Downloads not using "optimized versions"

Plex Players Mobile Devices
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Server Version#: Ubuntu - 1.42.2.10156
Player Version#: Android - 2025.27.0

I’ve used Sync/Downloads extensively in previous versions, and most of my devices are still on the last Android build prior to the new UI update. I’m currently testing the latest version to identify what might still be broken.

I’m having trouble understanding how the new “Quality” settings work, as they appear to function very differently from before the redesign. I have all my videos pre-optimized for mobile at 3 Mbps. However, when I select Original, High, or Medium, Plex downloads the 4K original instead of using my optimized versions. If I select Low, Plex transcodes a new file rather than using my pre-existing optimized copy.

It seems like the new UI isn’t recognizing or using my optimized versions at all. Could you provide some clarity on how the new quality tiers (High, Medium, Low) are defined and what bitrates or conditions each corresponds to?

1 Like
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This might be a known issue where the original gets downloaded despite the settings to optimize it.

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Yeah… That looks like the same issue. But what IS high, medium and low… It’s like speed limit saying medium speed.

There was a comment in that other thread saying that optimized versions cannot be downloaded. On the previous UI, this was NOT the case. I could definitely download the pre-optimized versions.