Server Version#: 1.19.1.2645-ccb6eb67e Player Version#: Chrome browser Version 80.0.3987.163 (Official Build) (64-bit) Hi I’m hosting Plex on my Windows server 2016. On some TV-Shows Im getting the error: Playback Error - Conversion failed. The transcoder failed to start up. It happens on specif…

I have the same problem since the last update and have no idea how to fix it. Direct play is not a problem, but any device that needs to convert anything will get this Transcoder Failed error.

Do you use subtitles? I ask because I’m seeing the errors associated with subtitles in the logs before the transcoder failure, which I put a snippet below. If you are, can you try it without subtitles just to see if we are on the right track? First a disclaimer that I don’t use subtitles, so I’m …

@Dire_Kangaroo : Debug level logs covering the time of a failure would help a great deal to determine what the problem is with the transcoder. Without them we are shooting in the dark.

@hokierulz Thank you for your response. It must indeed have something to do with the subtitles. Plex has no problem playing it without selecting any subtitles. It displays an external SRT, only it does not exist in the directory. When I try to delete it within Plex, I get a delete problem because …

Cool, at least it sounds like we are on the right track @Dire_Kangaroo ! I’m seeing (not exact but) similar errors in your logs as @plex_parisi_dk . @OttoKerner - I’ve seen you chip in on subtitle threads in the past so I’m pinging you hoping you may have insight or can help us direct to the right …

@OttoKerner @hokierulz Thank you for your response. I had my entire library refreshed, then waited a day and now all nonexistent external subtitles are gone. Everything works as it should, I no longer have playback problems. At first it seemed to do nothing. I tried to refresh my libraries a few t…

Thank you! Refreshing the meta data solved the issue for me. I was pulling my hair out!

Had the same problems with a certain TV show. Turned off subs and it worked. I will also try refreshing metadata. Thanks for the information.

Playback Error - Conversion failed. The transcoder failed to start up

Plex Media Server

OttoKerner April 15, 2020, 1:48pm 9

Trigger ‘Refresh Metadata’ for the entire show, please. Give it enough time.
Then look if the non-existing external subtitles are still selectable.

SOLUTION: Conversion failed. The transcoder exited due to an error

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Playback Error - Conversion failed. The transcoder failed to start up

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