Generating video preview thumbnails continuous Loop

Plex Players Desktop Players
24

Just to keep this thread alive. I, too, am having the same issue.

25

FWIW, I don’t have this issue per-se but my HEVC files (compared to h.264 files) take a considerably longer time to generate thumbnails at basically 100% CPU (all cores) on a 16 core Ryzen 2700 system with GPU-accelerated video decoding. It could just be that it’s taking a long time to process depending upon your hardware, unless it hasn’t progressed in a few hours time, in which case it might be stuck on a corrupt file. With h.264 files I can literally watch the progress circle filling up, but with HEVC it’s nearly imperceptible unless you leave for a little while and come back.

26

I’m having the same issue with some of my HEVC files (mkv or m4v). Server is the latest on MacOS Mojave 10.14.2. It’s been an ongoing issue with these files, and I’ve had it at least a few months going back to when I was on High Sierra.

1 Like
27

Same here. My plex server is on a Synology DS218Play, running the latest version 1.5.0.550-20055f39b
Very frustrating issue since it bottlenecks the CPU (which is not that powerful anyways).
Stopping and starting the plex server works as a workaround.

1 Like
28

Same issue here. It seems specific to HEVC 10-bit files.

XML dump info of one of the problem files:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<MediaContainer size="1" allowSync="1" identifier="com.plexapp.plugins.library" librarySectionID="1" librarySectionTitle="Movies" librarySectionUUID="9106b6f6-626b-4962-9233-a845578e61a6" mediaTagPrefix="/system/bundle/media/flags/" mediaTagVersion="1544614860">
    <Video ratingKey="38971" key="/library/metadata/38971" guid="com.plexapp.agents.imdb://tt0120903?lang=en" librarySectionTitle="Movies" librarySectionID="1" librarySectionKey="/library/sections/1" studio="Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation" type="movie" title="X-Men" titleSort="X-Men1" contentRating="PG-13" summary="Two mutants, Rogue and Wolverine, come to a private academy for their kind whose resident superhero team, the X-Men, must oppose a terrorist organization with similar powers." rating="8.1" audienceRating="8.3" year="2000" tagline="Evolution Begins" thumb="/library/metadata/38971/thumb/1547597180" art="/library/metadata/38971/art/1547597180" duration="6260310" originallyAvailableAt="2000-07-13" addedAt="1489367592" updatedAt="1547597180" audienceRatingImage="rottentomatoes://image.rating.upright" chapterSource="agent" primaryExtraKey="/library/metadata/39008" ratingImage="rottentomatoes://image.rating.certified">
        <Media videoResolution="1080" id="77416" duration="6260310" bitrate="6193" width="1920" height="816" aspectRatio="2.35" audioChannels="6" audioCodec="aac" videoCodec="hevc" container="mkv" videoFrameRate="24p" audioProfile="he-aac" videoProfile="main 10">
            <Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="83489" key="/library/parts/83489/1489351298/file.mkv" duration="6260310" file="/media/nas/Movies/X-Men (2000).mkv" size="4846551155" audioProfile="he-aac" container="mkv" deepAnalysisVersion="2" failureBIF="e7828f1-1324" requiredBandwidths="36932,31768,21634,11749,11473,11473,11473,11473" videoProfile="main 10">
                <Stream id="168097" streamType="1" default="1" codec="hevc" index="0" bitrate="6193" bitDepth="10" chromaSubsampling="4:2:0" colorPrimaries="bt709" colorRange="tv" colorSpace="bt709" colorTrc="bt709" frameRate="23.976" height="816" level="120" profile="main 10" refFrames="1" requiredBandwidths="36741,31576,21442,11556,11291,11291,11291,11291" width="1920" displayTitle="1080p (HEVC Main 10)" />
                <Stream id="168098" streamType="2" selected="1" default="1" codec="aac" index="1" channels="6" bitrate="192" language="English" languageCode="eng" audioChannelLayout="5.1" profile="he-aac" requiredBandwidths="192,192,192,192,192,192,192,192" samplingRate="48000" title="MZABI" displayTitle="English (HE-AAC 5.1)" />
            </Part>
        </Media>
        <Genre id="9374" filter="genre=9374" tag="Sci-Fi" />
        <Genre id="4838" filter="genre=4838" tag="Action" />
        <Genre id="6692" filter="genre=6692" tag="Adventure" />
        <Director id="24629" filter="director=24629" tag="Bryan Singer" />
        <Writer id="24124" filter="writer=24124" tag="David Hayter" />
        <Producer id="23147" filter="producer=23147" tag="Lauren Shuler Donner" />
        <Producer id="23195" filter="producer=23195" tag="Ralph Winter" />
        <Country id="81" filter="country=81" tag="USA" />
        <Role id="24618" filter="actor=24618" tag="Patrick Stewart" role="Charles Xavier / Professor X" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/9APDd4HgEasZemAcSEBETY9DQoL.jpg" />
        <Role id="17192" filter="actor=17192" tag="Hugh Jackman" role="Logan / Wolverine" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/iTfqkvcIvL8D32xXluth7LBGhW1.jpg" />
        <Role id="2593" filter="actor=2593" tag="Ian McKellen" role="Eric Lensherr / Magneto" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/c51mP46oPgAgFf7bFWVHlScZynM.jpg" />
        <Role id="9793" filter="actor=9793" tag="Halle Berry" role="Ororo Munroe / Storm" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/AmCXHowNbUXpNf41dNrxNB0naM2.jpg" />
        <Role id="5559" filter="actor=5559" tag="Famke Janssen" role="Jean Grey / Phoenix" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/xGsT7Os6RFI6bTPTToBCdPkXX1W.jpg" />
        <Role id="2636" filter="actor=2636" tag="James Marsden" role="Scott Summers / Cyclops" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/htBil0Vayd09haeUVoKEPxuantT.jpg" />
        <Role id="52" filter="actor=52" tag="Anna Paquin" role="Marie D'Ancanto / Rogue" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/5Q4vZK2PqHkreQLmbPspIgrSLUP.jpg" />
        <Role id="24630" filter="actor=24630" tag="Rebecca Romijn" role="Raven Darkholme / Mystique" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/dWelUPoJiMeBsGm1EISAXZ9azwq.jpg" />
        <Role id="21248" filter="actor=21248" tag="Ray Park" role="Mortimer Toynbee / Toad" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/wfaFcFbtjX9MbuGl4AiijSzXazd.jpg" />
        <Role id="6803" filter="actor=6803" tag="Tyler Mane" role="Victor Creed / Sabretooth" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/ppGbITxSnakqHhZIqh5fTjQjq2D.jpg" />
        <Role id="24631" filter="actor=24631" tag="Bruce Davison" role="Senator Kelly" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/6IRITUDhQ3b3ykUsdjiFUyiiO72.jpg" />
        <Role id="24632" filter="actor=24632" tag="Matthew Sharp" role="Henry Gyrich" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/9iydy7N6gUjLliv9hO4IbR5cxQx.jpg" />
        <Role id="24633" filter="actor=24633" tag="Rhona Shekter" role="Magneto's Mother" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/u1LeG3zvWmS3ulz6qsxozFTmcEn.jpg" />
        <Role id="24634" filter="actor=24634" tag="Kenneth McGregor" role="Magneto's Father" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/6NeXaUMfBhEngZEvk6kETPK5Ekn.jpg" />
        <Role id="24635" filter="actor=24635" tag="Shawn Roberts" role="Rogue's Boyfriend" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/pt1U5wczObR2niyobjJoUdtmCSq.jpg" />
        <Role id="22856" filter="actor=22856" tag="Stan Lee" role="Hot Dog Vendor" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/dTr2gJPL7jELKVkcjtoNx80uVKR.jpg" />
        <Role id="24636" filter="actor=24636" tag="Shawn Ashmore" role="Bobby Drake / Iceman" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/n4XaAblagtaawSVArpGZ4BzrmKt.jpg" />
        <Role id="24637" filter="actor=24637" tag="Sumela Kay" role="Katherine &quot;Kitty&quot; Pryde / Shadowcat" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/zTI3PaHZsHZkPXDIVcniu3Ijp7G.jpg" />
        <Role id="24638" filter="actor=24638" tag="Alex Burton" role="John Allerdyce / Pyro" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/sOad81RSUmdVm3XU9YpKxphGDQG.jpg" />
        <Field locked="1" name="titleSort" />
        <Extras size="1">
            <Video ratingKey="39008" key="/library/metadata/39008" guid="iva://api.internetvideoarchive.com/2.0/DataService/VideoAssets(516537)?lang=en&amp;bitrates=80,212,450,600,750,1500,2500,5000,8000&amp;duration=121&amp;adaptive=1&amp;dts=0" type="clip" title="X-Men" summary="" index="1" year="2000" thumb="/library/metadata/39008/thumb/-1" subtype="trailer" duration="121000" originallyAvailableAt="2000-03-31" extraType="1">
                <Media videoResolution="1080" id="269650" duration="121000" width="1920" height="1080" aspectRatio="1.78" audioCodec="aac" videoCodec="h264" container="mp4" premium="1">
                    <Part id="275758" duration="121000" container="mp4" key="/services/iva/assets/516537/video.mp4?bitrate=2500" optimizedForStreaming="1">
                        <Stream id="553513" streamType="1" codec="h264" index="0" height="1080" width="1920" displayTitle="1080p (H.264)" />
                        <Stream id="553514" streamType="2" selected="1" codec="aac" index="1" channels="2" language="English" languageCode="eng" displayTitle="English (AAC Stereo)" />
                    </Part>
                </Media>
                <Media videoResolution="720" id="269651" duration="121000" bitrate="1500000" width="1280" height="720" aspectRatio="1.78" audioCodec="aac" videoCodec="h264" container="mp4" premium="1">
                    <Part id="275759" duration="121000" container="mp4" key="/services/iva/assets/516537/video.mp4?bitrate=1500" optimizedForStreaming="1">
                        <Stream id="553515" streamType="1" codec="h264" index="0" bitrate="1500000" height="720" width="1280" displayTitle="720p (H.264)" />
                        <Stream id="553516" streamType="2" selected="1" codec="aac" index="1" channels="2" language="English" languageCode="eng" displayTitle="English (AAC Stereo)" />
                    </Part>
                </Media>
                <Media videoResolution="480" id="269652" duration="121000" bitrate="450000" width="640" height="480" aspectRatio="1.33" audioCodec="aac" videoCodec="h264" container="mp4" premium="1">
                    <Part id="275760" duration="121000" container="mp4" key="/services/iva/assets/516537/video.mp4?bitrate=450" optimizedForStreaming="1">
                        <Stream id="553517" streamType="1" codec="h264" index="0" bitrate="450000" height="480" width="640" displayTitle="480p (H.264)" />
                        <Stream id="553518" streamType="2" selected="1" codec="aac" index="1" channels="2" language="English" languageCode="eng" displayTitle="English (AAC Stereo)" />
                    </Part>
                </Media>
            </Video>
        </Extras>
    </Video>
</MediaContainer>
29

I’m having the same issue with a HEVC 10-bit file. It has been spinning for 6 months so I’m starting to think I can’t simply wait it out…

1 Like
30

Still no official response on this matter for this many months ?
It’s funny that plex devs dedicate time on features that nobody asked for but fail to fix core functionality…
Emby starts to look promising to be honest…

31

Found this in the version history:

Plex Media Server 1.1.0 is now available for Plex Pass members.
…
(Media Analysis) Issues generating video preview thumbnails for certain HEVC videos on windows. (#5139)
…

Not that it helps, but it shows there have been issues in the past. Unfortunately it hasn’t fixed it for all users.

32

Keeping this thread alive. I’m also having this issue.

Strange thing in my case is that when I exit Plex ( shut down the server application) and start it back up again.
It doesn’t remember what it was doing so it breaks the continuous loop.

After that I can just manually pick the media content that is missing cover art to refresh metadata and it works like expected without continuous loop.

I’m on Windows

33

Still having this issue

34

Still having the same issue.

Some updates seem to fix it, next update breaks it again.
Plex server is Binhex PlexPass container on Unraid 6.6.7 (2 x Intel E2660v3, 256GB DDR4 ECC, Firepro 5100 and 7100). Plex continues to operate as expected, utilisation of CPU and RAM displays as negligible, but activity indicator constantly spins on Generating thumbnails for GoT S03E03 - Which has a full set of thumbnails, and plays through without any issues whether that is Direct Play, Direct Streaming or any combination of transcoding.

35

This error is still happening running 1.15.3.876, if I temporarily remove the offending file it will process a few other shows or movies before getting hung up on the next random hevc file.

Findings:
The show will direct play or transcode without issue.
If I reboot my server and click analyze on new x264 media, then thumbnails are generated in ~10 mins for that item
Files stuck in a loop will go for 16+ hours with the progress bar never making it past a specific spot (unique to each problem file)

36

I also have the same issue with all my 4K titles. Never-ending loop (ds415play). I just bought the DS918+ so once I install it and migrate my settings over I will see if this continues to be an issue (much better processor, more RAM, etc). I will post my findings here.

37

This is weird, so no one has a solution? Does any of the developers had said something about this? It’s really annoying having this unsolved. I don’t want to deactivate thumbnail generation!

38

So also have the issue. HVEC 10 bit movie, on dashboard for 4-5 months.

My assumption is this was a plex problem that was fixed on an update but did not clear out cached list to create. I only had this 1 issue and after steps below nothing has popped up so good for now.

My steps to fix.

I have done this 10 minutes ago and looks fine so far. Will come back and update if it comes up again.
My current version: 1.15.5.994
I have my plex in a docker so showing those steps.

  1. move the movie/episode to a temp folder outside plex
    1b) I tried deleting the movie but failed (didnt exist), might not have to do this
  2. sudo docker stop plex
  3. sudo docker start plex
  4. wait for server to be running and no more generating preview
  5. move movie/episode back

doesnt fix

Just stopping and starting plex does not fix it. I had to make sure the file did not exist.

UPDATE

This solved it for a day but eventually came back so I think there is just still an issue with plex HVEC 10 bit.

My file info:

Media

  • Duration 1:51:48
  • Bitrate 1993 kbps
  • Width 1920
  • Height 800
  • Aspect Ratio 2.35
  • Video Resolution 1080p
  • Container MKV
  • Video Frame Rate 24p
  • Audio Profile he-aac
  • Video Profile main 10

Part

  • Duration 1:51:48

  • File.mkv

  • Size 1.56 GB

  • Audio Profile he-aac

  • Container MKV

  • Video Profile main 10

  • Codec HEVC

  • Bitrate 1801 kbps

  • Bit Depth 10

  • Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0

  • Color Range tv

  • Frame Rate 23.976 fps

  • Height 800

  • Level 4.0

  • Profile main 10

  • Ref Frames 1

  • Width 1920

  • Display Title 1080p (HEVC Main 10)

  • Codec AAC

  • Channels 6

  • Bitrate 192 kbps

  • Audio Channel Layout 5.1

  • Profile he-aac

  • Sampling Rate 48000 Hz

  • Display Title Unknown (HE-AAC 5.1)

39

I too am having this issue with my HEVC files. Any official word yet from Plex on this issue?

40

noticing the issues myself on a Synology DS1019+ and the latest build for it version 1.15.6.1079

constant loop of generating video thumbnails that also pushes my NAS cpu to 95% usage while its doing this. can’t figure out which file/folder is causing it; previously has NEVER been an issue.

EDIT: what log file would i look at to find out which movie or tv show may be causing this? TIA!

41

update; temp have changed my settings to not generate thumbnails but believe my 3D movies were causing the loop. again, same media i’ve had on older versions and never had this issue until 1.15.6.1079. i did run my plex server on a mac mini vs my synology ds1019+ as of recent.

42

Still getting this problem, what can we do to make the plex devs notice us?

43

I have also been having this issue for a few months now