Apple TV (HD, 4th generation) converts files to 720p automatically and won't play in 1080p

Plex Players Streaming Devices
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Server Version#: 1.21.1.3876
Player Version#: 4.47.3

Hi

My Apple TV HD (4th Gen), which used to work perfectly until a few days back has now started automatically converting videos to 720p during playback. The playback settings panel on Apple TV has ‘Convert To 720p HD’ checked. And when I select ‘Play Original Quality’, the screen buffers for a little while and then playback resumes at 720p. No change.

Screenshot 2021-01-12 at 1.04.12 PM

I have ‘Allow Direct Play’ turned to On and ‘Use Old Video Player’ turned Off. I am enclosing a screenshot of the ‘Now Playing’ screen on Plex Web Player when I’m playing the video on my Apple TV. As you can see, it’s automatically transcoding the video to SD (not even 720p here)! I also have ‘Auto Adjust Quality’ turned to Off and Home Streaming & Internet Streaming set to Maximum on my Apple TV.

I’m running tvOS 14.3 and the Plex app is Version 7.11 on it.

2

Notice the Indirect connection. The AppleTV is connecting via Plex Relay. The stream is routed through Plex servers and limited to 2 Mbps.

If the AppleTV is remote from your server, then your remote access is not working correctly, otherwise the connection would show as Remote.

If the AppleTV is local to your server, then your local network is not working correctly, otherwise the connection would show as Local.

1 Like
3

I see that. My Apple TV is local to my server. I’m running Plex Media Server off my iMac. I did just buy a new iMac right before this problem started. Could this be linked to that.

I deleted Plex Media Server from my computer and restarted it and did a fresh install. Along with a fresh install of the Plex app on Apple TV as well. But the Apple TV app can’t see the server and all I get is a “**** is Currently Unavailbale” notification.

The Plex Web Player on my iMac can see it just fine, but my iPad app can’t either.

4

Sounds like your new iMac is not allowing connections on your LAN. Check the firewall settings

5

Check the DNS settings on both the AppleTV and Plex server.

If using your ISP DNS, change them to use public DNS such as 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).

What are your settings for Secure Communications, both on the Plex Server and AppleTV?

Set Plex Server to Preferred in Settings -> Network.
Set the Plex app on the ATV to use unsecured communication. You don’t need secured communication if all the traffic is within your local LAN.

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