Server Version#: 1.32.7.7621
Player Version#: 8.27
Downloads on iOS clients are throttled to 10Mbps on wifi but not when using a wired connection. Trying to download using Cellular is also significantly slower than expected (5Mbps or slower).
I have verified this on a iPad running latest versions of Plex server and player. When connected over Wi-Fi, the download will not transfer faster than 10Mbps. If I disable Wi-Fi and plug in a USB-C to Ethernet adapter and try a new download it will transfer at 400Mbps or greater.
When connected to Wi-Fi I am able to download from the Plex web interface at full speed, 400Mbps or greater.
I’m frustrated that this has been going on for over two years and that I’ve had a 100% reproducible case for half of that and I can’t seem to get this acknowledged, nevermind fixed.
Same here. I can download to my Android phone at 300+ Mbps but when downloading to my iPad it throttles to about 10.
I have Plex set to download the original format and resolution. No transcoding is going on. It just refuses to download any faster on iOS. Absolutely maddening.
I’ve taken to transferring files to VLC manually over USBC as the download speed makes it unusable.
Same issue here, although with an additional detail. Brand new server build, running in Docker on Ubuntu. UniFi network infrastructure.
My network setup includes VLANs (servers like Plex Media Server are in one VLAN, and clients like my iPhone, iPad, Mac, are in another VLAN). I allow all devices in the client VLAN to access the Plex server via UniFi Traffic Rules.
I also have a second Plex Media Server installed in Windows 10 within that same server VLAN, and it works as expected. Its GPU is less powerful for transcoding, so I want all functionality on my primary Ubuntu/Docker Plex Media Server to work. Everything works great except for the “download” portion of the Download feature in iOS. It transcodes a full movie within minutes, but then takes hours to download it to the iOS client.
In my testing, I was able to get full download speeds when connecting my iPad via ethernet. I was also able to get full speeds over WiFi (once, at least) if I added the iPad to the same VLAN as the Plex Server.
I don’t see anything in the UniFi controller that would contribute to this - especially since the same setup downloads just fine over WiFi from the client VLAN for the PMS instance in Windows that is configured the same exact way as the Linux/Docker instance (both the network settings as well as Plex settings).
I’ve noticed a pattern in various forums that people have this problem downloading to the iOS/iPadOS App when connecting to a Linux/Docker instance. Also another pattern with VLANs involved, and many use UniFi gear. Perhaps my setup is the perfect storm, but after TONS of testing, I’m convinced that Plex Media Server (or the Plex App on iOS/iPadOS) is limiting the download speed itself for some reason.
Plex crew - can we finally get some dedicated attention on this and work together to fix it?
I just tested more today and confirmed again that:
Plex app on iPad → WiFi in VLAN20 → Plex Server in Docker on Ubuntu v22 in VLAN10
= Super fast transcode and 6 Mbps sustained download
Plex app on iPad → Ethernet in VLAN20 → Plex Server in Docker on Ubuntu v22 in VLAN10
= Super fast transcode and 15 Mbps sustained download
Plex app on iPad → Ethernet in VLAN10 → Plex Server in Docker on Ubuntu v22 in VLAN10
= Super fast transcode and 870+ Mbps sustained download
Plex app on iPad → WiFi in VLAN20 → Plex Server in Windows 10 in VLAN10
= Fast transcode and 430+ Mbps sustained download
Plex app on iPad → Ethernet in VLAN20 → Plex Server in Windows 10 in VLAN10
= Fast transcode and 520+ Mbps sustained download
Plex app on iPad → Ethernet in VLAN10 → Plex Server in Windows 10 in VLAN10
= Fast transcode and 510+ Mbps sustained download
By “Super fast transcode”, I mean fully transcoding a 1h45m 4K HDR movie in 3m10s on my Intel NUC 13 Pro i5 running Ubuntu/Docker with HW GPU enabled
By “Fast transcode”, I mean fully transcoding the same 4K HDR movie in 9m56s on my Intel i7-4700MQ running Windows 10 with HW GPU enabled
I measured the top sustained download speed by disconnecting the iPad from the network mid-transfer (but allowing the transcode to complete on the server), then re-connecting and having the download automatically restart at full transfer speeds.
Wi-Fi has speed has been a long term issue, the big test for me is using Infuse v Plex, same hardware same networks, Infuse delivers double the speed.
One thing that caused me a few issues previously, if your Plex server is connected to both Ethernet and Wireless somehow in my experience Plex was using Wi-Fi. I confirmed the service order in Network Settings on my Mac, however believe it was more a preference for IPv6 or IPv4 (I just turned off Wi-Fi to avoid any issues).
Hoping that at some point Plex might be able to check out this reproducible (100%) issue and perhaps fix some download code.
Had a thought today and tested it. In addition to the test results I posted above, I set up a VPN server in VLAN10 and connected to it OVER THE INTERNAL LAN (not through the internet). Results:
Plex app on iPad → WiFi in VLAN20 → WireGuard VPN in VLAN10 → Plex Server in Docker on Ubuntu v22 in VLAN10
= Super fast transcode and between 45Mbps and 115Mbps sustained download
So, it runs about 10-20x faster vs. connecting directly over the LAN, but that’s still 5-10x slower than downloading it over the same connection path from my 10-year-old Plex server on Windows.
This just confirms something strange is going on in either the Linux/Docker Plex Server, or in the iOS/iPadOS Plex app (or a combination of both). I imagine it’s the server though, mis-detecting the origin of the request, thinking it’s coming from the Internet (WAN) rather than the local LAN, then throttling it for no good reason.
It looks like you are narrowing down something different than the original post.
What I originally was able to narrow down was that wired connections on the iOS app download at full speed while wifi connections are throttled to 10Mb/s. Regardless of LAN or internet access to the server.
Thanks for your note. I responded originally because I am seeing the same behavior that you describe in both your first and your most recent posts. It’s specific to Plex on iOS and the Plex Server in Linux for me, and it appears to be the same for you according to the tags at the top of the post.
But as I’ve been investigating this, I’m trying to gather and describe more detail/behavior that might provide additional clues to a Plex developer (or even another user) to troubleshoot toward a solution. Perhaps it will help them more easily converge on the component or variable that’s at play here.
For example, is it possible that out of the box your router/network is configured to separate WiFi and Ethernet clients into two separate VLANs? Is that the real underlying issue? What brand is your equipment, and does that have any bearing on the results you’re seeing compared to another user or Plex developer?
I included the information about the download from the Windows Plex Server version sitting right next to the Linux one on the network to help narrow down where the problem is. It’s not the network itself, and it’s not just the iOS app. It’s some combination of the iOS app, the Linux server, and the network configuration.
The point of my last message was to simply point out that the Linux Plex Server appears to behave differently based on something it perceives about the origin of the download request, which the network layout could be triggering.
I’m hoping that the more related information we have in one place, the greater the chance is that someone at Plex will have a desire to reproduce and solve it. I’m not trying to take us too far down a different rabbit hole… Just decorating the one we find ourselves in.
So if you wanted to confirm the data path only using a different app with same source (no chances for transcoding or other fiddling), could I suggest that you install Infuse (free version is fine) and run some tests.
For me Infuse on iOS (iPad Pro) is typically at least 60-70% faster (when viewing from Plex console dashboard). This will tell you if it’s something to do with Plex client OR iOS/Wi-Fi/Network/Plex Server/Plex Server Hardware.
In my case, Infuse is always significantly faster (at least double) every single time that I test. Other’s have confirmed this also over the years.
Yep just confirming this is still a problem for me, I’ve moved to using Infuse exclusively now as the Plex implementation on iOS is a steaming pile of … …
1 - Downloads 60% or more slower than Infuse with the same iPad, network connection, plex server and file
2 - It crashes daily upon normal use, this has been a long standing issue
No support for Airplay
3 - Background support is flakey at best
Hoping that someone from Plex might be able to take a look at this issue, as I’d love to come back to the Plex client one day.
