Playback is buffering every 15-30 seconds

Plex Media Server
1

I am trying to chase down issue of plex buffering. This issue didn’t used to happen few weeks ago, all the sudden since 2 weeks ago everything I play is buffering every 15-30 seconds. I cant seem to figure out why. I am not Sharing my plex and I only use it to stream locally from my projector (smart project that has a plex client app) all my files are either 4k with atmos/trueHD/DTS-HD/X and some are 1080p

I have plex running on an old gaming pc that has a 5th gen Ryzen cpu and rtx 2060 super graphics card. I am using Ethernet to connect my pc to the router which is 1gb. This PC is not used for anything else. Latest plex version is installed, I pay for plex pass and enabled hardware transcoding.

Plex server is installed on my C drive which is an ssd but all my media is on D drive which is a HDD (segate barracuda 8tb)

Weirdly enough, I don’t have buffering issues when streaming netflix at 4k with atmos from my projector. So I don’t think it’s a network related. I have read online that you can see your transcoding speed when enabling verbose logging and checking the plex media logs however, It doesn’t seem to be logging that anywhere even with verbose logging enabled.

Any advice or help is really appropriated because I have searched every thread and tried all the methods out there on the internet and still cant figure out why Plex buffes so often.

Some of the stuff I tried from other threads are:

Deleting codecs and have plex redownload them

Change home streaming from auto to manually pick a stream

Transcoding temp files be stored on the same drive as my media

I have tried about every combination of the transcoding speed

Disabled VPN

Adding screenshots of the transcoding settings

Screenshot_20230524_002556
Screenshot_20230524_0025561054×474 67.5 KB

Screenshot_20230524_002535
Screenshot_20230524_0025351054×474 63.4 KB

I can also add logs if needed

2

Are these files direct playing? I know they should be but are they. You can see this in the dashboard on a browser as something is playing

Have you gone through all the settings on the client app to make sure nothing got set back to some incompatible default?

Use Hardware Decoding or Refresh rate switching?

Unless you find something obvious, I’m sure this is something you’ll need to post logs for

Enable debug not verbose and play something that’s giving you a problem. Wait a minute after you stop it and gather your logs

3

I’m having the same issues. My 4k stuff would buffer every 15-30 secs. Never had this problem until recently. I’m not sure how to read my logs, if anyone can help me look into it.

Plex Media Server Logs_2023-05-24_00-04-12.zip (4.5 MB)

4

It looks like you have verbose enabled for your logs.

Server–> Settings → Debug

They generally ask for you to enable only debug before you download the logs

Also more details about your OS, files, client type ect…

5

Maybe you are suffering the same issue as here: Plex Suddenly Stops Hardware Transcoding

Check if it’s hardware or software transcoding on the activity dashboard when playing. Rollback Plex to the version mentioned, .6999 or something. Try that.

6

@Bobs_604

  1. Please disable verbose logging then restart Plex Media Server.
    Verbose adds too much information to the log files. They can quickly wrap, losing helpful information. Verbose logging is usually sufficient.

Settings → Server_Name → General

debug
debug715×154 20.9 KB

  1. Re-create the problem, then pull & post a new set of log files.

  2. How is the Plex server connected to the network, wired Ethernet or WiFi?
    What about the clients you are using?

  3. What is displayed in Plex Dashboard → Now Playing + Expanded View.
    Is the playback local, remote, or Indirect?
    Is the video or audio transcoding?


Some other items to check. Not necessarily causing buffering, but should be addressed.

  1. Check System Time.
    May 24, 2023 00:02:30.925 [19920] ERROR - [Time] boost::posix_time: Year is out of valid range: 1400..9999

    Make sure the system is synchronized with a time server.
    Win10 Settings → Time & Language
    Set Time Automatically = On
    Then Sync Now to sync with a time server.

  2. Consider running the 64-bit version of Plex Media Server.
    May 24, 2023 00:00:08.434 [20772] DEBUG - "C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.exe"

    The 64-bit version has a more efficient transcoder, especially if using a Nvidia GPU. It is also required if you want to transcode & tonemap HDR media using the GPU.

    Download the 64-bit version from plex.tv and manually install it. The installer will remove the 32-bit version first. This affects only the application. The Plex Data Folder and your media are not touched.

  3. Re-organize your media.
    Do not add the root folder of a drive to a library. This can cause problems with correctly recognizing and organizing media. Place media in a folder, then point Plex at that folder.
    See log entries below. Notice how Plex is scanning the System Volume Information and Recycle Bin directories.

    Plex Documentation → Your Media

TV Show example. Do the same for movies on J: drive and any other drives.

O:\TV Shows  <-- folder added to library
...\A Model Family (2022)
...\Adamas (2022)

May 24, 2023 00:02:30.924 [19920] DEBUG - Scanner: Processing directory O:\ (parent: no)
May 24, 2023 00:02:30.925 [19920] VERBOSE -     * Taking directory '' (1) out of the map (115 left)
May 24, 2023 00:02:30.925 [19920] VERBOSE - Adding subdirectory for scanner: "O:\System Volume Information"
May 24, 2023 00:02:30.925 [19920] VERBOSE - Adding subdirectory for scanner: "O:\$RECYCLE.BIN"
May 24, 2023 00:02:30.925 [19920] VERBOSE - Adding subdirectory for scanner: "O:\A Model Family"
May 24, 2023 00:02:30.925 [19920] VERBOSE - Adding subdirectory for scanner: "O:\Adamas"
7

Hey @JaysPlex @FordGuy61 I attached the logs just now, I made sure Verbose is disabled. and logs are fresh
Plex Media Server Logs_2023-05-24_09-36-06.zip (313.9 KB)

8

@tronb46 Thanks for the files.

I can see some buffering about 30 seconds into playback. However, I see no indication of why it is buffering.

There are no applicable error messages in the log files.

The audio is transcoding, but that places minimal load on the system.

Question: Is the phone on a 2 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi channel? Given you’re playing 4K media, it should be on a 5 GHz channel.

Question: What if you play SD or HD media, does it still buffer? Sort the library by bitrate and play one of the lower bitrate files. See if it still buffers.

9

The phones Is on 5g network and I am using wifi 6.

I tried to play a 720 sd and HD both seem to buffer.

I just did a whole system wipe and reinstalled Plex. Now it seems like its streaming with no buffering. I still however, see issues with buffering when using subtitles, if I am not using subtitles there is no issues. Any idea what could that be? I tried burning in subtitles but it didn’t make a difference

Edit: I should mention, my subtitles are all srt files

10

I have been getting this as of yesterday when I updated my PMS to version 7100
Not only is it buffering local files quite often, it will even do a weird ‘buffer/loading’ thing when I have paused the playback of a file, and will unpause it and continue playing after. This has never happened before yesterday, and I am streaming it all locally. Like the OP it is also running on an SSD with the media on a Seagate HDD (maybe not relevant). There should be no need for transcoding to be happening. Local client is Apple TV. Plex hosted on MacOS. Wifi 6 on apple tv, ethernet on mac/plex server.

11

to anyone coming to this thread in the future here is how I resolve it

System wipe of windows, fixed my buffering issues in general when playing 4k

As for buffering when playing subtitles, my pc was capable of handling the transcode but the clients were not. I used an Xbox series x to stream 4k with subtitles and it works like a charm. Zero buffer super fast load times. When I try the same thing on my phone, I get choppy/laggy stream. When I stream using a laptop, it works like a charm again. I don’t know why…

However, for my use case scenario. Xbox series x to stream plex does the job and I am happy with it. If you don’t want to do that. I hear Nvidia shield pro is a good option as well.

However, key take away, buffering with subtitles was definitely a client sided issue.

Hope this helps!

12

Plex Media Server Logs_2023-05-25_21-43-33.zip (6.3 MB)

Can you help look into my logs and see what my issue might be?

13

@Bobs_604

Update to the 64-bit version of Plex Media Server. The transcoding is much more efficient. Also, it is required if you want to use hardware accelerated HDR to SDR tonemapping. Download the 64-bit version from plex.tv. The installer will detect and remove the 32-bit version before installing the 64-bit version.

Regarding streaming problems, there are several people streaming at the same time.

Who was having a problem, what was the problem, and what were they streaming?

The info will help narrow the search when looking in the log files.

14

@FordGuy61

So I’ve upgraded my PMS to the 64-bit version and reorganized the media folder as well. And I’m still experiencing the same issues. Buffering every few mins or so. Also nobody has complained about the issue from a remote streaming standpoint. The attached logs are of me streaming locally with nobody else streaming. I’m able to to direct play everything so not sure where else the issue could lay. Can you help me look through my logs and maybe you might be able to find out perhaps?

Plex Media Server Logs_2023-05-27_13-56-28.zip (6.0 MB)

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