Can't get optimized versions to direct play automatically

[griffinballs]

Server Version#:4.125.1
Player Version#:10.11.0.183

Hi there, I’m trying to make my full library available as 4K to use on my TV’s and I also want a 1080p copy of everything to use on mobiles/tablets. Some of these tablets support 4K but I would like to make them use the 1080p version as they don’t need it on that small a screen.

To do this I’ve tried to convert all of my movies using the Plex Optimize function. I’ve “Optimized for TV” to give me 1080p on everything, they all work fine when selecting the version…but that’s not user friendly for my family. I want Plex to auto serve the correct version.

I’ve tried limiting the quality in the player to 1080p of varying bitrates. Some movies it auto plays the correct “Optimized for TV” version, but quite a lot of them it decides to transcode the 4K version down to 1080p. Sometimes it will even transcode the 1080p version to another 1080p version. If I select the 1080p version manually it direct plays.

I’m trying to avoid all transcoding as I have my plex server on my main gaming PC which is in use often, it won’t always have the resources to transcode, plus I hate delays when moving around the movie. I want direct play on everything.

Dream function…if Plex allows us to Optimize and use our own categories for optimized versions…why can’t we have a function in the plex players to serve the optimized version of our choosing instead of relying on Plex’s intelligence to figure it out?

[Qtip]

Sorry, I had an idea, but it didn’t work.

[griffinballs]

I have this sort of figured out.
So it will serve the correct version depending on what the device supports. If the device supports 4K, it will direct play 4K, or it will direct play the “optimized for tv” version if selected manually. But if auto relying on the 1080p quality option, it will transcode either the 4k version or sometimes the 1080p version.
If the device only supports 1080p, it will direct play the “optimized for tv” version automatically, no need to specify version and no transcoding.

To be honest now, it’s of limited worry to me, it will serve most purposes. I can think of one purpose where this could do with working the way I suggested. Remote users with devices that support 4K…
If I take my phone away from home, with remote quality set to any of the 1080p settings, even the lowest. I guarantee that it’s going to serve me a transcoded from 4K version rather than just direct playing my “optimized for tv” 1080p version. The option to be able to set preferred version in plex players rather than just bitrate would be really useful…or if the bitrate option simply took into account the optimized versions as it doesn’t seem to be in my case.