Find one expected item outside the playlist
A Kodi smart playlist uses library data. Start by locating a specific expected item in the relevant library, rather than only through a Files view. If it is absent there, a new playlist operator cannot make it part of the database result.
Check the field used by the rule
When the item is present, inspect the metadata on which the selection depends. A tag or genre that exists only in your folder notes is not necessarily available to the query. Compare one expected match with one item that should remain excluded.
Change one cause at a time. If the library is incomplete, resolve that discovery or metadata issue first. If the item and required fields are correct, return to media type and rule logic. This separates two different tasks that can both produce an empty screen.
Review the query after the input is corrected
Reopen the playlist and compare the result with your small sample. Preserve the original rule while repairing the input so you can tell whether the query itself needed a change. Record the successful item class and metadata field for the next editor.
Questions answered
Can an item play from Files but be absent from a smart playlist?
Yes. The playlist depends on the appropriate scanned library and its metadata.
Should I rebuild every rule when one expected item is missing?
First check that item and the specific field used by the query.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.