
+// with no chain to walk still has something to answer with.
+var ExplainKinds = []model.Kind{
+	model.KindArtistArtwork, model.KindAlbumArtwork, model.KindDiscArtwork,
+	model.KindMediaFileArtwork, model.KindPlaylistArtwork, model.KindRadioArtwork,
+}
+
 // RefreshableKinds is every kind Refresh can clear and re-queue, so it holds exactly the kinds
 // KeepsState admits. Media files are absent from ReprocessKinds but belong here: the worker
 // resolves them, it just never enumerates them in bulk.

reflex.conf

@@ -1 +1 @@
--s -r "(\.go$$|\.cpp$$|\.h$$|navidrome.toml|resources|token_received.html)" -R "(^ui|^data|^db/migrations)" -R "_test\.go$$" -R "^\.worktrees" -- go run -race -tags netgo,sqlite_fts5 .
+-s -r "(\.go$$|\.cpp$$|\.h$$|navidrome.toml|resources|token_received.html)" -R "(^ui|^data|^db/migrations)" -R "_test\.go$$" -- go run -race -tags netgo,sqlite_fts5 .

server/jellyfin/images.go

@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ func imageSize(maxWidth, maxHeight int) int {
 }
 
 func (api *Router) getItemImage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	// Public, like Jellyfin's own image routes: clients build cover URLs without credentials, and
-	// upstream resolves them with no visibility check either (LibraryManager.ItemIsVisible, null user).
+	// Public endpoint, like real Jellyfin's image routes: clients fetch cover URLs without credentials
+	// and item ids are unguessable, so resolution runs elevated to bypass the visibility filter.
 	ctx := request.WithUser(r.Context(), model.User{IsAdmin: true})
 	itemId, ok := itemIDParam(w, r, "itemId")
 	if !ok {

server/nativeapi/artwork_explain.go

@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+package nativeapi
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+	"slices"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/artwork"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/log"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
+)
+
+type traceStepDTO struct {
+	Candidate string `json:"candidate"`
+	Outcome   string `json:"outcome"`
+	Detail    string `json:"detail,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type storedDTO struct {
+	Source      string `json:"source"`
+	SourcePath  string `json:"sourcePath,omitempty"`
+	AttemptedAt string `json:"attemptedAt,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type queuedDTO struct {
+	PriorityName string `json:"priorityName"`
+	Attempts     int    `json:"attempts"`
+	RetryAt      string `json:"retryAt,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type configDTO struct {
+	Setting string `json:"setting"`
+	Value   string `json:"value"`
+}
+
+type explainDTO struct {
+	Name              string         `json:"name"`
+	Result            string         `json:"result"`
+	Steps             []traceStepDTO `json:"steps"`
+	Stored            *storedDTO     `json:"stored,omitempty"`
+	Queued            *queuedDTO     `json:"queued,omitempty"`
+	LastAttemptFailed []traceStepDTO `json:"lastAttemptFailed,omitempty"`
+	GaveUpAfter       []traceStepDTO `json:"gaveUpAfter,omitempty"`
+	Config            *configDTO     `json:"config,omitempty"`
+	Agents            string         `json:"agents,omitempty"`
+	AgentsIncomplete  bool           `json:"agentsIncomplete,omitempty"`
+}
+
+func (api *Router) addArtworkExplainRoute(r chi.Router) {
+	r.Get("/artwork/explain", api.explainArtwork())
+}
+
+func (api *Router) explainArtwork() http.HandlerFunc {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		ctx := r.Context()
+		kind, ok := model.ParseKind(r.URL.Query().Get("kind"))
+		if !ok || !slices.Contains(artwork.ExplainKinds, kind) {
+			http.Error(w, "invalid artwork kind", http.StatusBadRequest)
+			return
+		}
+		id := r.URL.Query().Get("id")
+
+		// No Walk: the endpoint reports history only, so it can never reach the network.
+		rep, err := artwork.Explain(ctx, api.ds, api.agents, kind, id, artwork.ExplainOptions{})
+		if err != nil {
+			if errors.Is(err, model.ErrNotFound) {
+				http.Error(w, http.StatusText(http.StatusNotFound), http.StatusNotFound)
+				return
+			}
+			log.Error(ctx, "Error explaining artwork", "kind", kind, "id", id, err)
+			http.Error(w, http.StatusText(http.StatusInternalServerError), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+			return
+		}
+
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		if err := json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(toExplainDTO(rep)); err != nil {
+			log.Error(ctx, "Error encoding artwork explain response", "kind", kind, "id", id, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func rfc3339(t time.Time) string {
+	if t.IsZero() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return t.Format(time.RFC3339)
+}
+
+func toStepDTOs(steps []artwork.TraceStep) []traceStepDTO {
+	// Never nil: the UI maps over this unconditionally.
+	out := make([]traceStepDTO, 0, len(steps))
+	for _, s := range steps {
+		out = append(out, traceStepDTO{Candidate: s.Candidate, Outcome: string(s.Outcome), Detail: s.Detail})
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func toExplainDTO(rep artwork.ExplainReport) explainDTO {
+	dto := explainDTO{
+		Name:             rep.Name,
+		Result:           rep.Result(),
+		Steps:            toStepDTOs(rep.Steps),
+		Agents:           rep.Agents,
+		AgentsIncomplete: rep.AgentsIncomplete,
+	}
+	if rep.Stored != nil {
+		dto.Stored = &storedDTO{
+			Source:      rep.Stored.Source,
+			SourcePath:  rep.Stored.SourcePath,
+			AttemptedAt: rfc3339(rep.Stored.AttemptedAt),
+		}
+	}
+	if rep.Queued != nil {
+		dto.Queued = &queuedDTO{
+			PriorityName: artwork.PriorityName(rep.Queued.Priority),
+			Attempts:     rep.Queued.Attempts,
+			RetryAt:      rfc3339(rep.Queued.RetryAt),
+		}
+	}
+	if steps := rep.LastAttemptFailed(); len(steps) > 0 {
+		dto.LastAttemptFailed = toStepDTOs(steps)
+	}
+	if steps := rep.GaveUpAfter(); len(steps) > 0 {
+		dto.GaveUpAfter = toStepDTOs(steps)
+	}
+	if setting, value := artwork.ConfigFor(rep.Kind); setting != "" {
+		dto.Config = &configDTO{Setting: setting, Value: value}
+	}
+	return dto
+}

server/nativeapi/artwork_explain_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+package nativeapi
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf/configtest"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/auth"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/server"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/tests"
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+)
+
+var _ = Describe("GET /artwork/explain", func() {
+	var router http.Handler
+	var ds *tests.MockDataStore
+	var artRepo *tests.MockArtworkRepo
+	var queueRepo *tests.MockArtworkQueueRepo
+	var adminToken, userToken string
+
+	BeforeEach(func() {
+		DeferCleanup(configtest.SetupConfig())
+		conf.Server.EnableSharing = false
+		conf.Server.ArtistArtPriority = "external"
+		artRepo = tests.CreateMockArtworkRepo()
+		queueRepo = tests.CreateMockArtworkQueueRepo()
+		ds = &tests.MockDataStore{MockedArtwork: artRepo, MockedArtworkQueue: queueRepo}
+		Expect(ds.Artist(context.Background()).Put(&model.Artist{ID: "ar-1", Name: "Radiohead"})).To(Succeed())
+		auth.Init(ds)
+
+		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil)
+		router = server.JWTVerifier(nativeRouter)
+
+		adminUser := model.User{ID: "admin-1", UserName: "admin", IsAdmin: true, NewPassword: "adminpass"}
+		regularUser := model.User{ID: "user-1", UserName: "regular", IsAdmin: false, NewPassword: "userpass"}
+		Expect(ds.User(context.Background()).Put(&adminUser)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(ds.User(context.Background()).Put(&regularUser)).To(Succeed())
+
+		var err error
+		adminToken, err = auth.CreateToken(&adminUser)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		userToken, err = auth.CreateToken(&regularUser)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+	})
+
+	It("returns 403 for a non-admin", func() {
+		req := createAuthenticatedRequest("GET", "/artwork/explain?kind=ar&id=ar-1", nil, userToken)
+		w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		router.ServeHTTP(w, req)
+		Expect(w.Code).To(Equal(http.StatusForbidden))
+	})
+
+	It("returns 400 for an unknown kind", func() {
+		req := createAuthenticatedRequest("GET", "/artwork/explain?kind=zz&id=ar-1", nil, adminToken)
+		w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		router.ServeHTTP(w, req)
+		Expect(w.Code).To(Equal(http.StatusBadRequest))
+	})
+
+	It("returns 404 for an unknown id", func() {
+		req := createAuthenticatedRequest("GET", "/artwork/explain?kind=ar&id=missing", nil, adminToken)
+		w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		router.ServeHTTP(w, req)
+		Expect(w.Code).To(Equal(http.StatusNotFound))
+	})
+
+	It("returns the report for an admin", func() {
+		// Storage shape from core/artwork/trace.go's storedStep: single-letter keys, "d" optional.
+		trace := `[{"c":"external:deezer","o":"hit","d":"https://cdn/x.jpg"}]`
+		gaveUpTrace := `[{"c":"external:deezer","o":"error","d":"connection reset"}]`
+		attemptedAt := time.Date(2026, 9, 1, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+		Expect(artRepo.PutItemArtwork(&model.ItemArtwork{
+			ItemKind: model.KindArtistArtwork.Prefix(), ItemID: "ar-1", ImageType: model.ImageTypePrimary,
+			Hash: "abc", Source: "external:deezer", SourcePath: "/music/Radiohead/folder.jpg", Trace: trace,
+			LastFailure: gaveUpTrace, AttemptedAt: attemptedAt,
+		})).To(Succeed())
+
+		req := createAuthenticatedRequest("GET", "/artwork/explain?kind=ar&id=ar-1", nil, adminToken)
+		w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		router.ServeHTTP(w, req)
+		Expect(w.Code).To(Equal(http.StatusOK))
+
+		var got map[string]any
+		Expect(json.Unmarshal(w.Body.Bytes(), &got)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(got["name"]).To(Equal("Radiohead"))
+		Expect(got["result"]).To(Equal("resolved from external:deezer"))
+		Expect(got["config"]).To(HaveKeyWithValue("setting", "ArtistArtPriority"))
+
+		Expect(got["stored"]).To(Equal(map[string]any{
+			"source":      "external:deezer",
+			"sourcePath":  "/music/Radiohead/folder.jpg",
+			"attemptedAt": attemptedAt.Format(time.RFC3339),
+		}))
+		Expect(got["steps"]).To(Equal([]any{
+			map[string]any{"candidate": "external:deezer", "outcome": "hit", "detail": "https://cdn/x.jpg"},
+		}))
+		Expect(got["gaveUpAfter"]).To(Equal([]any{
+			map[string]any{"candidate": "external:deezer", "outcome": "error", "detail": "connection reset"},
+		}))
+	})
+
+	It("returns the queue state and the last-attempt trace", func() {
+		Expect(queueRepo.Enqueue(model.ArtworkQueueItem{
+			ItemKind: model.KindArtistArtwork.Prefix(), ItemID: "ar-1", ImageType: model.ImageTypePrimary,
+			Priority: model.ArtworkPriorityScan,
+		})).To(Succeed())
+		seen, err := queueRepo.Get(model.KindArtistArtwork, "ar-1", model.ImageTypePrimary)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+
+		retryAt := time.Date(2026, 9, 2, 8, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+		failTrace := `[{"c":"external:deezer","o":"error","d":"timeout"}]`
+		Expect(queueRepo.MarkFailedIfUnchanged(model.KindArtistArtwork.Prefix(), "ar-1", model.ImageTypePrimary,
+			seen.RetryAt, retryAt, failTrace)).To(Succeed())
+
+		req := createAuthenticatedRequest("GET", "/artwork/explain?kind=ar&id=ar-1", nil, adminToken)
+		w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		router.ServeHTTP(w, req)
+		Expect(w.Code).To(Equal(http.StatusOK))
+
+		var got map[string]any
+		Expect(json.Unmarshal(w.Body.Bytes(), &got)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(got["queued"]).To(Equal(map[string]any{
+			"priorityName": "scan",
+			"attempts":     float64(1),
+			"retryAt":      retryAt.Format(time.RFC3339),
+		}))
+		Expect(got["lastAttemptFailed"]).To(Equal([]any{
+			map[string]any{"candidate": "external:deezer", "outcome": "error", "detail": "timeout"},
+		}))
+	})
+
+	It("omits empty sections", func() {
+		req := createAuthenticatedRequest("GET", "/artwork/explain?kind=ar&id=ar-1", nil, adminToken)
+		w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		router.ServeHTTP(w, req)
+		Expect(w.Code).To(Equal(http.StatusOK))
+
+		var got map[string]any
+		Expect(json.Unmarshal(w.Body.Bytes(), &got)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(got).ToNot(HaveKey("stored"))
+		Expect(got).ToNot(HaveKey("queued"))
+		Expect(got).ToNot(HaveKey("lastAttemptFailed"))
+		Expect(got).ToNot(HaveKey("gaveUpAfter"))
+		Expect(got).ToNot(HaveKey("chainOrigin"))
+	})
+})

server/nativeapi/config_test.go

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Config API", func() {
 		conf.Server.DevUIShowConfig = true // Enable config endpoint for tests
 		ds = &tests.MockDataStore{}
 		auth.Init(ds)
-		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, nil, nil, nil)
+		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil)
 		router = server.JWTVerifier(nativeRouter)
 
 		// Create test users

server/nativeapi/library_test.go

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Library API", func() {
 		conf.Server.EnableSharing = false
 		ds = &tests.MockDataStore{}
 		auth.Init(ds)
-		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, nil, nil, nil)
+		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil)
 		router = server.JWTVerifier(nativeRouter)
 
 		// Create test users

server/nativeapi/metadata_test.go

@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Metadata API", func() {
 		}
 		auth.Init(ds)
 		provider = &fakeProvider{}
-		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, nil, nil, provider)
+		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, nil, nil, provider, nil)
 		router = server.JWTVerifier(nativeRouter)
 
 		adminUser := model.User{ID: "admin-1", UserName: "admin", IsAdmin: true, NewPassword: "adminpass"}

server/nativeapi/native_api.go

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5/middleware"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/agents"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/artwork"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/external"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/metrics"
@@ -48,10 +49,11 @@ type Router struct {
 	pluginManager PluginManager
 	imgUpload     artwork.Uploader
 	provider      external.Provider
+	agents        *agents.Agents
 }
 
-func New(ds model.DataStore, share core.Share, playlists playlistsvc.Playlists, insights metrics.Insights, libraryService core.Library, userService core.User, maintenance core.Maintenance, pluginManager PluginManager, imgUpload artwork.Uploader, provider external.Provider) *Router {
-	r := &Router{ds: ds, share: share, playlists: playlists, insights: insights, libs: libraryService, users: userService, maintenance: maintenance, pluginManager: pluginManager, imgUpload: imgUpload, provider: provider}
+func New(ds model.DataStore, share core.Share, playlists playlistsvc.Playlists, insights metrics.Insights, libraryService core.Library, userService core.User, maintenance core.Maintenance, pluginManager PluginManager, imgUpload artwork.Uploader, provider external.Provider, ag *agents.Agents) *Router {
+	r := &Router{ds: ds, share: share, playlists: playlists, insights: insights, libs: libraryService, users: userService, maintenance: maintenance, pluginManager: pluginManager, imgUpload: imgUpload, provider: provider, agents: ag}
 	r.Handler = r.routes()
 	return r
 }
@@ -95,6 +97,7 @@ func (api *Router) routes() http.Handler {
 			api.addUserLibraryRoute(r)
 			api.addPluginRoute(r)
 			api.addMetadataRoute(r)
+			api.addArtworkExplainRoute(r)
 			api.RX(r, "/library", api.libs.NewRepository, true)
 		})
 	})

server/nativeapi/native_api_song_test.go

@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Song Endpoints", func() {
 		mfRepo.SetData(testSongs)
 
 		// Create the native API router and wrap it with the JWTVerifier middleware
-		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, nil, nil, nil)
+		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil)
 		router = server.JWTVerifier(nativeRouter)
 		w = httptest.NewRecorder()
 	})

server/nativeapi/playlists_test.go

@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Playlist Tracks Endpoint", func() {
 		err := userRepo.Put(&testUser)
 		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 
-		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, plsSvc, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, nil, nil, nil)
+		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, plsSvc, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil)
 		router = server.JWTVerifier(nativeRouter)
 		w = httptest.NewRecorder()
 	})

server/nativeapi/plugin_test.go

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Plugin API", func() {
 		ds = &tests.MockDataStore{}
 		mockManager = &tests.MockPluginManager{}
 		auth.Init(ds)
-		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, mockManager, nil, nil)
+		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), tests.NewMockUserService(), nil, mockManager, nil, nil, nil)
 		router = server.JWTVerifier(nativeRouter)
 
 		// Create test users

server/nativeapi/user_password_token_refresh_test.go

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ var _ = Describe("PUT /user/{id}: token refresh on self password change", func()
 		auth.Init(ds)
 
 		userService := core.NewUser(ds, noopPluginUnloader{})
-		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), userService, nil, nil, nil, nil)
+		nativeRouter := New(ds, nil, nil, nil, tests.NewMockLibraryService(), userService, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil)
 		router = server.JWTVerifier(nativeRouter)
 	})
 

server/subsonic/e2e/subsonic_sharing_test.go

@@ -205,76 +205,3 @@ var _ = Describe("Sharing Cross-User Isolation", Ordered, func() {
 		Expect(check.Shares.Share[0].ID).To(Equal(shareID))
 	})
 })
-
-var _ = Describe("Sharing Downloadable Default", func() {
-	var albumID string
-
-	BeforeEach(func() {
-		conf.Server.EnableSharing = true
-		setupTestDB()
-		conf.Server.EnableDownloads = true
-		albumID = albumIDByName("Abbey Road")
-	})
-
-	createShare := func(params ...string) *model.Share {
-		GinkgoHelper()
-		resp := doReq("createShare", append([]string{"id", albumID}, params...)...)
-		Expect(resp.Status).To(Equal(responses.StatusOK))
-		Expect(resp.Shares.Share).To(HaveLen(1))
-		share, err := ds.Share(ctx).Get(resp.Shares.Share[0].ID)
-		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
-		return share
-	}
-
-	DescribeTable("createShare resolves downloadable",
-		func(defaultDownloadable, enableDownloads bool, params []string, expected bool) {
-			conf.Server.DefaultDownloadableShare = defaultDownloadable
-			conf.Server.EnableDownloads = enableDownloads
-
-			Expect(createShare(params...).Downloadable).To(Equal(expected))
-		},
-		Entry("applies the default when the param is absent", true, true, nil, true),
-		Entry("stays off when the default is off", false, true, nil, false),
-		Entry("ignores the default when downloads are disabled", true, false, nil, false),
-		Entry("honors an explicit false over the default", true, true, []string{"downloadable", "false"}, false),
-		Entry("honors an explicit true over the default", false, true, []string{"downloadable", "true"}, true),
-	)
-
-	It("updateShare keeps the current downloadable when the param is absent", func() {
-		conf.Server.DefaultDownloadableShare = true
-		share := createShare()
-		Expect(share.Downloadable).To(BeTrue())
-
-		resp := doReq("updateShare", "id", share.ID, "description", "Updated")
-		Expect(resp.Status).To(Equal(responses.StatusOK))
-
-		updated, err := ds.Share(ctx).Get(share.ID)
-		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
-		Expect(updated.Description).To(Equal("Updated"))
-		Expect(updated.Downloadable).To(BeTrue())
-	})
-
-	It("updateShare applies an explicit downloadable and keeps the description", func() {
-		conf.Server.DefaultDownloadableShare = true
-		share := createShare("description", "Keep me")
-
-		resp := doReq("updateShare", "id", share.ID, "downloadable", "false")
-		Expect(resp.Status).To(Equal(responses.StatusOK))
-
-		updated, err := ds.Share(ctx).Get(share.ID)
-		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
-		Expect(updated.Downloadable).To(BeFalse())
-		Expect(updated.Description).To(Equal("Keep me"))
-	})
-
-	It("updateShare clears the description when it is sent empty", func() {
-		share := createShare("description", "Clear me")
-
-		resp := doReq("updateShare", "id", share.ID, "description", "")
-		Expect(resp.Status).To(Equal(responses.StatusOK))
-
-		updated, err := ds.Share(ctx).Get(share.ID)
-		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
-		Expect(updated.Description).To(BeEmpty())
-	})
-})

server/subsonic/sharing.go

@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 package subsonic
 
 import (
-	"cmp"
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/deluan/rest"
-	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/server/public"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/server/subsonic/responses"
@@ -62,10 +60,9 @@ func (api *Router) CreateShare(r *http.Request) (*responses.Subsonic, error) {
 	description, _ := p.String("description")
 	repo := api.share.NewRepository(r.Context())
 	share := &model.Share{
-		Description:  description,
-		Downloadable: p.BoolOr("downloadable", conf.Server.DefaultDownloadableShare && conf.Server.EnableDownloads),
-		ExpiresAt:    new(p.TimeOr("expires", time.Time{})),
-		ResourceIDs:  strings.Join(ids, ","),
+		Description: description,
+		ExpiresAt:   new(p.TimeOr("expires", time.Time{})),
+		ResourceIDs: strings.Join(ids, ","),
 	}
 
 	id, err := repo.(rest.Persistable).Save(share)
@@ -90,27 +87,12 @@ func (api *Router) UpdateShare(r *http.Request) (*responses.Subsonic, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	description, _ := p.String("description")
 	repo := api.share.NewRepository(r.Context())
-
-	// The update always writes description and downloadable, so read back the
-	// stored value for whichever one the client omitted.
-	description := p.StringPtr("description")
-	downloadable := p.BoolPtr("downloadable")
-	if description == nil || downloadable == nil {
-		current, err := repo.Read(id)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		cur := current.(*model.Share)
-		description = cmp.Or(description, &cur.Description)
-		downloadable = cmp.Or(downloadable, &cur.Downloadable)
-	}
-
 	share := &model.Share{
-		ID:           id,
-		Description:  *description,
-		Downloadable: *downloadable,
-		ExpiresAt:    new(p.TimeOr("expires", time.Time{})),
+		ID:          id,
+		Description: description,
+		ExpiresAt:   new(p.TimeOr("expires", time.Time{})),
 	}
 
 	err = repo.(rest.Persistable).Update(id, share)

tests/mock_artwork_queue_repo.go

@@ -39,6 +39,18 @@ func (m *MockArtworkQueueRepo) Get(kind model.Kind, id, imageType string) (*mode
 	return &it, nil
 }
 
+// SetTrace stores a queue row's trace directly, bypassing the retry-token check
+// MarkFailedIfUnchanged enforces; tests use it to seed a failure trace outright.
+func (m *MockArtworkQueueRepo) SetTrace(kind model.Kind, id, imageType, trace string) {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	k := iaKey(kind.Prefix(), id, imageType)
+	if it, ok := m.Data[k]; ok {
+		it.Trace = trace
+		m.Data[k] = it
+	}
+}
+
 func (m *MockArtworkQueueRepo) Enqueue(items ...model.ArtworkQueueItem) error {
 	m.mu.Lock()
 	defer m.mu.Unlock()

ui/src/actions/dialogs.js

@@ -60,10 +60,11 @@ export const closeDuplicateSongDialog = () => ({
   type: DUPLICATE_SONG_WARNING_CLOSE,
 })
 
-export const openExtendedInfoDialog = (record) => {
+export const openExtendedInfoDialog = (record, resource) => {
   return {
     type: EXTENDED_INFO_OPEN,
     record,
+    resource,
   }
 }
 

ui/src/album/AlbumInfo.jsx

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 import { makeStyles } from '@material-ui/core/styles'
 import {
   ArtistLinkField,
+  ArtworkInfo,
   MultiLineTextField,
   ParticipantsInfo,
   RangeField,
@@ -139,6 +140,7 @@ const AlbumInfo = (props) => {
             )
           })}
           <ParticipantsInfo record={record} classes={classes} />
+          <ArtworkInfo resource="album" id={record.id} />
         </TableBody>
       </Table>
     </TableContainer>

ui/src/artist/ArtistInfo.jsx

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+import Table from '@material-ui/core/Table'
+import TableBody from '@material-ui/core/TableBody'
+import { humanize, underscore } from 'inflection'
+import TableCell from '@material-ui/core/TableCell'
+import TableContainer from '@material-ui/core/TableContainer'
+import TableRow from '@material-ui/core/TableRow'
+import {
+  DateField,
+  TextField,
+  useRecordContext,
+  useTranslate,
+} from 'react-admin'
+import { makeStyles } from '@material-ui/core/styles'
+import { ArtworkInfo, SizeField } from '../common'
+
+const useStyles = makeStyles({
+  tableCell: {
+    width: '17.5%',
+  },
+  value: {
+    whiteSpace: 'pre-line',
+  },
+})
+
+const ArtistInfo = (props) => {
+  const classes = useStyles()
+  const translate = useTranslate()
+  const record = useRecordContext(props)
+  const data = {
+    name: <TextField source={'name'} />,
+    sortArtistName: <TextField source={'sortArtistName'} />,
+    mbzArtistId: <TextField source={'mbzArtistId'} />,
+    albumCount: <TextField source={'albumCount'} />,
+    songCount: <TextField source={'songCount'} />,
+    size: <SizeField source={'size'} />,
+    playCount: <TextField source={'playCount'} />,
+    externalInfoUpdatedAt: (
+      <DateField source={'externalInfoUpdatedAt'} showTime />
+    ),
+    updatedAt: <DateField source={'updatedAt'} showTime />,
+  }
+
+  const optionalFields = [
+    'sortArtistName',
+    'mbzArtistId',
+    'externalInfoUpdatedAt',
+  ]
+  optionalFields.forEach((field) => {
+    !record[field] && delete data[field]
+  })
+
+  return (
+    <TableContainer>
+      <Table aria-label="artist details" size="small">
+        <TableBody>
+          {Object.keys(data).map((key) => {
+            return (
+              <TableRow key={`${record.id}-${key}`}>
+                <TableCell
+                  component="th"
+                  scope="row"
+                  className={classes.tableCell}
+                >
+                  {translate(`resources.artist.fields.${key}`, {
+                    _: humanize(underscore(key)),
+                  })}
+                  :
+                </TableCell>
+                <TableCell align="left" className={classes.value}>
+                  {data[key]}
+                </TableCell>
+              </TableRow>
+            )
+          })}
+          <ArtworkInfo resource="artist" id={record.id} />
+        </TableBody>
+      </Table>
+    </TableContainer>
+  )
+}
+
+export default ArtistInfo

ui/src/artist/ArtistInfo.test.jsx

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+import React from 'react'
+import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { RecordContextProvider } from 'react-admin'
+import ArtistInfo from './ArtistInfo'
+
+vi.mock('../common', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal()),
+  ArtworkInfo: () => (
+    <tr>
+      <td>artwork-section</td>
+    </tr>
+  ),
+}))
+
+const renderWith = (record) =>
+  render(
+    <RecordContextProvider value={record}>
+      <ArtistInfo />
+    </RecordContextProvider>,
+  )
+
+describe('<ArtistInfo />', () => {
+  it('renders the artist fields', () => {
+    renderWith({ id: 'ar-1', name: 'Radiohead', albumCount: 9, songCount: 120 })
+    expect(screen.getByText('Radiohead')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByText('9')).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it('drops optional fields that are empty', () => {
+    renderWith({ id: 'ar-1', name: 'Radiohead' })
+    expect(screen.queryByText(/MusicBrainz/i)).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('renders the artwork section', () => {
+    renderWith({ id: 'ar-1', name: 'Radiohead' })
+    expect(screen.getByText('artwork-section')).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+})

ui/src/artist/ArtistList.jsx

@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ import ArtistSimpleList from './ArtistSimpleList'
 import { DraggableTypes } from '../consts'
 import en from '../i18n/en.json'
 import { formatBytes } from '../utils/index.js'
+import ArtistInfo from './ArtistInfo'
+import ExpandInfoDialog from '../dialogs/ExpandInfoDialog'
 
 const useStyles = makeStyles({
   contextHeader: {
@@ -219,6 +221,7 @@ const ArtistList = (props) => {
       >
         <ArtistListView {...props} />
       </List>
+      <ExpandInfoDialog content={<ArtistInfo />} />
     </>
   )
 }

ui/src/artist/DesktopArtistDetails.jsx

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { LoveButton, RatingField, ImageUploadOverlay } from '../common'
 import Lightbox from 'react-image-lightbox'
 import ExpandInfoDialog from '../dialogs/ExpandInfoDialog'
 import AlbumInfo from '../album/AlbumInfo'
+import ArtistInfo from './ArtistInfo'
 import subsonic from '../subsonic'
 import { SafeHTML } from '../common/SafeHTML'
 import { Artwork } from '../common/Artwork'
@@ -160,7 +161,8 @@ const DesktopArtistDetails = ({ artistInfo, record, biography }) => {
           />
         )}
       </Card>
-      <ExpandInfoDialog content={<AlbumInfo />} />
+      <ExpandInfoDialog resource="album" content={<AlbumInfo />} />
+      <ExpandInfoDialog resource="artist" content={<ArtistInfo />} />
     </div>
   )
 }

ui/src/common/ArtworkInfo.jsx

@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types'
+import { Chip, Link, TableCell, TableRow } from '@material-ui/core'
+import { makeStyles } from '@material-ui/core/styles'
+import clsx from 'clsx'
+import { useDataProvider, usePermissions, useTranslate } from 'react-admin'
+import { DateField } from './DateField'
+
+const useStyles = makeStyles((theme) => ({
+  chip: { color: theme.palette.common.white, height: 20 },
+  hit: { backgroundColor: theme.palette.success.main },
+  error: { backgroundColor: theme.palette.error.main },
+  neutral: { backgroundColor: theme.palette.grey[500] },
+  toggle: { cursor: 'pointer' },
+}))
+
+const OUTCOME_CLASS = { hit: 'hit', error: 'error', unreadable: 'error' }
+
+const OutcomeChip = ({ outcome }) => {
+  const classes = useStyles()
+  return (
+    <Chip
+      size="small"
+      label={outcome}
+      className={clsx(
+        classes.chip,
+        classes[OUTCOME_CLASS[outcome] || 'neutral'],
+      )}
+    />
+  )
+}
+
+OutcomeChip.propTypes = {
+  outcome: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
+}
+
+const StepTable = ({ title, steps }) => {
+  if (!steps?.length) return null
+  return (
+    <>
+      <TableRow>
+        <TableCell colSpan={2}>
+          <strong>{title}</strong>
+        </TableCell>
+      </TableRow>
+      {steps.map((s, i) => (
+        <TableRow key={`${s.candidate}-${i}`}>
+          <TableCell>{s.candidate}</TableCell>
+          <TableCell>
+            <OutcomeChip outcome={s.outcome} /> {s.detail}
+          </TableCell>
+        </TableRow>
+      ))}
+    </>
+  )
+}
+
+StepTable.propTypes = {
+  title: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
+  steps: PropTypes.array,
+}
+
+const Row = ({ label, children }) => (
+  <TableRow>
+    <TableCell component="th" scope="row">
+      {label}:
+    </TableCell>
+    <TableCell align="left">{children}</TableCell>
+  </TableRow>
+)
+
+Row.propTypes = {
+  label: PropTypes.node.isRequired,
+  children: PropTypes.node,
+}
+
+export const ArtworkInfo = ({ resource, id }) => {
+  const classes = useStyles()
+  const translate = useTranslate()
+  const dataProvider = useDataProvider()
+  const { permissions } = usePermissions()
+  const [report, setReport] = useState(null)
+  const [expanded, setExpanded] = useState(false)
+  const isAdmin = permissions === 'admin'
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isAdmin) return undefined
+    let live = true
+    dataProvider
+      .explainArtwork(resource, id)
+      .then(({ data }) => live && setReport(data))
+      .catch(() => live && setReport(null))
+    return () => {
+      live = false
+    }
+  }, [dataProvider, resource, id, isAdmin])
+
+  if (!isAdmin || !report) return null
+
+  const recorded = !!report.stored
+  return (
+    <>
+      <TableRow>
+        <TableCell colSpan={2}>
+          <strong>{translate('artwork.title')}</strong>
+        </TableCell>
+      </TableRow>
+      <Row label={translate('artwork.result')}>{report.result}</Row>
+      {recorded ? (
+        <>
+          <Row label={translate('artwork.source')}>{report.stored?.source}</Row>
+          <Row label={translate('artwork.attemptedAt')}>
+            <DateField record={report.stored} source="attemptedAt" showTime />
+          </Row>
+        </>
+      ) : (
+        <Row label={translate('artwork.source')}>
+          {translate('artwork.notRecorded')}
+        </Row>
+      )}
+      <TableRow>
+        <TableCell colSpan={2}>
+          <Link
+            component="button"
+            className={classes.toggle}
+            onClick={() => setExpanded(!expanded)}
+          >
+            {translate(
+              expanded ? 'artwork.hideDetails' : 'artwork.showDetails',
+            )}
+          </Link>
+        </TableCell>
+      </TableRow>
+      {expanded && (
+        <>
+          <StepTable title={translate('artwork.chain')} steps={report.steps} />
+          <StepTable
+            title={translate('artwork.lastAttemptFailed')}
+            steps={report.lastAttemptFailed}
+          />
+          <StepTable
+            title={translate('artwork.gaveUpAfter')}
+            steps={report.gaveUpAfter}
+          />
+          {report.stored?.sourcePath && (
+            <Row label={translate('artwork.sourcePath')}>
+              {report.stored.sourcePath}
+            </Row>
+          )}
+          {report.queued && (
+            <>
+              <Row label={translate('artwork.priority')}>
+                {report.queued.priorityName}
+              </Row>
+              <Row label={translate('artwork.attempts')}>
+                {report.queued.attempts}
+              </Row>
+              <Row label={translate('artwork.retryAt')}>
+                <DateField record={report.queued} source="retryAt" showTime />
+              </Row>
+            </>
+          )}
+          {report.config && (
+            <Row label={report.config.setting}>{report.config.value}</Row>
+          )}
+          {report.agents && (
+            <Row label={translate('artwork.agents')}>
+              {report.agents}
+              {report.agentsIncomplete && (
+                <div>{translate('artwork.agentsIncomplete')}</div>
+              )}
+            </Row>
+          )}
+        </>
+      )}
+    </>
+  )
+}
+
+ArtworkInfo.propTypes = {
+  resource: PropTypes.oneOf(['album', 'artist']).isRequired,
+  id: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
+}

ui/src/common/ArtworkInfo.test.jsx

@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+import React from 'react'
+import { render, screen, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react'
+import userEvent from '@testing-library/user-event'
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from 'vitest'
+import { ArtworkInfo } from './ArtworkInfo'
+
+const explainArtwork = vi.fn()
+const { mockPermissions } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  mockPermissions: { value: 'admin' },
+}))
+
+vi.mock('react-admin', async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal()
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    useDataProvider: () => ({ explainArtwork }),
+    usePermissions: () => ({ permissions: mockPermissions.value }),
+    useTranslate: () => (key) => key,
+  }
+})
+
+const report = {
+  result: 'resolved from external:deezer',
+  chainOrigin: 'recorded 2026-09-01T10:00:00Z',
+  stored: {
+    source: 'external:deezer',
+    sourcePath: '/music/Radiohead/folder.jpg',
+    attemptedAt: '2026-09-01T10:00:00Z',
+  },
+  steps: [
+    { candidate: 'cover.*', outcome: 'miss' },
+    {
+      candidate: 'external:deezer',
+      outcome: 'hit',
+      detail: 'https://cdn/x.jpg',
+    },
+  ],
+  queued: { priority: 20, priorityName: 'scan', attempts: 1, retryAt: '' },
+  config: { setting: 'ArtistArtPriority', value: 'external' },
+}
+
+// ArtworkInfo renders bare TableRows to slot into the caller's TableBody, so it needs a
+// table/tbody ancestor or React logs DOM-nesting warnings.
+const renderInTable = (ui) =>
+  render(
+    <table>
+      <tbody>{ui}</tbody>
+    </table>,
+  )
+
+describe('<ArtworkInfo />', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mockPermissions.value = 'admin'
+    explainArtwork.mockReset()
+    explainArtwork.mockResolvedValue({ data: report })
+  })
+
+  it('renders nothing for a non-admin', () => {
+    mockPermissions.value = 'regular'
+    const { container } = renderInTable(
+      <ArtworkInfo resource="artist" id="ar-1" />,
+    )
+    expect(container.querySelector('tbody')).toBeEmptyDOMElement()
+    expect(explainArtwork).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('shows the summary for an admin', async () => {
+    renderInTable(<ArtworkInfo resource="artist" id="ar-1" />)
+    expect(
+      await screen.findByText('resolved from external:deezer'),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.queryByText('external:deezer')).not.toBeNull()
+    expect(screen.queryByText('cover.*')).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('reveals the step table when details are expanded', async () => {
+    renderInTable(<ArtworkInfo resource="artist" id="ar-1" />)
+    await screen.findByText('resolved from external:deezer')
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByText('artwork.showDetails'))
+    expect(screen.getByText('cover.*')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByText('ArtistArtPriority:')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByText('/music/Radiohead/folder.jpg')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByText('scan')).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it('shows the not-recorded state', async () => {
+    explainArtwork.mockResolvedValue({
+      data: { result: 'not resolved', chainOrigin: 'not recorded', steps: [] },
+    })
+    renderInTable(<ArtworkInfo resource="artist" id="ar-1" />)
+    expect(await screen.findByText('artwork.notRecorded')).toBeInTheDocument()
+
+    // stored/queued/config/agents are all omitted by the endpoint here, so the optional
+    // blocks' guards must not throw when expanded.
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByText('artwork.showDetails'))
+    expect(screen.queryByText('artwork.priority')).toBeNull()
+    expect(screen.queryByText('artwork.agents')).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('renders nothing when the fetch fails', async () => {
+    explainArtwork.mockRejectedValue(new Error('boom'))
+    const { container } = renderInTable(
+      <ArtworkInfo resource="artist" id="ar-1" />,
+    )
+    await waitFor(() => expect(explainArtwork).toHaveBeenCalled())
+    expect(container.querySelector('tbody')).toBeEmptyDOMElement()
+  })
+})

ui/src/common/ContextMenus.jsx

@@ -146,9 +146,9 @@ const ContextMenu = ({
     ...(!hideInfo && {
       info: {
         enabled: true,
-        needData: true,
+        needData: false,
         label: translate('resources.album.actions.info'),
-        action: () => dispatch(openExtendedInfoDialog(record)),
+        action: (record) => dispatch(openExtendedInfoDialog(record, resource)),
       },
     }),
   }
@@ -272,7 +272,6 @@ export const ArtistContextMenu = (props) =>
   props.record ? (
     <ContextMenu
       {...props}
-      hideInfo={true}
       resource={'artist'}
       songQueryParams={{
         pagination: { page: 1, perPage: 200 },

ui/src/common/ContextMenus.test.jsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { TestContext } from 'ra-test'
 import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from 'vitest'
 import { ThemeProvider, createTheme } from '@material-ui/core/styles'
 import { AlbumContextMenu, ArtistContextMenu } from './ContextMenus'
+import { EXTENDED_INFO_OPEN } from '../actions'
 
 const mockDispatch = vi.fn()
 vi.mock('react-redux', () => ({ useDispatch: () => mockDispatch }))
@@ -130,4 +131,28 @@ describe('ContextMenus', () => {
       expect(mockRefreshMetadata).toHaveBeenCalledWith('album', 'al1')
     })
   })
+
+  describe('info dialog', () => {
+    it('dispatches the record and resource when opening the info dialog', () => {
+      const record = { id: 'al1', name: 'Album', songCount: 1 }
+      renderMenu(AlbumContextMenu, record)
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('resources.album.actions.info'))
+      expect(mockDispatch).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        type: EXTENDED_INFO_OPEN,
+        record,
+        resource: 'album',
+      })
+    })
+
+    it('dispatches the record and resource when opening the artist info dialog', () => {
+      const record = { id: 'ar1', name: 'Artist', stats: {} }
+      renderMenu(ArtistContextMenu, record)
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('resources.album.actions.info'))
+      expect(mockDispatch).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        type: EXTENDED_INFO_OPEN,
+        record,
+        resource: 'artist',
+      })
+    })
+  })
 })

ui/src/common/SongContextMenu.jsx

@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ export const SongContextMenu = ({
           }
         }
 
-        dispatch(openExtendedInfoDialog(fullRecord))
+        dispatch(openExtendedInfoDialog(fullRecord, 'song'))
       },
     },
   }

ui/src/common/SongContextMenu.test.jsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { TestContext } from 'ra-test'
 import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from 'vitest'
 import { SongContextMenu } from './SongContextMenu'
 import subsonic from '../subsonic'
+import { EXTENDED_INFO_OPEN } from '../actions'
 
 vi.mock('../dataProvider', () => ({
   httpClient: vi.fn(),
@@ -130,6 +131,26 @@ describe('SongContextMenu', () => {
     expect(mockOnClick).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  it('dispatches the record and resource when opening the info dialog', async () => {
+    const record = { id: 'song1', size: 1 }
+    render(
+      <TestContext>
+        <SongContextMenu record={record} resource="song" />
+      </TestContext>,
+    )
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getAllByRole('button')[1])
+    await waitFor(() => screen.getByText(/resources\.song\.actions\.info/))
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText(/resources\.song\.actions\.info/))
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(mockDispatch).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        type: EXTENDED_INFO_OPEN,
+        record,
+        resource: 'song',
+      }),
+    )
+  })
+
   describe('Instant Mix action', () => {
     it('calls getSimilarSongs2 with song id and shows loading notification', async () => {
       render(

ui/src/common/index.js

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 export * from './AddToPlaylistButton'
 export * from './artist'
 export * from './ArtistLinkField'
+export * from './ArtworkInfo'
 export * from './BatchPlayButton'
 export * from './BitrateField'
 export * from './CollapsibleComment'

ui/src/dataProvider/wrapperDataProvider.js

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { REST_URL } from '../consts'
 
 const dataProvider = jsonServerProvider(REST_URL, httpClient)
 
-const REFRESH_KIND = { album: 'al', artist: 'ar' }
+const ARTWORK_KIND = { album: 'al', artist: 'ar' }
 
 const isAdmin = () => {
   const role = localStorage.getItem('role')
@@ -226,9 +226,13 @@ const wrapperDataProvider = {
   // The endpoint answers 204 with no body, but react-admin rejects any response without a
   // `data` key, so the id stands in for one.
   refreshMetadata: (resource, id) =>
-    httpClient(`${REST_URL}/metadata/${REFRESH_KIND[resource]}/${id}/refresh`, {
+    httpClient(`${REST_URL}/metadata/${ARTWORK_KIND[resource]}/${id}/refresh`, {
       method: 'POST',
     }).then(() => ({ data: { id } })),
+  explainArtwork: (resource, id) =>
+    httpClient(
+      `${REST_URL}/artwork/explain?kind=${ARTWORK_KIND[resource]}&id=${encodeURIComponent(id)}`,
+    ).then(({ json }) => ({ data: json })),
 }
 
 export default wrapperDataProvider

ui/src/dataProvider/wrapperDataProvider.test.js

@@ -120,4 +120,23 @@ describe('wrapperDataProvider', () => {
       ).resolves.toEqual({ data: { id: 'al-1' } })
     })
   })
+
+  describe('explainArtwork', () => {
+    it('requests the artist kind prefix', async () => {
+      mockHttpClient.mockResolvedValue({ json: { name: 'Radiohead' } })
+      const result = await wrapperDataProvider.explainArtwork('artist', 'ar-1')
+      expect(mockHttpClient).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining('/artwork/explain?kind=ar&id=ar-1'),
+      )
+      expect(result).toEqual({ data: { name: 'Radiohead' } })
+    })
+
+    it('requests the album kind prefix', async () => {
+      mockHttpClient.mockResolvedValue({ json: {} })
+      await wrapperDataProvider.explainArtwork('album', 'al-1')
+      expect(mockHttpClient).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining('kind=al&id=al-1'),
+      )
+    })
+  })
 })

ui/src/dialogs/ExpandInfoDialog.jsx

@@ -11,10 +11,16 @@ import {
 } from '@material-ui/core'
 import { closeExtendedInfoDialog } from '../actions'
 
-const ExpandInfoDialog = ({ title, content }) => {
-  const { open, record } = useSelector((state) => state.expandInfoDialog)
+const ExpandInfoDialog = ({ title, content, resource }) => {
+  const {
+    open,
+    record,
+    resource: openFor,
+  } = useSelector((state) => state.expandInfoDialog)
   const dispatch = useDispatch()
   const translate = useTranslate()
+  // One page may mount several of these; each claims the resource it was given.
+  const mine = !resource || resource === openFor
 
   const handleClose = (e) => {
     dispatch(closeExtendedInfoDialog())
@@ -23,7 +29,7 @@ const ExpandInfoDialog = ({ title, content }) => {
 
   return (
     <Dialog
-      open={open}
+      open={open && mine}
       onClose={handleClose}
       aria-labelledby="info-dialog-album"
       fullWidth={true}
@@ -33,7 +39,7 @@ const ExpandInfoDialog = ({ title, content }) => {
         {translate(title || 'resources.song.actions.info')}
       </DialogTitle>
       <DialogContent>
-        {record && (
+        {record && mine && (
           <RecordContextProvider value={record}>
             {content}
           </RecordContextProvider>
@@ -50,7 +56,8 @@ const ExpandInfoDialog = ({ title, content }) => {
 
 ExpandInfoDialog.propTypes = {
   title: PropTypes.string,
-  content: PropTypes.object.isRequired,
+  content: PropTypes.element.isRequired,
+  resource: PropTypes.string,
 }
 
 export default ExpandInfoDialog

ui/src/dialogs/ExpandInfoDialog.test.jsx

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import * as React from 'react'
+import { TestContext } from 'ra-test'
+import { render, screen, cleanup } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { describe, afterEach, it, expect } from 'vitest'
+import ExpandInfoDialog from './ExpandInfoDialog'
+
+const renderDialogs = (openFor, dialogs) =>
+  render(
+    <TestContext
+      initialState={{
+        expandInfoDialog: {
+          open: true,
+          record: { id: 'r1', name: 'Record' },
+          resource: openFor,
+        },
+      }}
+    >
+      {dialogs}
+    </TestContext>,
+  )
+
+describe('ExpandInfoDialog', () => {
+  afterEach(cleanup)
+
+  it('renders an unclaimed dialog for any resource', () => {
+    renderDialogs('song', <ExpandInfoDialog content={<div>Song Info</div>} />)
+    expect(screen.getByText('Song Info')).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  // Guards the artist detail page, which mounts both dialogs: an album card's Get Info
+  // must open AlbumInfo, and the page's own ArtistInfo must stay shut.
+  it.each([
+    ['artist', 'Artist Info', 'Album Info'],
+    ['album', 'Album Info', 'Artist Info'],
+  ])('opens only the %s dialog', (openFor, shown, hidden) => {
+    renderDialogs(
+      openFor,
+      <>
+        <ExpandInfoDialog resource="album" content={<div>Album Info</div>} />
+        <ExpandInfoDialog resource="artist" content={<div>Artist Info</div>} />
+      </>,
+    )
+    expect(screen.getByText(shown)).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.queryByText(hidden)).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it('stays shut when no mounted dialog claims the resource', () => {
+    renderDialogs(
+      'artist',
+      <ExpandInfoDialog resource="album" content={<div>Album Info</div>} />,
+    )
+    expect(screen.queryByText('Album Info')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+})

ui/src/i18n/en.json

@@ -110,10 +110,14 @@
       "name": "Artist |||| Artists",
       "fields": {
         "name": "Name",
+        "sortArtistName": "Sort Name",
+        "mbzArtistId": "MusicBrainz Artist Id",
         "albumCount": "Album Count",
         "songCount": "Song Count",
         "size": "Size",
         "playCount": "Plays",
+        "externalInfoUpdatedAt": "External Info Updated At",
+        "updatedAt": "Updated At",
         "rating": "Rating",
         "genre": "Genre",
         "role": "Role",
@@ -646,6 +650,24 @@
     "sharedPlaylists": "Shared Playlists",
     "about": "About"
   },
+  "artwork": {
+    "title": "Artwork",
+    "chain": "Chain",
+    "result": "Result",
+    "source": "Source",
+    "attemptedAt": "Attempted at",
+    "sourcePath": "Source path",
+    "showDetails": "Show details",
+    "hideDetails": "Hide details",
+    "priority": "Priority",
+    "attempts": "Attempts",
+    "retryAt": "Retry at",
+    "lastAttemptFailed": "Last attempt failed",
+    "gaveUpAfter": "Gave up after",
+    "agents": "Agents",
+    "agentsIncomplete": "* This agent is configured but cannot supply images",
+    "notRecorded": "No resolution recorded yet"
+  },
   "player": {
     "playListsText": "Play Queue",
     "openText": "Open",

ui/src/library/LibraryScanButton.jsx

@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ import {
   useUnselectAll,
 } from 'react-admin'
 import { useSelector } from 'react-redux'
-import { GiMagnifyingGlass } from 'react-icons/gi'
-import { VscSync } from 'react-icons/vsc'
+import SyncIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Sync'
+import CachedIcon from '@material-ui/icons/Cached'
 import subsonic from '../subsonic'
 
 const LibraryScanButton = ({ fullScan, selectedIds, className }) => {
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ const LibraryScanButton = ({ fullScan, selectedIds, className }) => {
     ? translate('resources.library.actions.fullScan')
     : translate('resources.library.actions.quickScan')
 
-  const icon = fullScan ? <GiMagnifyingGlass /> : <VscSync />
+  const icon = fullScan ? <CachedIcon /> : <SyncIcon />
 
   return (
     <Button

ui/src/reducers/dialogReducer.js

@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ export const expandInfoDialogReducer = (
   previousState = {
     open: false,
     record: undefined,
+    resource: undefined,
   },
   payload,
 ) => {
@@ -137,12 +138,14 @@ export const expandInfoDialogReducer = (
         ...previousState,
         open: true,
         record: payload.record,
+        resource: payload.resource,
       }
     case EXTENDED_INFO_CLOSE:
       return {
         ...previousState,
         open: false,
         record: undefined,
+        resource: undefined,
       }
     default:
       return previousState

ui/src/reducers/dialogReducer.test.js

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest'
+import { expandInfoDialogReducer } from './dialogReducer'
+import { EXTENDED_INFO_OPEN, EXTENDED_INFO_CLOSE } from '../actions'
+
+describe('expandInfoDialogReducer', () => {
+  it('stores the record and resource on EXTENDED_INFO_OPEN', () => {
+    const record = { id: 'al1', name: 'Album' }
+    const result = expandInfoDialogReducer(
+      { open: false, record: undefined, resource: undefined },
+      { type: EXTENDED_INFO_OPEN, record, resource: 'album' },
+    )
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({ open: true, record, resource: 'album' })
+  })
+
+  it('clears the record and resource on EXTENDED_INFO_CLOSE', () => {
+    const previousState = {
+      open: true,
+      record: { id: 'al1', name: 'Album' },
+      resource: 'album',
+    }
+    const result = expandInfoDialogReducer(previousState, {
+      type: EXTENDED_INFO_CLOSE,
+    })
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({
+      open: false,
+      record: undefined,
+      resource: undefined,
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('returns previous state for unknown action', () => {
+    const previousState = {
+      open: false,
+      record: undefined,
+      resource: undefined,
+    }
+    const result = expandInfoDialogReducer(previousState, {
+      type: 'UNKNOWN_ACTION',
+    })
+
+    expect(result).toBe(previousState)
+  })
+})

ui/src/themes/nautiline.js

@@ -598,9 +598,11 @@ const NautilineTheme = {
       },
     },
     NDAlbumGridView: {
-      link: {
+      albumContainer: {
         borderRadius: radii.md,
-        overflow: 'hidden',
+        '& img': {
+          borderRadius: radii.md,
+        },
       },
       albumTitle: {
         fontWeight: 600,

ui/src/themes/theme.test.js

@@ -12,25 +12,3 @@ describe('NDPlaylistDetails styles', () => {
     },
   )
 })
-
-describe('NDAlbumGridView styles', () => {
-  const themeEntries = Object.entries(themes)
-
-  // The hover overlay is a sibling of the image, so it keeps square corners.
-  it.each(themeEntries)(
-    '%s should not round the grid cover image on its own',
-    (themeName, theme) => {
-      const container = theme.overrides?.NDAlbumGridView?.albumContainer
-      expect(container?.['& img']?.borderRadius).toBeUndefined()
-    },
-  )
-
-  it.each(themeEntries)(
-    '%s should clip the grid cover link when it is rounded',
-    (themeName, theme) => {
-      const link = theme.overrides?.NDAlbumGridView?.link
-      if (!link?.borderRadius) return
-      expect(link.overflow).toBe('hidden')
-    },
-  )
-})