I was hoping someone could help me solve a problem I am having with playing MP4 files on the NVIDIA Shield. When I select any MP4 file to play on the shield using the shield as a server the spinning logo just spins forever and it will never play (I have let it think for as long as 30 minute before) When I use the shield server I can play the same file just fine on my computer, roku, and X-box which makes me think the server is working fine and its something local with the shield keeping me from playing those files. Before the update of the shield in June they all worked fine. I have already tried factory resting the shield, re installing plex, and the plex server and this did not fix the problem. Everything is updated to the most current versions.
Has anyone else experienced similar problems? I am looking for a fix that doesn’t involve converting all my MP4 files to MKV
I would recommend first to upgrade to the latest pms. Official release for the Shield is at 1.8.1.
But your version is not that old so I’m not sure that will fix your issue. Does it happen with all your mp4 files or only few of them?
mp4 is just a container. It would help also to know what is in it. if you can post plex xml or better, open the file using a program called mediainfo and post the details.
I updated the server, same problem. It is all MP4 files, and they all play fine on any other plex client, its only when trying to watch them on the Shield that they won’t play.
The XML file is attached for one file that doesn’t work.
One thing I noticed is the file is not optimized for streaming: optimizedForStreaming=“0.” Plex displays this as “Web Optimized” when viewing Media Info.
Not sure why this would affect the Shield and not the other clients, but the files should be web optimized nonetheless.
You might try web optimizing one file as a test, then do the rest if it fixes the problem.
Here’s a web page about optimizing mp4 files for streaming: https://rigor.com/blog/2016/01/optimizing-mp4-video-for-fast-streaming. The “How MP4 Streaming Works” section has all the details, but basically, if a file is not web optimized, the client may have to download the entire file before playing the video.
It also has info on using ffmpeg (CLI) to optimize existing files without re-encoding. See the “Optimizing MP4 for faster streaming” section.
If you’ve a Mac, take a look at Subler, subler.org. The app is for re-muxing and tagging mp4 files. It also has an “Optimize” function to web optimize mp4 files. Open the file in Subler, choose Optimize, and that’s it. Very easy.
Subler is Mac only. Others may be able to recommend a similar program for Windows.
I just tried a mp4 (720p x264, ac3, no subtitles) on my Shield (not optimized for streaming) and playback started quickly and there was no issue. So I think there is something else.
I think the OP will have to go into PMS logs and the client logs to see what is the problem.
Can you pick a mp4 and give us the xml just for this file. On the web, wihen you have selected the file, click on the 3 dots and click on “get info”. Then, click on xml, copy the info.
Thanks guys! I still haven’t been able to figure this out. I think the server is working fine because the files play great on any other client. Before the Shield Update a few months ago all of the files played fine. I don’t use subtitles. I included XML data in the above posts.
Same issue here. Constant suttering on a ton of .mp4 videos. The issue seems largely isolated to titles I’ve purchased on iTunes and then DRM removed.
