Denying access due to session lacking permission to transcode key with nvidia GPU

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
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Server Version#: 1.41.5.9522
Player Version#: Plex for mac 1.106.0.276-fe8d1d20
Plex Media Server Logs_2025-03-18_21-53-27.zip (4.1 MB)

I’m reopening this topic as I’m experiencing the same issue as described in the closed thread. I recently purchased an RTX 3060 with the intention of using it for transcoding. My setup is on Unraid using Docker, and I’ve ensured all NVIDIA variables are correctly set, including the “–runtime=nvidia” in the extra parameters.

The problem happens when I attempt to change the quality of a video (whether 4K or 1080p, and it doesn’t seem to be HDR-related). I encounter an error during this process.

Screenshot 2025-03-18 at 9.56.59 PM
Screenshot 2025-03-18 at 9.56.59 PM1038×516 18.1 KB

This issue is consistent on both macOS and Windows desktop clients. Interestingly, it doesn’t happen on iOS. On the iOS app, when I change the quality, the video briefly crashes, returning me to the movie selection screen before resuming the movie while transcoding correctly.

What’s confusing is that if I set the quality in the plex client settings to limit the bitrate to 8Mbps at 1080p before starting the movie, the transcode starts correctly. In this scenario, I can even adjust the quality while the movie is playing without issues. The problem only seems to happen when starting from direct play and then attempting to transcode to a lower quality.

I have found this while scanning the logs

[Req#12956/Transcode] Denying access due to session lacking permission to transcode key /library/metadata/3037

Which is the title of a closed thread with no solution.
If this was a permissions issue this would have been happening when I was using the 13700k iGPU to transcode before I got the 3060, it’s worth noting that I am transcoding to ram in /tmp but I tried to change the transcode path to my SSD cache and it had the same issue

Has anyone else encountered this behavior or found a solution?

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I might have the same problem. Did you try to test the transcoding on other devices? I tried on my phone and it worked fine, but on my Plex app on my windows 11 pc it gives med Denying access due to session lacking permission to transcode key /library/metadata/5948 and on the movie it gives me error 4294967283 and closes.

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Yes, it works on my phone and apple tv but no desktop client.

1 Like
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Alright, sounds like the exact same problem as mine. I really hope Plex can do something about it, i’ve seen lots on people on the forum having the same problem. :face_with_diagonal_mouth:

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Hi Bennybergle
Did you find a solution to the problem? I tried streaming to my Chromecast and there also seem to be problems with transcoding and streaming from phone to Chromecast. I still get the same error on PC aswell. I’ve tried inserting a 1050ti but with the same error. I’ve also tried reinstalling Truenas Scale from scratch without importing the config but same problem. I am using a GTX 1660.

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I had to rollback to NVIDIA driver version v470.256.02 and it seems to be working but it’s still super annoying that I can’t use a newer driver because hadbrake wont work with this old driver.

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Alright, i ended up selling my GTX 1660 and buying a A380 instead to avoid the Nvidia drivers.

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Yeah that’s probably a good call but I still wish this would be fixed :frowning:

1 Like
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