Server Version#: 1.29.2.6364
Player Version#: 8.12.1 (iOS/iPadOS 16.1.1)
iOS has a feature that remembers AirPlay status for frequently used app/TV combos. It also remembers you were AirPlaying for a few minutes after you stop. This means that it’s possible to have your iPad/iPhone automatically start playing something on AirPlay as soon as playback starts, without having to start it and then enable AirPlay.
I have quite a few HEVC/H265 files in my library. If I start playing those locally on my device, Plex direct plays them, as shown on the dashboard. If I then AirPlay those videos to my TV, Plex will continue direct playing them and they show up almost immediately on the TV.
However, if AirPlay is already enabled on my device before I start playback, it seems that Plex detects the capabilities differently somehow. What this means in practice is that it will refuse to direct play the files and instead attempt to transcode whatever it needs to in order to make it compatible. In practice this does not even work, it seems to stall trying get the transcode going (even though it works fine when transcoding normally).
I don’t believe Plex’s behavior is correct here. If starting local device playback and then AirPlaying results in a direct stream, then having AirPlay already enabled and then starting playback should also result in a direct stream. Currently I have to disable and then re-enable AirPlay to get playback to work, which is pretty annoying.
Is AirPlay being activated differently in the two scenarios? Mirroring via the iOS Control Center, vs. the “Cast” button in the Plex app?
When Mirroring, the video is streamed from the server to the Plex app on the iPhone or iPad. The iPhone/iPad then recompresses it and re-streams it to the Apple TV. From Plex’s perspective it’s the iPhone or iPad playing the video, and almost everything plays Direct.
When Casting, the video goes directly from the server to the Apple TV. From Plex’s perspective it’s streaming to the Apple TV. I notice that Casting to an Apple TV HD (with a 720p TV) usually requires transcoding.
No, both scenarios are using regular AirPlay, not screen mirroring. In both cases I can leave the Plex app and do other things on my device and it will continue to AirPlay.
It’s worth noting that I’m not using an Apple TV but rather a Hisense TV with a built-in AirPlay receiver.
I can’t get the AirPlay receiver on my HiSense / Roku TV to work reliably no matter what I do. It’s very inconsistent!
Casting to the Plex app works great, it just has to be launched first on the TV.
AirPlay to an Apple TV is more consistent for me. It works reliably, at least. I don’t see the exact same behavior you describe, but I do also see it force 720p and require transcoding when casting.
