Can it be changed into “Disable video transcoding unless client requires it?” or added in addition?`
Would be very lovely 
Not meaning to be obtuse, but how would this differ from just leaving transcoding enabled? Even with it enabled, it should only be transcoding if required by the client (or if bandwidth restrictions require it). The point of this setting was to make it such that Plex Media Server wouldn’t transcode video under any circumstances (audio can still be transcoded and video can be re-multiplexed). If there are exceptions, that’s just leaving it enabled.
Because the clients now default to transcoding @ 720p for no good reason at all?
I would love this!
Another thing that could be optional to this (maybe?) is to exclude certain users from this rule that doesn’t have the bandwidth to force them to be playing in original quality.
I don’t know 
The only way in the past/present/future to achieve Direct Play for Remote Clients is:
- talk them through the Remote Quality setting.
- drive to where they are and do it for them.
- remove them from your Friends List.
Options are extremely limited - and they’re going to be limited.
It’s how Plex works.
When Remote Access fails and fails long enough - Many users will simply watch Plex Movies and TV. <—yea, it’s on, 'cause you forgot to disable it while you were there doing the Remote Access Quality - so it’ll be on until you go back <—they couldn’t get Remote Quality subdued, nor can they tell the difference in your stuff and Plex’s stuff, but be prepared to get an earful about putting ads in your stuff - you are just awful (and you’re out of the Will)…lol
They needed our Friends/Guests/Family - now they just have to get 'em watching the right stuff.
Not a good idea IMO. Do you want to share or not. Don’t force your friends/family to upgrade because your server can’t keep up.
I’m still a firm believer in “I want you to watch my stuff. That is why I have given you access.” I don’t understand(and I’ve tried to) why someone wants to limit what can be watched or not just because you don’t have a powerful server.
I mean, get a better server or convert to a more universal format, or remove access to those files.
Yea, I believe that reflects the attitude of the Plex developers as well.
I much dissagree though. I have a big server, 16 drives, lots of content. I have 300 mbps upload so I have no problem sharing. And I used to, happily.
As media content improves, now with 4K, HDR and HFR, my users clients doesnt keep up. They have fast enough internet, but not modern clients.
Now everything works in my house. And Im not interested in shelling out $1000 or more to upgrade my server just so my users dont have to upgrade their $150 Apple TVs.
Instead I have kicked off about 15 users. I did this prior to Plex adding the feature of turning transcoding off. They are no longer Plex users and resort to alternatives now. Ive only kept the users that takes the effort to make things work on their end.
I would like to have the ability to transcode myself every now and then though, and I have come to realize that maybe the best sollution would be not to share any content at all, except for with imediate family. Or switch to Emby, who do allow to restrict transcoding down to the user level.
The whole idea was to prevent unnecessary transcoding on the CPU unless the client actually would require it (no hardware playback capabilities, and therefore would actually need a transcoded stream to be able to watch it), in those cases it should transcode and when client has hardware playback capabilities it should not. This would be a huge improvement for my server and I know a lot of other servers which would benefit as well.
That’s the thing; that should be the behavior with transcoding enabled. Assuming no bandwidth restrictions are applied, if a client reports it is capable of playing a particular video codec/container/resolution/frame rate/etc… combination, Plex Media Server will prefer to direct-play (or Direct Stream) it.
If that’s not happening in your environment, there is a reason. It could be that the video has too many reference frames. Or that you’re using image-based subtitles. Or any number of other things causing a transcode even though you think it shouldn’t. You’d need to troubleshoot those scenarios and see what is causing the transcode, and then try to correct it.
But having an additional setting “Transcode, but only when the client requires it” would be completely redundant. Because that’s the expected behavior now, with transcoding enabled.
That would indeed be the case if all clients by default hadn’t had 720p (2mbit) as their default remote setting. I’ve ran a Plex server for 5+ years now, and I know what you are addressing, let me assure you it’s not a troubleshooting issue. It’s not even remotely a redundant feature, well it would be if it was possible to force remote clients to direct playback (if capable) on the server side.
I understand. There’s already a feature request to address this on the client side, by changing the default remote quality to maximum:
This is just some unsolicited advice: Flesh out your original post a bit to describe a bit more clearly what you’re requesting. A little more context may help others decide whether or not they’d find this feature request interesting. As it’s currently worded it’s light on details and doesn’t really convey what you’re after, which seems to be a way to have the server ignore a client’s bandwidth/quality settings.
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