HEVC not direct playing on plex IOS

Plex Players Mobile Devices
1

Server Version#: 1.42.2.10156
Player Version#: 2025.27.0

Screenshot 2025-10-24 at 19-01-13 Plex
Screenshot 2025-10-24 at 19-01-13 Plex642×428 53 KB

HEVC files are being transcoded to h.264 when played on IOS. This does not happen when using plex on android, linux or windows.

Direct play and direct stream are enabled in the iphone app.

I have tried to use Infuse player on iphone and direct play works without any issue there.

2

I can’t replicate this on iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 18.7.1, PMS-1.42.2.10156
using 1080p HEVC, 6ch EAC3, and external SRT in UTF8 format.

Everything is direct play for me, video, audio, and SRT, on my LAN.

I’m wondering if the burn-in you see with the SRT is causing the transcode to H264.
Maybe check for a setting affecting that.
Are you on iOS26?

3

Apparently the default on the app is to always burn in subtitles.

When I turn it to automatic I no longer have any issue.

Thanks!

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