Alexa not working properly with plex (keep stopping)

Dear everyone,

As I already saw it seems that I am not the only one having this issue, but my Alexa is only playing one song and after that, it stops. I know this question has been asked several times but the topics are quite old and never solved so it would be great if we could get a 2021 update on this question.
Does anyone have a fix for this? (I went to amazon dot only because plex was supported…)

Plex : Ubuntu-server version 1.22.3.4392-d7c624def
Alexa: Amazon dot gen 4

3 Likes

Add me to the list with this problem. I have a Plex Synology server. Whether i play a single artist, an album or a playlist, using “play” or “shuffle”, the skill on Alexa stops playing after 1 song. Asking it to “resume” results in “you have reached the end of your queue”, indicating that the Alexa skill is not putting the entire list of songs into its queue. I have disabled and re-enabled the skill in the Echo Alexa app, no change.

BTW. Plex is getting added to my “Customer Support Hall of Shame” for not providing anything other than a user forum to address issues. Have any other nominations?

Add on that this occurs on two different Plex servers, Synology and Linux/Ubuntu. I have not tried a Windows version yet.

Ok so does Plex not work on Alexa then?

Same for plex on a windows server. One song and then it stops.

Define “not work”. Yes, Alexa will access Plex and play 1 song. Then it stops. It certainly doesn’t work “as intended”.

And, as far as I can tell, Plex doesn’t care enough to even answer the original post, which is 2 months old. And there’s no way to open a trouble ticket directly with Plex. Pure BS. Could mean that the organization is in trouble and is trying to cut costs on support. Not a good way to do it.

Their web site makes it LOOK like they have tech support, but if you try to actally use it:

We have documentation, answers to common questions, guides, friendly forums, and more. Support questions submitted through the contact form will go unanswered.

Excerpt from my Synology Plex Media Server Log immediately after a play request to play a playlist stopped after the first song. I have uploaded the complete server logs ZIP file also.

Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.205 [0x7f03715b7b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.205 [0x7f03715b7b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.208 [0x7f0373a00b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.208 [0x7f0373a00b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.213 [0x7f0373741b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.213 [0x7f0373741b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.219 [0x7f0371348b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.220 [0x7f0371348b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.226 [0x7f0371383b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.226 [0x7f0371383b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.247 [0x7f0371383b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.247 [0x7f0371383b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.290 [0x7f0371348b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.291 [0x7f0371348b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.344 [0x7f0371383b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.344 [0x7f0371383b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.375 [0x7f0371348b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.376 [0x7f0371348b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.410 [0x7f0373741b38] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 550.000000 ms to retrieve 50 items.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.474 [0x7f0371383b38] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 330.000000 ms to retrieve 50 items.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.476 [0x7f0371149b38] WARN - Took too long (0.330000 seconds) to start a transaction on ../Library/MediaStreamSetting.cpp:24
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.476 [0x7f0371149b38] WARN - Transaction that was running was started on thread 0x7f03715b7b38 at ../Library/MediaStreamSetting.cpp:24
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.546 [0x7f0373a00b38] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 510.000000 ms to retrieve 50 items.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.565 [0x7f0371348b38] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 420.000000 ms to retrieve 50 items.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.615 [0x7f0371149b38] WARN - Took too long (0.140000 seconds) to start a transaction on ../Library/MediaStreamSetting.cpp:24
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.615 [0x7f0371149b38] WARN - Transaction that was running was started on thread 0x7f03715b7b38 at ../Library/MediaStreamSetting.cpp:24
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:46.903 [0x7f0373741b38] INFO - AutoUpdate: no updates available
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.005 [0x7f0370e2eb38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.005 [0x7f0370e2eb38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.005 [0x7f0370e2eb38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.008 [0x7f0370f91b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.008 [0x7f0370f91b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.009 [0x7f0370f91b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.010 [0x7f0373a00b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.011 [0x7f0373a00b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.011 [0x7f0373a00b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.112 [0x7f0370e2eb38] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 340.000000 ms to retrieve 24 items.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.177 [0x7f0373a00b38] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 500.000000 ms to retrieve 50 items.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.255 [0x7f0370e2eb38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.255 [0x7f0370e2eb38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.255 [0x7f0370e2eb38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.256 [0x7f0371383b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.256 [0x7f0371383b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.256 [0x7f0371383b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.339 [0x7f0371149b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.339 [0x7f0371149b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.340 [0x7f0371149b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.341 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.341 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.341 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.343 [0x7f0370f29b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.343 [0x7f0370f29b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.376 [0x7f0370f91b38] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 550.000000 ms to retrieve 50 items.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.388 [0x7f0373741b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 
[Plex Media Server Logs_2021-06-28_21-32-35.zip|attachment](upload://nVIZdssyUDajXO3spMhdl2eIigf.zip) (3.3 MB)
'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.388 [0x7f0373741b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.405 [0x7f0370f29b38] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 210.000000 ms to retrieve 24 items.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.430 [0x7f0371296b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.430 [0x7f0371296b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.443 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.443 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.443 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.451 [0x7f03732c6b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.451 [0x7f03732c6b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.485 [0x7f03715b7b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.485 [0x7f03715b7b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.511 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.511 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.511 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.559 [0x7f0371149b38] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 640.000000 ms to retrieve 50 items.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.681 [0x7f0370e2eb38] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 700.000000 ms to retrieve 50 items.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:47.739 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 430.000000 ms to retrieve 50 items.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:49.627 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:49.627 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:26:49.627 [0x7f0370e51b38] WARN - QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Jun 28, 2021 21:27:43.195 [0x7f0373741b38] INFO - [PlexRelay] Allocated port 21853 for remote forward to 127.0.0.1:32401
Jun 28, 2021 21:27:51.130 [0x7f0372661b38] ERROR - Unable to find client profile for device; platform=Alexa, platformVersion=, device=Alexa, model=
Jun 28, 2021 21:27:52.843 [0x7f0372661b38] ERROR - Unable to find client profile for device; platform=Alexa, platformVersion=, device=Alexa, model=
Jun 28, 2021 21:28:47.369 [0x7f03732c6b38] ERROR - Unable to find client profile for device; platform=Alexa, platformVersion=, device=Alexa, model=
Jun 28, 2021 21:29:43.184 [0x7f03732c6b38] ERROR - Unable to find client profile for device; platform=Alexa, platformVersion=, device=Alexa, model=
Jun 28, 2021 21:30:39.441 [0x7f03732c6b38] ERROR - Unable to find client profile for device; platform=Alexa, platformVersion=, device=Alexa, model=
Jun 28, 2021 21:31:35.098 [0x7f03732c6b38] ERROR - Unable to find client profile for device; platform=Alexa, platformVersion=, device=Alexa, model=
Jun 28, 2021 21:31:50.289 [0x7f03732c6b38] ERROR - Unable to find client profile for device; platform=Alexa, platformVersion=, device=Alexa, model=
Jun 28, 2021 21:32:09.856 [0x7f03732c6b38] ERROR - Unable to find client profile for device; platform=Alexa, platformVersion=, device=Alexa, model=
Jun 28, 2021 21:32:11.026 [0x7f03732c6b38] ERROR - Unable to find client profile for device; platform=Alexa, platformVersion=, device=Alexa, model=
Jun 28, 2021 21:32:11.870 [0x7f03732c6b38] ERROR - Unable to find client profile for device; platform=Alexa, platformVersion=, device=Alexa, model=

MODERATOR EDIT:

Reduced post managable length using proper </> CODE formatting.

Hi folks!

NICE RANT you have going in here.

Not sure I can help but willing to try with some decent, meaningful log file ZIPs.
( Filtered excerpts are 100% useless )

Please describe for me the sequence of events
-then-

Replicate in PMS.
Download the Logs ZIP file
Attach that ZIP file here.

I did that yesterday. I listened to a play list (“Alexa, ask Plex to shuffle playlist xxxx.”) When it stopped playing I downloaded the logs and uploaded them here. Nice duck and cover you have going there. Maybe you can pay attention before throwing mud at users who are clearly frustrated by the lack of support from Plex.

I guess Plex can’t be bothered to correct a bug. Just in case my previous upload didn’t work, I’m uploading the log fles again.

Plex Media Server Logs_2021-06-28_21-32-35.zip (3.3 MB)

Same exact problem here. It use to work when I said “Alexa, play music by {artist name}”, but now it plays one song and stops instead of continuing to play more songs by the artist.

Ditto for me. Once the first song completes, it quits and won’t play the next song in an album, playlist, or artist selection. If, while the first song is playing, you say “Next” it will then play the next song.

1 Like

And, as expected, not a single response from PLEX. No “we’re looking into it” or any acknowlegement of an issue. They dump their problems in a “forum” then ignore it.

New server version (4805), same problem. Uploading logs - again.
Plex Media Server Logs_2021-07-12_11-44-36.zip (4.0 MB)
“Alexa, ask Plex to shuffle playlist Easy Listening”… pause … “Shuffling the playlist _EasyListening on MemoryAlpha”… first song plays … stops playing after first song. Plex browser client indicates that server activity stops after the first song plays.

Confirmed same issue here plays one song and stops

I could get 1 song…maybe a dozen…quite frustrating to have to keep asking for music to keep playing.

How did you get it to play a dozen? I haven’t been able to get more than 1 song since it broke a few months ago.

…as I read your message this morning…down to 1 song through Alexa now…it was good while it lasted.

However, after it stops…I say Alexa Skip…and it plays the next song…has worked for 3 songs now…