Unable to download media for games

[epadison]

Hi,

For some reason I'm unable to download any media for my games. I tried "force update games database metadata" and got an error saying "Unable to download the updated metadata: The downloaded metadata archive failed verification." I also tried redownloading Metadata.zip and placing the files in the Metadata folder, still no luck there. Not even a fresh reinstall of LaunchBox worked.

[JoeViking245]

34 minutes ago, epadison said:

I also tried redownloading Metadata.zip and placing the files in the Metadata folder, still no luck there.

I didn't know you could download a Metadata.zip file containing the LaunchBox.Metadata.db file. Where did you find that at?

You might be able to, with LaunchBox closed, delete the LaunchBox.Metadata.db file, start LaunchBox and then run Tools < Download < Force Update Games Database Metadata...

[epadison]

I got it by entering "http://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/Metadata.zip" in my browser. This is what I got after I deleted LaunchBox.Metadata.db with LaunchBox closed.
 

SQLite Error 14: 'unable to open database file'.

App:     LaunchBox
Version: 13.27
Theme:   Default
Type:    Microsoft.Data.Sqlite.SqliteException
Site:    Void ThrowExceptionForRC(Int32, SQLitePCL.sqlite3)
Source:  Microsoft.Data.Sqlite

   at Microsoft.Data.Sqlite.SqliteException.ThrowExceptionForRC(Int32 rc, sqlite3 db)
   at Microsoft.Data.Sqlite.SqliteConnectionInternal..ctor(SqliteConnectionStringBuilder connectionOptions, SqliteConnectionPool pool)
   at Microsoft.Data.Sqlite.SqliteConnectionFactory.GetConnection(SqliteConnection outerConnection)
   at Microsoft.Data.Sqlite.SqliteConnection.Open()
   at System.Data.Common.DbConnection.OpenAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Storage.RelationalConnection.OpenInternalAsync(Boolean errorsExpected, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Storage.RelationalConnection.OpenInternalAsync(Boolean errorsExpected, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Storage.RelationalConnection.OpenAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken, Boolean errorsExpected)
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Storage.RelationalCommand.ExecuteReaderAsync(RelationalCommandParameterObject parameterObject, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.Internal.SingleQueryingEnumerable`1.AsyncEnumerator.InitializeReaderAsync(AsyncEnumerator enumerator, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.Internal.SingleQueryingEnumerable`1.AsyncEnumerator.MoveNextAsync()
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.ShapedQueryCompilingExpressionVisitor.SingleOrDefaultAsync[TSource](IAsyncEnumerable`1 asyncEnumerable, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.ShapedQueryCompilingExpressionVisitor.SingleOrDefaultAsync[TSource](IAsyncEnumerable`1 asyncEnumerable, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.LocalDb.GamesDb.GetValidPlatformNameAsync(String name, Nullable`1 cancelToken)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.LocalDb.GamesDb.GetValidPlatformNameAsync(String name, Nullable`1 cancelToken)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Data.Platform.CloneCompilerLocator(Object item)
   at TransformerStrategySelector.ConcatFunctionSynchronizer(String item, TransformerStrategySelector)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Data.Platform.GetPlatformBannerImagePaths()
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.Controls.MediaList.AdaptBuilder(Platform item)
   at DecoratorPublisher.ConvertScalableProviderResponder(Object, Platform item, DecoratorPublisher)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.Controls.MediaList.TrackCommand(Object v, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs caller)
   at System.Windows.FrameworkElement.OnPropertyChanged(DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.DependencyObject.NotifyPropertyChange(DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs args)
   at System.Windows.DependencyObject.UpdateEffectiveValue(EntryIndex entryIndex, DependencyProperty dp, PropertyMetadata metadata, EffectiveValueEntry oldEntry, EffectiveValueEntry& newEntry, Boolean coerceWithDeferredReference, Boolean coerceWithCurrentValue, OperationType operationType)
   at System.Windows.DependencyObject.InvalidateProperty(DependencyProperty dp, Boolean preserveCurrentValue)
   at System.Windows.Data.BindingExpression.TransferValue(Object newValue, Boolean isASubPropertyChange)
   at System.Windows.Data.BindingExpression.Activate(Object item)
   at System.Windows.Data.BindingExpression.AttachToContext(AttachAttempt attempt)
   at System.Windows.Data.BindingExpression.MS.Internal.Data.IDataBindEngineClient.AttachToContext(Boolean lastChance)
   at MS.Internal.Data.DataBindEngine.Task.Run(Boolean lastChance)
   at MS.Internal.Data.DataBindEngine.Run(Object arg)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(Object source, Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs, Delegate catchHandler)

Recent Log:

   4:09:25 PM Exception

I tried running the force update option again and received the "Unable to download the updated metadata: The downloaded metadata archive failed verification." error again.

Edited Wednesday at 08:12 PM by epadison

[JoeViking245]

24 minutes ago, epadison said:

I tried running the force update option again and received the "Unable to download the updated metadata: The downloaded metadata archive failed verification." error again.

I know this process has been overhauled in the 13.28-beta release.  You can try that, if you're so inclined.

 

I have a test install of 13.27 and had received the same error.  What seemed to have resolved it for me was:

• close LaunchBox
• delete everything in the /Metadata/ folder
• Run the 13.27 setup file and install to the same location
  • If doing this, before clicking the last Install button, make sure the path is correct and that it doesn't have /LaunchBox/LaunchBox/ in the path
• Once the install is finished, close then restart LaunchBox (for whatever reason)
• Run:  Tools < Download < Force Update Games Database Metadata...

 

[epadison]

I followed each step exactly and I'm still getting the same error.

[epadison]

On 8/5/2026 at 4:46 PM, JoeViking245 said:

I know this process has been overhauled in the 13.28-beta release.  You can try that, if you're so inclined.

Where can I download the beta? If it's in the Discord, I'm unable to join the server for some reason. My username on there is casketxkrusher.

[JoeViking245]

15 minutes ago, epadison said:

Where can I download the beta? If it's in the Discord, I'm unable to join the server for some reason. My username on there is casketxkrusher.

Opt into the betas from inside LaunchBox.

Tools < Options < General < Updates

[epadison]

I got these errors while trying to run the beta update.

[JoeViking245]

7 hours ago, epadison said:

I got these errors while trying to run the beta update.

To clarify, you opted into the betas, restarted LaunchBox, it said there was 'a new beta release available, would you like to install it?', and you selected "yes"?  Is your LaunchBox install location on a local HDD/SSD?  Is the folder somewhere such that it gets backed up to something like OneDrive, Dropbox or some other service?

The 2nd message seems to contradict the 1st message.  Like, it can't run the installer file that it is "unable to download".

Does the /Updates/ folder contain the "LaunchBox-13.28-beta-6-Setup.exe"?

[epadison]

I have LaunchBox installed on my C drive, which is an M.2 SSD. I don't use OneDrive or Dropbox though so it's very odd. The Updates folder also has the executable. I just ran the update again and it's working now! I really appreciate your help.

Edited 4 hours ago by epadison