Server Version#: 4.159.0
Player Version#: Plexamp 4.12.4
I host my music library on Plex, listen to music on Plexamp, and do my own reporting on my listening history using the Plex sqlite database.
Historically, when I listen to downloaded music on my phone, that listening history is represented in the sqllite database. I’ve always assumed that Plexamp has some sort of caching mechanism and synchronizes that cache with the server when it next connects after offline listening. I don’t have any insights into what Plex is actually doing - this is just the behavior I’ve observed since I started reporting on Plex in 2022.
Starting this week I’ve noticed that offline listening is no longer being tracked. The music I listened to while on a plane isn’t in metadata_item_views. The music I listened to while the power was out and the Plex server was down also isn’t included.
Was there a recent change to Plex or Plexamp that could cause this change in behavior?
For me this is a regression that breaks one of my most important Plex scenarios. I’d love to know if this is a known problem, a deliberate “by design” change, or something else.
If there’s any additional information I can share, please let me know!
I just played a downloaded track and it did show up in Plex dashboard. I haven’t checked the actual database, but I expect it would be there since dashboard picked it up.
Have you checked your database for errors? That can prevent the database from updating.
Question: Were you connected to the Plex server when playing your downloaded track?
I’m also seeing my playing of downloaded tracks while connected to the server showing up as expected. It’s when I’m disconnected, play downloaded tracks offline, and then reconnect that I’m now seeing this unexpected behavior.
FWIW, I’m unable to reproduce the problem behavior. My database seems fine (no evidence of corruption) and my attempts to replicate the “unlogged listens” behavior have been unsuccessful.
If I can come up with a consistent repro later I’ll share it here. Until then I’ll shrug and move on…
Woke up, started playing a downloaded playlist in Plexamp on my phone
Worked out, kept the playlist playing on repeat
Started my workday, kept the playlist playing on repeat
Checked my listening report (it refreshes every 4 hours) and saw no activity for the day
Made sure my report refresh happened as expected - it had
Checked the Plex web portal, saw there was no activity (checking the activity icon in the top right area) despite the playlist playing in Plexamp
Stopped playing on Plexamp
Started playing a non-downloaded playlist on Plexamp
Checked the Plex web portal, saw there was activity as expected
Refreshed my report, saw the new listening activity, but not the 5+ hours of listening to the downloaded playlist
Hypothesis based on my observation:
When starting to play downloaded music, Plexamp registers its activity with the Plex server
If the Plex server does not respond, Plexamp plays the music but that activity is not being sent to the server
Plexamp doesn’t try again until it starts to play something else
This is my visualization of my listening habits for the month so far with the missing block highlighted. I don’t see any indications of server or database problems. My morning routine (wake up, play something, move on…) is the same most days and the problem is transient. My hypothesis is based on general knowledge or loosely connected systems, but I don’t have any real knowledge of the connection or retry logic that Plex and Plexamp use…
If the Plex server does not respond, Plexamp plays the music but that activity is not being sent to the server. Plexamp doesn’t try again until it starts to play something else
That is correct, it caches the data and sends back when it sees that connectivity to the server works again.
