When I watch a 4K HDR file streaming from my Western Digital My Passport Wireless Pro to my LG OLED LG OLED55E6P using the Plex app on my LG TV, I get buffering throughout the film to the point where I have to stop watching it. More so, If I have to fast forward to half way through a 2 hour film, it will buffer forever.
I have the newest Plex app installed on the LG and have a very fast internet connect (295.31 mb/s download and 15.69 mb/s upload speed).
I’m assuming this is on your local network?
Is the PMS wired to the network?
Is LG wired or using wifi?
On the Plex App, make sure your video settings are:
Local: Original Quality
Direct Play: ON
Direct Stream: ON
If that’s the case, please post a screen shot from your Plex server (via a web browser) of the Now Play section from the Server Dashboard while a video is buffering.
For the past few days, I’m experiencing the same issue of constant endless buffering every 5-10 minutes. I have to back out and come back in to resume again.
Xbox Hardwired.
Plex for Xbox One version: 2.39.1.70
Plex server version: 1.16.5.1554-1e5ff713d
I’ve tried everything and cannot get it to stop buffering.
Server Version: 1.16.6.1592 Device: Synology 718+ Internet Speed: 1Gbit up/down
Issue:
When playing something on a laptop using either the browser or the new mac/windows Plex app; or playing something on an iphone through the browser (Safari); the video needs to buffer every 2-3 minutes. When playing something on an AppleTV, or iphone, using the tvOS or iOS apps, the buffering issue is not present.
I can start collecting logs tonight when I get home, however I just wanted to post this here in case other people are experiencing this issue as well. If there is already a thread that has looked into the difference in occurrence of buffering between Web Player (or mac/windows app) VS iOS and tvOS app, happy to continue posting there.
Every client is different (different code, different developers, different client settings); by posting here, you are NOT helping yourself. If you’d like assistance I HIGHLY recommend that you post in the appropriate client category/section of the forums, e.g. Plex Players / Desktop Players. (I’m not posting this just to watch myself type)
Thanks for the help darcilicious. Here’s my info/response:
I’m assuming this is on your local network? Yes
Is the PMS wired to the network? Wireless / Wifi
Is LG wired or using wifi? Wireless / Wifi
On the Plex App, make sure your video settings are:
Local: Original Quality - Was already set to this setting
Direct Play: ON - Was already set to this setting
Direct Stream: ON - Was already set to this setting
If that’s the case, please post a screen shot from your Plex server (via a web browser) of the Now Play section from the Server Dashboard while a video is buffering.
Is this with ALL 4K files? I noticed that all three screenshots show buffering at the exact same place which makes me wonder if there’s an issue with that one file…
The screenshots were from at that exact same time because every time I went back into Plex to play the file, I clicked on “Resume from xxx time”.
I believe I figured out the issue. I tried other 4K HDR files and they all played smoothly without buffering issues. I then checked the file with the issue, using “MediaInfo” software, and it shows that the file has 2 video streams. 1 stream is HDR10 and the other is Dolby Vision. I believe this is causing the problem for the following 2 reasons:
My native LG media app cannot stream/handle files with 2 video streams embedded in one mkv file (even though my TV supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision). It appears the Plex app for the LG TV has the same issue with this file.
I just tested this and all my other 4K HDR mkv files with only 1 video stream are able to play flawlessly via the Plex app without buffering issues.
In conclusion: it appears streaming an mkv file with 2 video streams (in this case, HDR10 and Dolby Vision) puts too much stress on the Plex app / LG native media app that it cannot handle and thus leads to buffer issues (with Plex) or doesn’t play at all (LG native media app). See screenshots:
