iOS iPhone 16 Pro decoding issues - sudden black screen. Subtitles fine

Plex Players
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1

Server Version#:1.43.0.10467
Player Version#:1523

So how to explain what is happening. During playback the screen will suddenly go black and then fade back to normal. It happens on offline content and streamed content. Does not happen on iPhone 15 same file same server. Attached a zip of a screen capture of the issue.
Attached player log.

It is not limited to just this file.

Seams to happen in the same place during the intro of the same TV show (different files) I think it’s linked to a sudden increase in brightness. I have checked phone settings but the subtitles continue to show when it happens during films. Doesn’t happen on YouTube so sure it’s the Plex app. Only noticed this the last few days but don’t often watch on my phone when I’m home. Maybe since this update.

Subtitles have been set to burn / automatic / never

Direct play enabled / disabled

Direct Steam enabled / disabled

uninstalled app rebooted phone reset cache

Any help is appreciated, even if your having the same issue, would be good to know I’m not alone.

ScreenRecording_02-06-2026 19-13-09_1.zip (5.8 MB)

com.plexapp.plex 2026-02-05–19-07-09-589.log (44.1 KB)

2

Update hasn’t fixed it (now 2026.01) Considering a phone reset… if anyone has an iPhone 16 pro that is behaviour correctly please let me know. Might be a hardware issue as apparently it’s not a bug… (OttoKerner) but it doesn’t happen on other apps which would encourage me to lean towards it being an app issue

No other insights from anyone. Feels like a software crash to me…

3

This just started happening to me, and reselecting the video quality once an episode was playing fixed it. Haven’t fully tested to see if it’s persistent across different sessions or different movies/TV series of different formats. Frankly I just want the damn thing to work like it used to 10 years ago, this is ridiculous.

4

I have tried changing the quality and sadly doesn’t make a difference for me. The playback is fine on my old iPad. What device are you using? iPhone 16 pro?

5

Solved!

@VineetGorule-z5z

To solve this issue do the following step

  1. Open the Settings app

  2. Scroll down and tap Accessibility

  3. Tap Motion

  4. Toggle off “Dim Flashing Lights”

Once turned off, your iPhone will no longer automatically dim videos that contain rapid flashing or strobe effects.

It was the phone the entire time, sorry Plex team. Thank you YouTube.