Issue: thumbnail previews don't show when scanning through a show/movie

Plex Players Streaming Devices
21

I have been playing with this since I started using the DVR. Best I can tell, .TS and .MKV files do not show previews. If I use the optimize feature and covert the show to mpeg, then I get the preview. Not sure if this is a Plex issue or limitation of the AppleTV.

22

Even if I create MP4.s via Optimized Versions it still does not work, seems only random videos display Thumbs.

23

It is not random, apple tv will generate preview thumbnails and chapter screenshots on plex client if the file is direct-served by plex. For that to happen, the file must have the following characteristics only:

Container: mp4
Video: AVC
Audio: AC3/EAC3 2.0-5.1 or AAC 2.0 (not 5.1)
Subtitles: mov_text

Here is a simple ffmpeg command that can take a mkv file (with AVC encoded video), copy video without transcoding and convert audio to ac3 and subtitles to mov_text. The output file will be direct-served by plex and have preview thumbnails and chapter screenshots. If your audio is already ac3/eac3 or aac 2.0, you can replace ac3 -b:a 640k with copy to copy the audio instead.

ffmpeg -i inputfile.mkv -vcodec copy -scodec mov_text -acodec ac3 -b:a 384k outputfile.mp4

24

@gdion said:
It is not random, apple tv will generate preview thumbnails and chapter screenshots on plex client if the file is direct-served by plex. For that to happen, the file must have the following characteristics only:

Container: mp4
Video: AVC
Audio: AC3/EAC3 2.0-5.1 or AAC 2.0 (not 5.1)
Subtitles: mov_text

Here is a simple ffmpeg command that can take a mkv file (with AVC encoded video), copy video without transcoding and convert audio to ac3 and subtitles to mov_text. The output file will be direct-served by plex and have preview thumbnails and chapter screenshots. If your audio is already ac3/eac3 or aac 2.0, you can replace ac3 -b:a 640k with copy to copy the audio instead.

ffmpeg -i inputfile.mkv -vcodec copy -scodec mov_text -acodec ac3 -b:a 384k outputfile.mp4

@gdion many thanks for that but do you mind telling us how to integrate that ffmpeg command with Plex for those of us who arenā€™t good with Linux? this could be a good solution but could use a hand with how it fits in.

25

@jayz78 said:
@gdion many thanks for that but do you mind telling us how to integrate that ffmpeg command with Plex for those of us who arenā€™t good with Linux? this could be a good solution but could use a hand with how it fits in.

I donā€™t believe thatā€™s anything you can integrate with Plex. Creating the correct type of file that is compatible with Apple requirement in order to direct play is something you do prior to adding the movie to your library.

26

@kegobeer-plex said:

@jayz78 said:
@gdion many thanks for that but do you mind telling us how to integrate that ffmpeg command with Plex for those of us who arenā€™t good with Linux? this could be a good solution but could use a hand with how it fits in.

I donā€™t believe thatā€™s anything you can integrate with Plex. Creating the correct type of file that is compatible with Apple requirement in order to direct play is something you do prior to adding the movie to your library.

Exactly what I meant. @jayz78 download ffmpeg and use my command on the file you want before adding it to library. Then add the new generated mp4 file to plex library.

27

Itā€™s 2018 and this is still not fixed. Please plex devs! This is a glaring issue. Remuxing whole library is not a solution. Is it a limitation of ATV? Iā€™m not a developer but itā€™s strange that preview thumbnails work just fine on Shield and Roku

28

Boy, this sure would be nice to have. I purchased the Plex Pass to use the DVR on the ATV, but no video thumbnails makes skipping around a bit difficultā€¦ are there any updates on this from the Plex Dev team? Thanks guys!

29

Just wondering if this ever got fixed? thought I saw a update where it was but Personally still cannot get it to work.

30

The new experimental player on the Apple TV seems to show the preview now for me.

1 Like
31

How do I find Said Player? or Enable this? I see the time bar on bottom but no thumbnails. AM I missing a setting some where?

32

Four years ā€¦ and still we donā€™t have Video Preview Thumbnails when scrubbing through the time line. Infuse 6 (Pro) does it on the fly (! ā€“ so no pre-rendered Thumbnails occupying additional disk space). Why the heck canā€™t the Plex Player on a ATV 4K do this!?

1 Like
33

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