Error occured - Decoder: init failed (android player 2026.8.0)

[emu03]

Server Version#:
Player Version#:2026.8.0

Longtime Plex pass user here and never had an issue until last week

My honor magic pad 2 displays this error message on any local playback of H265 files from my Plex server (qnap nas)

If I download the file from the Plex server it plays fine

I tried clearing cache, reinstalling the client and even a fully factory reset of android but still get the error

Today my phone also updated to the latest Android version 2026.8.0 and starting throwing the same “Error occured - Decoder: init failed”

I have now manually side loaded and older version 2026.5.0 and the issue is fixed

I think there is a bug in android app 2026.8.0 that prevents local streaming of H265 files

[hi_phi]

I got this error message when selecting the TrueHD/Atmos track on my Pixel 9a. Choosing anything else than that track fixed my problem. (I chose regular AC3 and launched the movie again.)

[FordGuy61]

@hi_phi Plex is investigating of the problem with TrueHD 7.1 audio. I see the same on my Pixel 6a.

@emu03 Can you provide a set of android client logs that capture the problem?

I’ve not seen any other reports of problems with HEVC video. The logs may show what is going wrong.

[emu03]

plex-log-2026-05-06T17_20_04.846Z.zip (38.9 KB)

Here is the log from my phone on the latest Plex client

[emu03]

App Version: 3.7.7-20251119074738
App Version Code: 3007007
App Flavor: ACCOUNT_MANAGER

Files App Version Code: 403900015

---

OS Version: 6.1.118-android14-11-g5a3e04d9b6d0-ab14281642(1776179586)
OS API Level: 35
Device: FP6
Manufacturer: Fairphone
Model (and Product): Fairphone 6 (lineage_FP6)

---

java.lang.RuntimeException: android.os.TransactionTooLargeException: data parcel size 875200 bytes
Bundle stats:
  androidx.lifecycle.BundlableSavedStateRegistry.key [size=873804]
    android:support:activity-result [size=1916]
      KEY_COMPONENT_ACTIVITY_REGISTERED_KEYS [size=1236]
    android:support:fragments [size=871512]
      fragment_42ae384f-70b8-4ff8-a53a-c499887818c6 [size=11404]
        state [size=11372]
      fragment_f8c2d031-876b-4e75-aee4-c086e22922c5 [size=859512]
        state [size=859480]
PersistableBundle stats:
  [null]
	at android.app.servertransaction.PendingTransactionActions$StopInfo.run(PendingTransactionActions.java:146)
	at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:991)
	at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
	at android.os.Looper.loopOnce(Looper.java:232)
	at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:317)
	at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:8934)
	at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
	at com.android.internal.os.RuntimeInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(RuntimeInit.java:591)
	at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:911)
Caused by: android.os.TransactionTooLargeException: data parcel size 875200 bytes
	at android.os.BinderProxy.transactNative(Native Method)
	at android.os.BinderProxy.transact(BinderProxy.java:592)
	at android.app.IActivityClientController$Stub$Proxy.activityStopped(IActivityClientController.java:1504)
	at android.app.ActivityClient.activityStopped(ActivityClient.java:100)
	at android.app.servertransaction.PendingTransactionActions$StopInfo.run(PendingTransactionActions.java:135)
	... 8 more

[mordax7]

Similar issue on my side:

• Device: Nothing Phone (3) / A024 / Android 16

• Plex for Android v2026.10.0

• EAC3 8-channel output from TrueHD transcode causes “Decoder: init failed”

• EAC3 5.1 and AC3 5.1 direct play work fine

[John-Piper]

Same issue here:
App Name: Plex for Fire TV (Amazon Sheldon Android)

Platform Version 9

Client Version 2026.12.0 - (971050218)

AFTSS

[binhex1]

same issue here, latest plex android as of right now (28th june 2026), any chance we can get this fixed, its been over a month

[nk_o]

Same error as everybody here.

An issue as important as this not being fixed in 2 month is outrageous for a paid software.

[jajab]

Happening with all my android devices apart from my Nvidia shield, probably due to having the right license or codecs or something

[ljhsquall]

Still having this issue as of today and latest version 2016.13. what’s going on plex?

[DARKNIVES]

Same issue, getting Decoder init failed.

[LotSky]

Using the latest version of the app now which is 2026.15.0. It now has a server section that’s similar to the Plex Dashboard on the desktop app but I’m still having trouble playing files with 7.1 audio. Instead of Decoder: init failed, it now displays “The format isn’t supported on this device”. Only happens on my Oneplus 15 as of checking. Tried it with my parent’s Xiaomi phones and the 7.1 audio movies play without issue. Transcoding was automatically done before these latest app versions when playing unsupported audio types.