Playback of video pauses when iOS device locks

General Discussions
1

I have a new Ipad Pro 10" and promptly installed Plex on it and sync’d some content.

Using the Ipad to play some videos and outputting using a USB-C -> HDMI cable to a TV. This works fine until I lock the Ipad or the screen switches off due to power management. Video then freezes, however, the audio continues. If I then unlock the Ipad the video resumes.

Leaving the screen on all the time to watch a movie kills the battery. Am I doing something wrong as I cannot see any setting I need to enable for this to work?

Thanks

2

I don’t have any cables to test but do you have a  tv so can airplay the media? I believe the device can go to sleep and still play that way. Also happen to have any other streaming devices that you can connect to the tv. If you’re going to use cables, have a laptop or something that can hook up directly to it?

3

No way to airplay. I use this setup when I am away from home and in hotels etc. Have used this for years with an iphone but this was using a lightning -> HDMI cable.

4

Are you streaming or playing videos synced from your device when you do this? If streaming, can get a cheap Firestick just for this and it’s small enough for traveling. Also it’s on sale at amazon right now $10 off.

5

I used pre-sync’d content on the Ipad. Wifi in hotels is usually useless so bought a 256Gb Ipad so I could use offline content.

6

Only thing that would play in the background with the device in sleep mode is music (iOS music, pandora, etc). I believe that’s something  controls what can play in the background vs the app probably to save battery. So only suggestion would be to either turn the brightness all the way down while playing videos. The device shouldn’t be going to sleep on its own if it’s playing media but if it is temporarily put it it never sleep mode and if needed plug it into a power source.

7

You can’t plug it into a power source as you are using the USB-C cable for outputting the video to the TV via HDMI.

Background App Refresh is turned on for Plex. Live wallpapers are disabled.

I am stumped as this used to work.

8

Backround app refresh is more to just update data periodically, not to play in the background constantly on any app.

9

Do other video apps display the same issue? Or just Plex. Do you recall about the last time it worked versus when the Plex app updated?

10

This has never worked on my Ipad, its only a week old. This used to work on my iPhone with a Apple digital AV adapter. The Ipad only uses a USB-C -> HDMI cable.

I will try the iPhone again and check.

11

Also check if it works with other video players – this may be a device/iOS issue an not necessarily a Plex app issue…

12

So I tried some other players on the IPad. Playing video and then lock the screen.

Amazon Prime. This worked.
BBC iPlayer. Failed. Video and audio stopped.
YouTube. Failed. Video and audio stopped.

Tried my iPhone with the AV adapter.
Plex. Worked.
Amazon Prime. Worked.

It seems the AV adapter is the key. But I don’t understand how Amazon Prime works on the iPad with the basic USB-C HDMI cable.

13

The apps where it’s not working with the USBC-HDMI adapter may not be doing something quite right. USBC on iDevices is still relatively new, yes?

14

Yes, USB-C is new for IPad 2018 I think.

15

I’m hitting the same issue. I suppose you haven’t found any solution yet? One difference is that I have a larger usb-c adapter that has HDMI out, a usb-a port, and another usb-c. That nicely allows you to output to HDMI and also charge via the other usb-c port. I wish I didn’t have to leave the iPad unlocked, but at least I can leave it plugged in too.

This is the adapter I have:
CHOETECH USB C Digital AV Multiport Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A6ZPHAQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_lwf-CbR5G95P8

16

Have the same Problem. With the old player it worked

17

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