Android: random playback pauses between tracks / mid-song

Plex Players Mobile Devices
, ,
1

Hi all, having playback issues when playing music from the server on my android Pixel 4a. Playback often stops on its own between playlist tracks, when opening the app it will show playback paused. Occasionally (less frequently) this happens mid-song. Does not seem to be caused by notifications or screen going to sleep etc.

This did not happen with my previous android phone (Pixel 1). Saw several similar posts but none seemed to be the same issue.

Feels like a buffering / network connectivity issue, but I can’t make sense of the logs. Help appreciated!

(note logs will say server version 1.22.x, I’ve since updated - still happens)

Server Version#: 1.25.3.5409 - OpenSuse Leap 15.2 x64
Player Version#: 8.28.0.30077 (241173d0) - android 12

plex-log-.zip (510.1 KB)

2

Today tried disabling our secondary AP (wired to main router), no change. Also made sure “background data” is enabled for the Plex app.

Earlier playback stopped mid-song, then the app crashed. And just now it again paused between tracks.

On these pauses, it will show the name of the next track on the “Now Playing” screen, but not actually do anything. The playback bar seems to show that the entire track is buffered (it’s light grey). Pressing play (or skip) resumes playback, but the playback bar will not update or be out of sync.

Any ideas? Thanks.

3

… after much more tinkering it’s back to normal. Things done:

  • disable battery optimization on the Plex app - no change
  • rebuild the Plex server database, was corrupted - maybe a contributor? (though iOS Plex apps did not have this issue even with the corrupt DB)
  • update router/APs to latest DD-WRT and change LAN IP scheme - should have no impact
  • updated the machine running PMS server to latest OpenSuse - no idea

No idea what did it, but happy I can listen to a full album without interruption again!

4

I am having this exact same issue, but for me it is occurring with downloaded songs on my device, so it shouldn’t be a server issue.

I am running Plex 8.29.0.30433 (b3774acd) on Android 11.

5

Odd. I do think it was more likely an issue with the app than with the server (or anything in between). Our iOS Plex apps never had this problem.

The app-related things I tried:

  • force stop / clear cache
  • allow background data
  • disable battery optimization

… none of which seemed to make any difference :frowning_face:

But so far it’s still working on my end. Can listen to a playlist without interruption… no idea what made it work.

Hopefully someone from Plex has some insight, happy to post logs from the last time it happened.

6

Thanks SpacemanS

It finally seems to be working okay now - thank you for all the suggestions - but like you I am not too sure which one solved the problem! I think it was either or both:

  1. enabling files and media access in the Android App Settings (just in case it was needed for the downloaded files) and/or
  2. disabled battery optimization (allow background use of battery) in Android settings, like you recommended.

I am leaning towards the battery optimization as the culprit as I did some testing before disabling by running the app and keeping the screen on and the Plex app open on screen (so it wouldn’t go into background mode); didn’t seem to have any issues with continuous play when I ran it like this, but the issue restarted when I re-enabled the screen timeout (before disabling the battery optimization).

Anyway seems all good now - and FYI for any other users having a similar issue.

Ttx

7

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.