Server Version#: 1.32.4.7195
Player Version#: 9.26.0.2648
I’m frequently having an issue after Plex playback, like when youre done streaming a movie, where you disconnect the chromecast connection within the Plex app, but the Plex screen remains on the TV afterwards. It should close and return to the Google Chromecast slideshow like when disconnecting from other chromecast compatible apps like Youtube, F1TV etc.
Maybe it doesn’t sound like a big deal for some, but the Chromecast will trigger a CEC command to the TV when the app eventually time out. It will trigger the TV to change source back to the chromecast, or even turn on the TV if it has been powered off after the disconnection was made.
Versions as mentioned above.
Google Pixel 7a with the latest stable release
Chomecast Ultra with the latest available firmware.
I have also seen issues where:
1 - Plex mobile app drops the connection to Chromecast intermittently.
2 - The playback stops when opening the Plex mobile app and/or when reestablishing the chromecast connection.
IGMP (v3) is enabled in the router settings by the way.
Yes, I have this same problem on two Chromecast devices (original 2013 1st-gen and a 3rd-gen Ultra from 2020). When disconnecting from other streaming services there’s a positive confirmation of the TV screen exiting the service and going back to the Chromecast slideshow; on Plex this doesn’t happen. This is the current process:
Watch a show with Plex by casting to Chromecast, show eventually ends.
Disconnect from Chromecast with Plex app (Plex slideshow continues on TV).
Turn off the TV and exit the Plex app on mobile device.
Hours later Plex autonomously re-opens casting to Chromecast without any human intervention, this turns on the TV and peripherals.
Plex seems to occasionally think it’s still supposed to be serving data to the Chromecast and after timing out for an hour it reconnects again! Usually the TV is off and we’re not in the vicinity so it just stays on until someone see it. The problem seems to be getting worse now.
Server Version#: 1.32.5.7349
Player Version#: 9.28.0.3162
I’d like to add that both my Plex server and my Chromecast Ultra are wired (no WiFi), so the connection is local and hard.
I actually found a workaround while I was waiting for Plex to acknowledge and fix this…(Hey Plex, still waiting!!)
Just like you said, Plex triggers some kind of re establishment with the Chromecast hours after the last use. The chromecast will then communicate with the TV using HDMI CEC saying it has an active signal and the TV will turn itself on.
HDMI CEC is the standard term, but different brands tend to use different names so you may have to look up the equivalent setting if you’re using another brand. LG uses “Simplink” to describe the same thing for instance.
Now, you could go ahead and turn off HDMI CEC altogether on the TV and the issue should go away, but doing so will also remove functionality like adjusting volume on soundbars, using the play/pause button when casting content etc. But I found a setting on my LG C9 TV where you can disallow the power on part, and leave the other CEC functions unchanged (enabled).
Here’s how to do it, at least on LG C9:
1 Hold the cog/settings button on the remote for 3 seconds to open the extended settings window.
2 Go to Connection/s.
3 Go to HDMI Settings.
4 Make sure Auto power sync is disabled.
If it is greyed out, you may have to enable Simplink (HDMI-CEC) first.
Note, I had to translate the settings within each step above from my native language to English, so it may be slightly different for you, but they should at least give you an idea of where to find it.
Were you able to find the auto power sync setting, turned it off but the TV still powers on?
That’s weird if you’re using separate Chromecast hardware like the Chromecast Ultra because it should do the trick. Turning off CEC completely on the TV might help as well but it’s a more forceful measure.
However it makes sense if you’re using the built in functionality that is part of some TV sets as this setting will only apply to HDMI attached devices. In that case a proper fix from Plex is the only option.
