# When a label is not working


> A playlist targeting a label and reaching nothing has a short list of causes. Work down it.
A playlist that looks correct and plays on nothing is nearly always one of these.

## 1. The names differ

The commonest cause by far, and the hardest to see. Read both character by character.

`warehouse` and `warehosue` look identical at a glance and are two labels. So is a trailing space, and so is `plant floor` against `plant-floor`.

Search the label name in the screens list. If nothing comes back, the label on the screens is not the label you typed.

## 2. The screen does not carry it

Open the screen's Settings and read its Labels field. It is faster than reasoning about it.

## 3. The playlist targets something else

The playlist's **Screens** tab lists every screen it reaches, however it reaches them. If the screen is not in that list, the assignment is wrong regardless of what the labels look like.

## 4. The label is right and something else is wrong

Labels only decide **whether** a playlist reaches a screen. If the screen is in the playlist's list and still shows nothing, the cause is further along:

- Is the playlist **enabled**?
- Is its **schedule** active right now, in that screen's local time?
- Is the screen **enabled** and **online**?
- Has the screen finished **syncing**?

[How a screen decides what to play](/docs/get-started/concepts/how-a-screen-decides-what-to-play/) is that list in order.

## The check that settles it fastest

The **Now playing** tab on the screen lists what is active on that screen right now. If the playlist is there, labels are fine and the problem is elsewhere. If it is not, it is an assignment problem.