Local downloads fail on mobile devices due to verification error

Plex Players Mobile Devices
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Server Version#: 4.69.1
Player Version#: 7.28.1

Heya!

Whenever I try to download a movie from my server on a mobile device, it goes through the full download process, then fails, and tries to restart the download.

Here are a few things that may be clues to what’s happening.

  • The log from the mobile device claims “Error verifying download: A server with the specified hostname could not be found.” and “Download verification failed”
  • The server doesn’t seem to show anything out of the ordinary in the logs.
  • This occurs whether or not the movie is transcoded.
  • This happens on iOS and Android, but not if I download from my Windows server to a Mac laptop.
  • Smaller movies (1.5GBish) download properly. (I think this may have something to do with being broken into 2GB chunks, but don’t have any other small movies to test with.)
  • My roommate is a network engineer, and has done odd things to our network at points. (Internal DNS error possibly?)
  • All movies stream perfectly fine locally and remotely.
  • Movies download fine remotely, but not locally on mobile devices.

Any ideas on what might be causing the issue? I bought a Plex Pass just for this feature and I’m disappointed it isn’t working. :frowning:

Here’s a log snip from each of the verification steps:
Tiny movie (successful):
2022/02/17 14:41:30.048 (180 MB) (35130) :wrench: PMKLogging.m:29 | Download verified

Larger movie (unsuccessful):
2022/02/17 14:20:14.595 (266 MB) (30316) :wrench: PMKLogging.m:29 | Started: 24 GET [internal address]
2022/02/17 14:20:14.804 (266 MB) (30312) :wrench: PMKLogging.m:29 | Completed: 24 GET [internal address]
2022/02/17 14:20:14.849 (266 MB) (15540) :x: PMKLogging.m:14 | Error verifying download: A server with the specified hostname could not be found.
2022/02/17 14:20:14.850 (266 MB) (15540) :wrench: PMKLogging.m:29 | Download verification failed

2

Following the thread just for this. :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

3

After some further investigation, I’ve narrowed down the issue a bit further.

  • The filesize has no effect on the success of the download, other movies below 2GB fail. (I have no idea why only one movie seems to work. Something to do with how it verifies?)
  • Downloads work on all devices remotely.
  • Even thought the download “fails” on mobile, it still takes up storage equal to the size of the movie.

This makes me think that it’s some error with our network internally, but I can’t fathom what would cause it for phones but not laptops on the same network.

Does anyone know what hostname it’s trying to connect to during the verification step? That seems to be the main failure point.

4

This seems like it could be the same issue mentioned in this other thread: Problems offline downloading with Android client(s) ONLY on home network

5

Check for “DNS rebinding protection” in your DNS resolver.
If it’s active, it needs to make an exception for the domain plex.direct

6

No luck unfortunately.

Exception was added, but the error still gets thrown.

7

@OttoKerner Interestingly, downloads on PC/Mac over the local network are fine. This is exclusive to just the mobile app.

8

Sharing an update on this: Downloads work on my local network if I use an external DNS, like 1.1.1.1!

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