This fix for a different problem improves the issue for me but doesn’t totally fix it. It fully stops the infinite buffering when you fast-forward/rewind or click on the timeline (though still a bit slow to resume). However it still has a major glitch where often after you jump directly on the timeline it will play for a few minutes then go back to the frame of the point you jumped from and infinitely buffer.
So not a full fix but at least a step in the right direction, and I think safe to conclude this issue and the other one are related in some way. I’m using the web player on chrome for mac.
I’m experiencing the very same issue with latest Plex Media server build and latest firefox, as of today. It’s absolutely horrific. Please do something! What kind of logs should we provide here?
It seems like a pretty basic issue most likely caused by bad addressing or silly client-side error.
The reason why this bug has been opened for 3 years without virtually any meaningful answer from support is beyond me.
I just read this whole heartbreaking thread, going back 3 years…I have this exact problem, matching this timeline. Plex really just gonna leave us hangin here? I wanna help, not just whining! Tell me what you need Plex, we can do this
Also the same problem here. Can’t remember this ever worked.
I have about 20TB of movies and 20TB of series on different Synology NAS volumes. There’s no issue what so ever with they NAS. When I play a movie or serie directly in some windows movie player, everything works fine. I can fastforward, go backward, pause. No problem.
In Plex this always causes long delays and most of the times it just hangs there spinning until you use X to break of the movie and restart it all together. That’s very annoying when you’re half way through the movie and had to pause or rewind a bit.
Been suffering from this rewind problem like 3 years. Luckily Emby has gotten good enough and is now far better than Plex which seems to be forgotten by it’s developers.
Emby has an app for phones too. And subs if that is important for you is downloaded too if you configure it - no plugins needed.
So I convinced my wife to cut the Cable cord. Plex was a big part of that argument. This issue with the media server hanging after several forward/rewind iterations (very common with kid interruptions) means my wife is angry at me due to this product. My wife is complaining to her friends about this product. This situation isn’t good for me or Plex.
So after reading this 3 year long thread, I just need to know one thing. Should I call the Lifetime Plex Pass I bought (and recommended to friends) money wasted and purse another solution?
To everyone having this issue, the work around I have come across with trail and error, I installed an ssd to my server and changed the the transcoder temporary folder to it and also changed the transcoder buffer default throttle buffer to 10 minutes, for 25 minute episode shows it works ok you still have to let the show play for a minute or better to allow for the transcoder to get ahead of what you are currently watching, unfortunately this will only work if you have the room to install the ssd into the system you are using for the server, hope this help to alleviate some headaches.
I can confirm that this fixed the eternal loading symbol after skipping back more than once. Unfortunately, it seems skipping back more than a few times is impossible. If I try to skip back more than a few times, it seem like it’s skipping back, then jump forward again to maybe the third or fourth skip back. Definitely an improvement over having to completely stop and start again, unless I actually need to go back further. In that case, it’s somewhat of a hindrance. Previously, I could at least get to that point in the timeline, stop, then start again, and it would be there. I’ll leave it like this and try to remember to post more if I see any other useful info.
Thank you @Jaffawarrior these kinds of things are one of the reasons I ended my Plex Pass membership. I’ve been having this problem for years.
I have had the same issue for years, both watching on Chrome through plex.tv and watching through the Samsung Smart TV app. It is incredibly annoying. I always watch with subtitles on, if that helps.
I’ve been having the same problem no matter what I use. Xbox, LG, Chromecast, S20+, etc. I can’t even resume the movie once it happens. It will just sit and buffer forever. Only happens with my large 4K movies, 25Gb+. Only way I have been able to fix it is delete it from the server and re-add the movie. Which is super annoying. I’ve spent more time fixing problems then actually watching anything lately. I’ve noticed my CPU will spike on the server when this happens too. VLC and everything else will stream without problem. #annoyed
Xbox One user here. I’ve had this issue for years. It is NOT an issue with my server. 6 core, 12 thread CPU, SSD, 32 GB RAM, and have tried hardware acceleration with a GTx 1070 with no change. Been a paid Plex Pass holder for years and im going to start looking for an alternative to Plex. Bugs are far to common and I’m just sick of it. Constant buffering yet CPU is at like 10%, etc. The fact that paid subscribers can’t get personalized support is the cherry on top
Switching to transcoding sometimes works, but it is hit or miss. I think if I switch to the old player on the Shield TV (1st gen) then the rewind issues aren’t there, but you then lose some of the features and functions with the new player e.g., Watch Together.
Considering the transcode URL isn’t even hit otherwise, is that because the client side app thinks the video fragment is still buffered client-side but still waits for it to be loaded somehow?
If it were a server-side problem, I’d expect to see the player try to load (i.e. hit the transcode URL) and just have the request hanging, but I can’t find any hanging requests.
Same problem here. It has always done this. Using an Apple TV or Firestick. Hit back a few times and it dies. Exit the show, go back, resume where you left off and it will be somewhere around where you want to be.
Also a problem for me in multiple operating systems and browsers. Ability to skip back is basic functionality, and I’m shocked this is ongoing 3 years.
