New version 6.4.2.1697 for fire stick gen 1 causes video micro stuttering?

Plex Players Streaming Devices
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21

Same issue for me too.

22

I also now have the same issue which wasn’t there on the previous app version. Adjusted various setting in the settings menu to no avail. This makes anything I that I try and watch very difficult to enjoy and get into. I also have the latest Plex server (1.8.3.4235-2d20185b0_x86_64) running on my NAS.

23

I am having the same problem since yesterday when the UI changed on my Fire Stick without my knowledge. Usually I have to manually give an OK to an app update on the Fire Stick but Plex just surprised me with it’s new interface. Since then it’s been stuttering
 tried 720p and 1080p videos. Tried tweaking with the configuration but nothing helps. Updated my Plex Server on my Ubuntu hopeful it would fix the issue but nothing improved on the Fire Stick (the previous installed server was the version right before). Please let us downgrade or fix it asap because it’s unbearable to watch like this.

24

I have the same issue on a Fire TV Stick. The stuttering makes it unwatchable!
Also the new UI of the new version is really bad. Why can’t I use play from the home screen? Or a long press like on the Apple TV UI?

25

Right, I found a way to install the previous version of Plex and now everything is back to normal. No need to change settings and everything plays as it once did.

  1. Uninstall Plex from the Fire TV/Stick - settings, applications, manage applications, Plex, clear app data, clear cache, Uninstall
  2. Whilst still in Applications scroll up to Appstore and turn off auto updates.
  3. Using the Amazon App Store download “Downloader”
  4. On the Fire TV/Stick go into Settings, Device and then Developer options and select Apps from Unknown Sources and switch ON
  5. Open Downloader and enter this URL https://goo.gl/bqeazo (I created this short URL from the original https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/plex-inc/plex/plex-6-4-1-1644-release/plex-6-4-1-1644-2-android-apk-download/download/ )
  6. Downloaded will open the URL and will throw up a Javascript error. Click ok and use the Amazon remote to move the red circle (pointer) down to click on “Your download will start immediately. If not, please click here.”
  7. It will start downloading Plex and once it’s finished scroll to the bottom of the page and click INSTALL
  8. Once installed click OPEN. Sign into Plex as usual and you will see it is working as it was
  9. IMPORTANT Final step On the Fire TV/Stick go into Settings, Device and then Developer options and select Apps from Unknown Sources and switch OFF

Hope this helps.

26

@paulcarless said:
Right, I found a way to install the previous version of Plex and now everything is back to normal. No need to change settings and everything plays as it once did.

  1. Uninstall Plex from the Fire TV/Stick - settings, applications, manage applications, Plex, clear app data, clear cache, Uninstall
  2. Whilst still in Applications scroll up to Appstore and turn off auto updates.
  3. Using the Amazon App Store download “Downloader”
  4. On the Fire TV/Stick go into Settings, Device and then Developer options and select Apps from Unknown Sources and switch ON
  5. Open Downloader and enter this URL Plex: Stream Movies & TV 6.4.1.1644 (arm-v7a) (nodpi) (Android 4.1+) APK Download by Plex, Inc. - APKMirror (I created this short URL from the original https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/plex-inc/plex/plex-6-4-1-1644-release/plex-6-4-1-1644-2-android-apk-download/download/ )
  6. Downloaded will open the URL and will throw up a Javascript error. Click ok and use the Amazon remote to move the red circle (pointer) down to click on “Your download will start immediately. If not, please click here.”
  7. It will start downloading Plex and once it’s finished scroll to the bottom of the page and click INSTALL
  8. Once installed click OPEN. Sign into Plex as usual and you will see it is working as it was
  9. IMPORTANT Final step On the Fire TV/Stick go into Settings, Device and then Developer options and select Apps from Unknown Sources and switch OFF

Hope this helps.

thanks, works well, will keep this older version on until the new one is fixed

27

I am excited to go home tonight and try this. Great job figuring this out.

28

@paulcarless said:
Right, I found a way to install the previous version of Plex and now everything is back to normal. No need to change settings and everything plays as it once did.

Hi Paul,

just followed your instructions and everything is back working. Many thanks for taking the time to solve the problem.

29

Same issue here, have installed old version and on kodi

30

Noticed the same thing on Fire TV when using direct play on the latest update. Switched quality from original to 10Mbps 1080p, and transcoding seemed to resolve it. I noticed, however, that it’s not the file itself, but the entire Plex app is laggy when these stutters happen from direct play.

Curious, anyone else using direct play when this happens?

31

Starting up a little paulcarless fanclub - YOU ROCK.

32

I have both FireTV (1st gen) and FireTV Stick (1st gen) - both got the update.
Only the Stick has the problem.
Other than the fact that one is obviously more powerful than the other, and they’re connected to different TV’s the only real difference is that one is connected via Ethernet and the Stick via WiFi.
Interestingly, only video is affected - audio working fine - so almost like it is pausing periodically to keep video in sync with audio?

PS: Launch time on stick went from 20+ seconds to around 5 - so :+1: on the massive performance improvement.

33

I also have the issue - with one addition. A large chunk of episodes of a TV series only push the background and laugh track
 (simple 2 channel TV audio setup here - no 5.1/7.1)

I’ve been running this setup for a year or so with no large issues, now I get a stutter as well as no voice track audio in several videos
 I’ll be attempting to back out to the last version as well.

34

WORKED! Thanks! Just sucks that we have to find a way to fix this and not the Plex team. :confused:

35

@benburns said:
Noticed the same thing on Fire TV when using direct play on the latest update. Switched quality from original to 10Mbps 1080p, and transcoding seemed to resolve it. I noticed, however, that it’s not the file itself, but the entire Plex app is laggy when these stutters happen from direct play.

Curious, anyone else using direct play when this happens?

All my files are in direct play (i transcode everything beforehand so that I don’t have to transcode when streaming) and the issue happens then direct play as well. The same issue happens when to me when transcoding to lower qualities.

36

@paulcarless said:
Right, I found a way to install the previous version of Plex and now everything is back to normal. No need to change settings and everything plays as it once did.

  1. Uninstall Plex from the Fire TV/Stick - settings, applications, manage applications, Plex, clear app data, clear cache, Uninstall
  2. Whilst still in Applications scroll up to Appstore and turn off auto updates.
  3. Using the Amazon App Store download “Downloader”
  4. On the Fire TV/Stick go into Settings, Device and then Developer options and select Apps from Unknown Sources and switch ON
  5. Open Downloader and enter this URL Plex: Stream Movies & TV 6.4.1.1644 (arm-v7a) (nodpi) (Android 4.1+) APK Download by Plex, Inc. - APKMirror (I created this short URL from the original https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/plex-inc/plex/plex-6-4-1-1644-release/plex-6-4-1-1644-2-android-apk-download/download/ )
  6. Downloaded will open the URL and will throw up a Javascript error. Click ok and use the Amazon remote to move the red circle (pointer) down to click on “Your download will start immediately. If not, please click here.”
  7. It will start downloading Plex and once it’s finished scroll to the bottom of the page and click INSTALL
  8. Once installed click OPEN. Sign into Plex as usual and you will see it is working as it was
  9. IMPORTANT Final step On the Fire TV/Stick go into Settings, Device and then Developer options and select Apps from Unknown Sources and switch OFF

Hope this helps.

You are the best. The new app sucks

37

Worked like a champ!

Thanks to ‘paulcarless’ suggestion.

38

many thanks, really appreciated!

39

@makaveli6103 said:
You are the best. The new app sucks

I noticed this problem with my Fire Stick last night - we don’t use that one very often, I may wait and see if a fix comes out before rolling back.

App-wise, I saw the change previously on my 1st gen Fire TV, and actually don’t mind the changes
 my general reaction is actually positive, and I’ve had no performance or other issues with using it.

Thanks to @paulcarless for the workaround steps, I’ll definitely keep those handy in case this is a long-term problem
 I’m not sure I’d be surprised if there weren’t a quick fix (or any fix?), but it would be really stupid to lose Plex on my Fire Stick which I only use for Plex :frowning:

40

Me too, except I wouldn’t call it “micro.” It happens every couple seconds and renders the video completely unwatchable. And with the track record here lately, I fully expect this half-hearted “update” to break our FireTV playback for at least the next 6 months, while the devs go chasing the next shiny balloon.