Buffering on Windows and Android Apps but not Web

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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1

Jumping into this thread, as it is similar to my issue, yet the solution of disabling the subtitles did not work. I have a subset of .mp4 videos that are choppy to the point of being unwatchable. However, the choppiness only occurs on the Plex for Windows app and the Plex Android App. The videos load and play without issue on the same Windows desktop via Firefox/Plex web, as well via the Roku app on all of my Roku devices. Here is an example of playing an affected file vs unaffected:

image
image650Ă—769 53.1 KB

Any ideas initially? Thank you all for your help!

2

Forgot to mention, I am running the most recent versions of Media Server as well as the respective apps.

3

@vollmas

The other thread was solved . It didn’t apply to you. I moved us here.

What you’re showing looks like a networking problem (WiFi ??)

Please make certain DEBUG logging is enabled.
Next, start Playback .

After you see it buffer – STOP playback

Download the logs ZIP file from PMS

Attach it here please.

4

Hey, thanks for starting a new thread for me. This is my first time using the Plex forums, and I am still figuring out the UI. What I determined is that any .MP4 file that I had purchased and downloaded over the years from either iTunes, Amazon movies, etc. all had the issue. And as I was pondering on it more, I remembered a few other times where those files acted funny from within Plex. I tested running “Optimize” on one of the files, and that fixed the issue. Therefore, I am going to go through the painstaking process of Optimizing all of those files. It will take some time, but I think the end result will be an overall better experience with those files moving forward inside of Plex.

5

Do you realize –

  1. Optimizing reduces the bit rate needed to play the file by discarding quality

  2. Your issue might indeed still be your network.

6

  1. I am optimizing at “Original Quality”, but I’m willing to lose out on some marginal quality if it means a fully functional library.

  2. I highly doubt it is network, as I can stream the exact same file on the exact same PC via Plex Web with zero issues. I can even run it side-by-side with the Plex for Windows app, and the web version will run smooth while the Windows app will load extremely slow and play stuttered. I’m still open to additional troubleshooting steps or ideas if you have them. I appreciate your help!

7

Does the web player play the video as-is, or does it transcode? Web players are notoriously bad at compatibility. If you are playing old purchased MP4’s from iTunes, they might not have the data arranged for “streaming”, which can cause absurdly high network data rates as it has to send the entire file to the client several times a second.

If the video is not compatible with the browser, it could be on-the-fly transcoding. This would fix the not-arranged-for-streaming data file, while also possibly reducing the video bitrate.

Just double check that the video is “Direct Play/Stream”, and not transcoding:
DP vs TC

9

Both are Direct Play. I had just paused the web version, which played without issue, and then started with Windows version, which buffers every second.

2023-02-21 15_25_13-The Pursuit of Happyness — Mozilla Firefox
2023-02-21 15_25_13-The Pursuit of Happyness — Mozilla Firefox736×517 93.1 KB

10

I need Server logs capturing this. “Pics or it didn’t happen” doesn’t apply here :rofl:

If you’re content with what you have then I will step back.

11

Plex Media Server Logs_2023-02-21_15-40-51.zip (5.0 MB)

I assume dumping the current log will include me trying this approximately 10 minutes ago, right?

12

Yep… and it caught it.

Feb 21, 2023 15:32:45.890 [8596] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:54275] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) TLS 93ms 507904 bytes (range: bytes=1958419-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:45.954 [5256] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.84.79:54277 (Subnet)] GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) #2779c TLS Signed-in Token (vollmas) (VOLL-DESKTOP) (range: bytes=1959071-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:45.960 [5256] DEBUG - Content-Length of Z:\Videos\Movies\09 The Pursuit of Happyness (1080p H.mp4 is 4428765910 (of total: 4430724981).
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:45.969 [8600] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 589824 bytes: 10054 - An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:45.969 [8600] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:54276] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) TLS 91ms 589824 bytes (range: bytes=490492823-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.049 [5700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.84.79:54278 (Subnet)] GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) #2779e TLS Signed-in Token (vollmas) (VOLL-DESKTOP) (range: bytes=490498653-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.055 [5700] DEBUG - Content-Length of Z:\Videos\Movies\09 The Pursuit of Happyness (1080p H.mp4 is 3940226328 (of total: 4430724981).
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.061 [8600] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 475136 bytes: 10054 - An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.062 [8600] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:54277] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) TLS 107ms 475136 bytes (range: bytes=1959071-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.126 [5700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.84.79:54279 (Subnet)] GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) #277a0 TLS Signed-in Token (vollmas) (VOLL-DESKTOP) (range: bytes=1959836-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.129 [5700] DEBUG - Content-Length of Z:\Videos\Movies\09 The Pursuit of Happyness (1080p H.mp4 is 4428765145 (of total: 4430724981).
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.131 [8600] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 589824 bytes: 10054 - An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.132 [8600] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:54278] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) TLS 83ms 589824 bytes (range: bytes=490498653-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.204 [5700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.84.79:54280 (Subnet)] GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) #277a2 TLS Signed-in Token (vollmas) (VOLL-DESKTOP) (range: bytes=490522437-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.207 [5700] DEBUG - Content-Length of Z:\Videos\Movies\09 The Pursuit of Happyness (1080p H.mp4 is 3940202544 (of total: 4430724981).
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.210 [8600] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 671744 bytes: 10054 - An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.210 [8600] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:54279] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) TLS 83ms 671744 bytes (range: bytes=1959836-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.284 [5700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.84.79:54281 (Subnet)] GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) #277a4 TLS Signed-in Token (vollmas) (VOLL-DESKTOP) (range: bytes=1960549-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.289 [5700] DEBUG - Content-Length of Z:\Videos\Movies\09 The Pursuit of Happyness (1080p H.mp4 is 4428764432 (of total: 4430724981).
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.293 [8596] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 622592 bytes: 10054 - An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.293 [8596] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:54280] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) TLS 89ms 622592 bytes (range: bytes=490522437-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.393 [5700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.84.79:54282 (Subnet)] GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) #277a6 TLS Signed-in Token (vollmas) (VOLL-DESKTOP) (range: bytes=490528642-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.398 [5700] DEBUG - Content-Length of Z:\Videos\Movies\09 The Pursuit of Happyness (1080p H.mp4 is 3940196339 (of total: 4430724981).
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.403 [8600] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 491520 bytes: 10054 - An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.403 [8600] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:54281] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) TLS 119ms 491520 bytes (range: bytes=1960549-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.471 [5700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.84.79:54283 (Subnet)] GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) #277a8 TLS Signed-in Token (vollmas) (VOLL-DESKTOP) (range: bytes=1961243-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.475 [5700] DEBUG - Content-Length of Z:\Videos\Movies\09 The Pursuit of Happyness (1080p H.mp4 is 4428763738 (of total: 4430724981).
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.483 [8596] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 671744 bytes: 10054 - An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.483 [8596] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:54282] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) TLS 89ms 671744 bytes (range: bytes=490528642-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.566 [5700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.84.79:54284 (Subnet)] GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) #277aa TLS Signed-in Token (vollmas) (VOLL-DESKTOP) (range: bytes=490559332-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.569 [5700] DEBUG - Content-Length of Z:\Videos\Movies\09 The Pursuit of Happyness (1080p H.mp4 is 3940165649 (of total: 4430724981).
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.573 [8600] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 606208 bytes: 10054 - An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.573 [8600] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:54283] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) TLS 101ms 606208 bytes (range: bytes=1961243-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.645 [5700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.84.79:54285 (Subnet)] GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) #277ac TLS Signed-in Token (vollmas) (VOLL-DESKTOP) (range: bytes=1961904-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.653 [5700] DEBUG - Content-Length of Z:\Videos\Movies\09 The Pursuit of Happyness (1080p H.mp4 is 4428763077 (of total: 4430724981).
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.656 [8600] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 622592 bytes: 10054 - An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.656 [8600] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:54284] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) TLS 89ms 622592 bytes (range: bytes=490559332-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.715 [5700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.84.79:54286 (Subnet)] GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) #277ae TLS Signed-in Token (vollmas) (VOLL-DESKTOP) (range: bytes=490565357-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.722 [5700] DEBUG - Content-Length of Z:\Videos\Movies\09 The Pursuit of Happyness (1080p H.mp4 is 3940159624 (of total: 4430724981).
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.727 [8596] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 491520 bytes: 10054 - An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.728 [8596] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:54285] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) TLS 82ms 491520 bytes (range: bytes=1961904-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.791 [5700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.84.79:54287 (Subnet)] GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) #277b0 TLS Signed-in Token (vollmas) (VOLL-DESKTOP) (range: bytes=1962256-) 
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.795 [5700] DEBUG - Content-Length of Z:\Videos\Movies\09 The Pursuit of Happyness (1080p H.mp4 is 4428762725 (of total: 4430724981).
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.805 [8600] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 491520 bytes: 10054 - An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Feb 21, 2023 15:32:46.805 [8600] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:54286] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (10 live) TLS

This is network or where/what the player is running on

It is direct play.

if 6 Mbps can’t get through – there is a SERIOUS problem

13

But 6Mbps CAN get through…via Plex Web on the SAME network connection, which is a wired desktop. Unless there are some additional requirements the Windows app needs that I’m not grasping at the moment…

14

This line:

Feb 21, 2023 15:40:41.511 [3480] DEBUG - Content-Length of Z:\Videos\Movies\09 The Pursuit of Happyness (1080p H.mp4 is 4426821909 (of total: 4430724981).
Feb 21, 2023 15:40:41.518 [8600] DEBUG - Failed to stream media, client probably disconnected after 2736128 bytes: 10054 - An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Feb 21, 2023 15:40:41.518 [8600] DEBUG - Completed after connection close: [192.168.84.79:60357] 206 GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (13 live) TLS 88ms 2736128 bytes (range: bytes=542067359-)
Feb 21, 2023 15:40:41.586 [5700] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.84.79:60359 (Subnet)] GET /library/parts/9924/1483842042/file.mp4?Accept-Language=en (13 live) #2ac36 TLS Signed-in Token (vollmas) (VOLL-DESKTOP) (range: bytes=542102219-)

This is telling me the HOST computer, Not the player.

When the client disconnects / closes, The player tells PMS it’s closing.
(It closes nicely).

This is an abrupt break after every block is sent.

You fan see the socket numbers increasing – They should be the same

16

Okay, so what should I be looking for on the host PC/Plex Media Server PC? Does the Plex Windows app require additional network resources than the web app?

17

I am not good with windows at all. I’m the Linux guy.

AFAIK, Windows player doesn’t require additional resources / special consideration other than the media being DRM-free.

The server will try to send (especially DirectPlay) the file exactly as it exists on disk without any alteration whatsoever

Where’s the server? Synology or WIndows? (you reference “Plex Media Server PC”)

18

I have a Windows 11 desktop PC running Plex Media Server only. Connected via wired network to my daily driver PC, among other things. What is strange is that I also do not see this issue on my wireless Rokus running the Plex app.

19

I need to move you to the Windows folks.

I’m the Linux & Linux NAS guy.

I’ll get one of them (who knows Windows server & player) far better than I do.

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