Music Sync Problems: Music syncs but will not play

[SixSpeedDeath]

Basics
Server Version#: 1.21.0.3616
Player Version#: 8.10.0.21911 (9219e3c2)

Phone is a Verizon Samsung Galaxy S9+ running Android 10 (Verizon software #G965USQS8FTJ6)

Working on server side issues in the Linux forum, for reference:
Linux Server Diag

(File removed)

Problem

Cannot sync my entire library to phone, and play on the go.

Steps taken: AKA, a LOT of typing

So, originally, the phone would not sync my entire library to the phone. There is adequate space, and I allocated over 200GB to Plex in the Android app. I deleted the app and re-installed, which restored the sync capabilities.

Music would sync to 70% and then craaaaaaaawl to 100%

My device is set to prefer music on device, and ALL synced music will not play.

Deleting sync, and streaming works flawlessly.

I worked with the Linux Plex admin, and by creating a larger root partition in the server, the sync will now sync to 100% (still crawling, but operational) But the music will not play.

I’m told the transcoder is trying to convert *.mp3 to *.mkv?

Not sure why that would be, but he feels this could be an Android side issue.

Plex WAS installed on internal storage, which is somewhat full-ish, with media stored to the 400GB SD card.
Plex is NOW installed on the SD card, and still syncs music to the SD card. I have allocated well over 200GB for the sync in sync settings.

I have tried syncing Original quality, as well as 320kb/sec

I Synced from work and home.

I tried syncing a 15 song playlist, (still won’t play.)

Since transcoding is LIGHTNING quick, and the download ROCKETS from ~5000 music files to ~1900 music files remaining on sync, and then crawls, I was guessing that Maaaaaayyyyybe Plex still holds the intermediate download in the phone’s primary internal storage (which is full-ish) until the download is complete, and then transfers it over to the SD card?

Still haven’t sorted out why it would try and convert an *.mp3 to *.mkv, but that would explain why it wouldn’t play, and I have NO idea where a setting like that would even exist?

Transcoder is set to transcode MOVIES in the cl-home LVM partition of the server, but Music DEFINITELY transcodes in the cl-root LVM partition, as it was taking up 100% of the original 50GB allocation until I added another +20GB to bring it to 70GB in the cl-root partition.

Summary

I’ts a lot of information, I know.

Anyone have any ideas?

[SixSpeedDeath]

Anyone have any insights?

[VerminousCoot]

This is happening to me too. Music syncs then will not play, I only get the error message “An error occurred while playing this item”. Playback info says the container is .mkv which seems unusual. Also, if I initiate the sync from the web app, the option for “original” quality is totally gone.
Plexamp still works but it can’t sync more than 24 hours of content, so that’s not useful.
Server Version# 1.21.1.3830
Player Version#:8.11.0.22186

[VerminousCoot]

Updated PMS to Version 1.21.1.3876
no change with this error.

[SixSpeedDeath]

Bumping again. Anyone?

[VerminousCoot]

Updated again:
Server Version# 1.21.2.3939
Player Version#:8.12.2.22756 (on a Unihertz Titan, Android 9)
Still not working.

Also tried on an Android tablet.
Player Version#:8.12.2.22756 (Aquaris M10 FHD, Android 5.1)
This works, can sync music and play back synced music.

I guess the problem is device specific, or Android version specific.

This is still a drag, I’d love to sync my music to my phone.

[VerminousCoot]

Updated again:
Server Version# 1.21.3.4046
Player Version#:8.13.22986 (on a Unihertz Titan, now updated to Android 10)
Still not working.

Could someone from Plex please chime in on this?

[SixSpeedDeath]

Okay!

Latest update resolved the “An error occurred while playing this item” for me, but even with the download section selected as external storage, while syncing Plex fills up the smaller internal storage on my Verizon Samsung Galaxy S9+, and then hangs up.

@anon18523487 would you prefer I start a new topic, or continue diag on this thread?

[VerminousCoot]

What version are you running? I just reinstalled Plex on my phone again and it’s still wrapping downloads in mkv and then can’t play them.

[VerminousCoot]

I’m still experiencing this issue. Could someone from Plex help me out?

[VerminousCoot]

Updated my server again, I still can’t play any synced music. File info still says its container is mkv.

[kirbyschapman_gmail.com]

I have the same issue. I spent days trying to reinstall, reboot, re-everything I could think of. It seems Plex has to ping some web server, and then ping my home PMS, and then try to play something on my Android phone (I read this somewhere - I don’t know if that’s accurate or not). This seems really simply - download/sync music from PMS to a mobile device (mine is a Samsung S8+), and then be able to play that music without ANY internet connection whatsoever. But that doesn’t seem to be the case.

At this point, Plex on my Android is useless - I just installed Media Monkey (which means I now have to recreate all my playlists on that platform) and it simply worked when I plugged it into my car (using Android Auto). Plex - just can’t figure it out.

What’s the solution to this? There seem to be a lot of people with a similar issue. It’s totally frustrating to get into the car for a road trip and poof no music. So we listen to Pandora instead (not ideal). Now we listen to MM, but then find out we forgot to duplicate a playlist. This is VERY FRUSTRATING!! This is one of the main reasons I pay for a Plex Pass… And there doesn’t seem to be a way to get any feedback/help from the Plex folks…

[VerminousCoot]

Hi ,
I’ve updated again
Server Version# 1.22.0.4163
Player Version#:8.14.23548 (on a Unihertz Titan, now updated to Android 10)
Still not working.

Could someone from Plex say something about this? Tell me to turn it off and back on, or anything? This has been happening for three months now.
Anyone?

[VerminousCoot]

Updated again. Still not working. Plex, please chime in here.

[No_Rge]

I’ve the same issue !

[VerminousCoot]

I have mine working now. Try signing out of Plex and clearing all the app data on your Android, then going to your PMS interface webpage and removing your Android device from the list of authorized devces in the server settings.