Panels won't load my library? Here's what to check.

If Panels is showing an empty library, stuck on loading, or refusing to connect to your server, the most common causes are network, authentication, or library configuration. Here is how to diagnose each, in the order we would check them ourselves.

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Cloud libraries (iCloud Drive, Dropbox) showing nothing

Usually one of: you are signed out of iCloud Drive on the device, the folder you pointed Panels at is not actually inside iCloud Drive's sync location, iCloud has not finished downloading the files to this device yet (files on demand), or iCloud Drive is still indexing after a fresh install. Open Files.app, navigate to the folder you added, and confirm you can see your comics there. If you only see filenames with a cloud icon, wait for iCloud to finish downloading before re-adding the library in Panels.

OPDS server: connection fails or times out

Usually one of: the server URL is off by a path component (missing /opds), the wrong scheme (http vs https), the server is not reachable from outside your LAN and you are on cellular, the self signed certificate is not trusted, or the server is down. The fastest check: open the exact OPDS URL in Safari on the same device. If Safari cannot load it, Panels cannot either. For self signed certificates, Panels prompts you to trust the certificate on first connection. Make sure you tapped Accept.

OPDS server connects, but the library is empty or wrong

For Kavita, OPDS is disabled by default and must be enabled per account inside Kavita's user settings. Until you do that, the feed is real but empty. For Komga, the user account you signed in with may have restricted access to specific libraries. Check the account's library permissions in Komga's admin UI. Also confirm your OPDS URL points to the root of the feed and not to a single sub library.

Reading progress not syncing across my Apple devices

For Komga and Kavita, the server is the source of truth, so check the web UI first. If the web UI itself is out of sync between sessions, the problem is on the server side, not in Panels. For Calibre over OPDS, you must be signed in to a Panels account on every device, otherwise progress stays local to each device. For iCloud Drive cloud libraries, both devices must be signed into the same iCloud account and give iCloud Drive time to finish syncing; first sync after a fresh install can take a while.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the right OPDS URL for my server?
Komga: https://your-server/opds. Kavita: open your account settings in the Kavita web UI and copy the personal OPDS URL from there (it includes your API key). Calibre Content Server: https://your-server/opds by default, but check your calibre-server configuration if you changed the port or mount path.
Why is my self signed certificate not working?
First, make sure you tapped Accept on the trust prompt Panels showed the first time you connected. If you never saw a prompt, the certificate may be failing earlier in the chain. For some setups you may need to install your CA's root certificate as a trusted profile on the iOS device itself; iOS has the relevant controls in Settings under General. The Panels Discord has step by step guides for the common homelab cert setups.
My library shows old content. How do I refresh?
Pull to refresh inside the library view. If that does not pick up your changes, remove the library from Panels and add it again. This forces a fresh fetch of the OPDS feed or a fresh scan of the cloud folder.
Does Panels work behind a VPN?
Yes, as long as the OPDS server is reachable through your VPN's routing rules. If your VPN blocks LAN only addresses, or split tunnels in a way that excludes your home server, you will need to either adjust the VPN rules or connect to a server that has a public URL.
I am still stuck. Where do I get help?
The Panels Discord is the fastest way to get help from us and from other readers who run similar setups. Join the Panels Discord

Still not working?

The Panels Discord is the fastest way to get help from us and other readers.

Join the Panels Discord

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