Posting here since this is an “issue” that regards all the players. (I tested on mobile android app and plex for windows but I guess it’s the same everywhere).
Frankly I don’t understand why in 2022 some people would like to have quality streaming castrated, but more than that, I don’t understand why developers chose to set the default option of remote quality on any player to only 2 mbps (besides the fact I can reach that speed with a simple 3G, and today we can get a 5G connection with 10 euro/month, it’s not that if I set that option to “Maximum” I can’t have the lower quality if needed. So I really don’t get that choice).
I don’t know if I’m missing something, but I don’t see any cons to set that option to default “max” since anyone who wants to saves that bandwidth consumption can easily set it lower, on the other hand people who downloaded the app for the first time and don’t know anything about this, will simply get a lower quality for no reason or in the worst scenario (mine) where server transcoding is disabled will get a general error message who explains them nothing (and rightfully think that the app doesn’t work).
Everytime one of my friend tries to watch something on my server they fail and I need to explain them what to do to make it work. Frustrating and meaningless.
So, please, could you change this default option to “Maximum”? (And limit cellular data to OFF in mobile app)
wow, 3 years for something that is obviously broken and the team did nothing. Now it’s worse than I imagined…
Is there really someone who wants the default setting limited to 720p? And if so, WHY?
I don’t see the point for the feature request. This is not a feature, it’s something wrong that needs a fix. Try to ask to some user experience team if you have one.
There are people that still have horrendous internet in the states. I’ve got a decent download, but my upload is maxxed out from my provider at a paltry 8 mbps. I use about half that for something, leaving another 4 for anyone else. Because of this, I purposefully restrict myself to 2 when remote.
It’s strange though that there is no way to set the default remote setting for clients, I agree.
As server owner with a Plex Pass membership you can always limit the remote stream bitrate. Settings > [Server Name] > Remote Access > Limit remote stream bitrate.
And that is another point why it doesn’t make sense to set default value lower than “max”, client-side.
Answering to @Divideby0 instead, for a situation like yours is only meaningful if you can edit that value server-side, so you can limit some clients who’s settings’ set to max (and that you can do). Also, you can always limit yourself client-side (even if you don’t need it since you already doing it server-side) but what’s the purpose of making it a default?
I’m not saying that they should remove that setting, just that in the most cases people have no problem to watch contents at original quality and so that should be the default setting!!
It does make perfect sense for various use cases.
Would you as a user really want “any server admin” to dictate that you must watch a video in full quality / max bitrate while being on a metered connection (e.g. while commuting / on a mobile connection)?
I don’t get it. As user I can always set it lower if I need to. Just don’t want it to be the default setting because of the reasons I said before.
Also, if I want users that have access to my server to just watch contents in full quality (and I want that since I don’t want to waste CPU power for no reason), I just disable transcoding at all, resulting in people can’t watch anything because they know nothing about settings!
Let’s make an example: I invite some of my friends to my home for a party and when someone come, I can choose to give him/her a bottle of wine or just a glass. In this example I’ll assume I have unlimited wine bottles (or at least as many as my guests are).
So, what would you do? Give them a glass or a bottle? If I’ll give them a glass, there will be probably people who want more but maybe they don’t even know how to ask, if I’ll give them a bottle it’s just simple as that. People who want to drink they’ll probably drink it all, and people who just want a glass they’ll just leave the bottle there and drink only a glass.
I guess the situation here is the same. My question is why my users should have only a glass when they can have a bottle without asking?
Would you as a suer really want “any server admin” to dictate that you must watch a video in 720p 2mbit bitrate being on [insert connection here] connection (e.g. while [insert activity here])
Not sure I get your point.
As a user I can change the video quality preference based on my particular use case (within the constraints set by a server admin’s remote access limitations and restrictions).
Check the number of votes (and creation date) on the thread you were linked to.
Check the (at least 20) different threads on the exact same subject dating several years earlier than the suggestion.
Search carefully you may even find the post where Plex seemingly take this seriously.
Bottom line is we all apparently live in a 3rd world country where anything better than turn of the Millennium speeds will only be a thing in the next Millennium yet our shiny new servers have the capacity to do multiple transcodes to cater for this.
You have no right to assume that as a server admin that Plex will regard you as anything but clueless.
You have no right to assume that Plex setting a global (awful) quality in your (several) users clients is easier than setting the same thing on the server to accommodate your servers capabilities or upload speed.
You’re just the server admin so what could you possibly know?
I really hope my post was read as the sarcasm it was intended to be.
We MUST be clued up enough to read the support topics. Beyond that we are all regarded as Dumb as F***
Several particular generic Ninja replies will confirm this and specifically in this thread.
I guess they gotta toe the party line.
Give the ability for the server admin to set the default BUT ONLY after they have guided through their users of how to change the default setting on a client they have possibly never used. (and otherwise overrides any setting the server admin sets.)
Beyond that as one such Ninja mentioned they don’t understand.
This is why I rarely report issues. I’m not looking for a Plex Employee to baby talk me through anything. I and many many people here can discuss things without going through all the motions… because I assure that we have already went through the motions before we ever post. Then 95% of the time it’s ignored anyways.
There should NEVER be default settings. The clients should walk users through all the options on first setup like a good app and not let it load until completed. The server already does this on a basic level, why not the clients? I mean the clients kinda do this already but just selecting the default library is hardly enough for the apps to function.
The issue with the apps changing settings on their own needs to be addressed too for any of this to work properly. That’s really annoying especially when you have all your friends on optimal settings then the app goes and changes Direct Play to auto or some BS. Magically turns subtitles on for no reason. etc…
Then I saw this.
So basically no one watches on a home device or at least that usage is a fringe case?
Plex does what It does cos we’re all watching via cellular on the bus at sudden notice?
In the real world I guess we would be using the super duper “downloads” feature for that.
I get flaws. I don’t get bullshit being spouted in defence of those flaws.
It makes sense for the mobile app. Nothing else. Doesn’t matter what the server owners upload is because that’s enforced server side anyways. It really is Plex trolling their user base.
Keep in mind I’m not “Plex” but just another user who happens to be around in the forum.
My point was simply that (a) not everybody runs into this situation and (b) it’s not entirely flawed/bad because it doesn’t cover every base – which isn’t saying I don’t see your point.
Just reporting a recent case, that pushed me to open this thread:
My friend wants to see something on his tablet, so he downloaded the app, trying to start the content and obviously Plex gave him a general error (I have transcoded disabled). He tought the app on tablet was broken and just uninstalled it.
Then, since I know about this, I told him how to do and solved, but 1: this is annoying for me, 2: I had to disable transcoding (to me as well) ONLY BECAUSE my friends used it with no reason at all, consuming my cpu power, and JUST BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW ANYTHING about settings.
