Plex App for Windows not streaming Plex Channels

Plex Players Desktop Players
1

Server Version#: 1.41.3.9314
Player Version#: 1.107.2.300-7093f413 (Windows x64)

I have a Plex Server running on Synology. I am only having an issue streaming the “Live TV - Plex Channels” with the Windows App (Win10 22H2). All other players/apps (Samsung, Roku, Android, Web) will stream the Live-Stream Plex Channels without issue.

The Windows App will stream “on-demand” shows / movies without issue. It is only the “Live TV - Plex Channels” that won’t stream. And oddly, maybe 1 in ~25 tries it will start the stream. But if I switch channels, it won’t start the stream.

There are no errors. The stream simply never starts. Just a black screen.

I have tried restarting and reinstalling. I have tried on multiple machines. No help. I have even tried the HTPC and it has the same issue.

Short of completely reinstalling Windows / upgrading to Win11, I am at a loss.

Anyone else having such issues?

Eric

2

I cannot recreate here on Win 11 24H2.
Do you give it plenty of time to fetch the stream? It can sometimes take several seconds.

Are you using a VPN service?
Which type of GPU is used in that computer?
Is there an “internet filter” of some sorts in your home network or on your computer?
Are you trying to “cast” the content to another device in your home network?
Is there a “screen grabbing” device or driver software installed (like e.g. used for creating video podcasts etc.)

Enable “debug” logging in the client and recreate the issue.
https://support.plex.tv/articles/windows-mac-app-logs/
Then fetch the log, paste it into notepad.exe and save it as a text file. Zip it, then attach it here to a post in this forum.

3

Do you give it plenty of time to fetch the stream?
Yes, I’ve let it try for several minutes, but nothing.

Are you using a VPN service?
No

Which type of GPU is used in that computer?
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
i7-8650U
16 GB
Intel UHD 620 Graphics
Win 10 22H2

Is there an “internet filter” of some sorts in your home network or on your computer?
No

Are you trying to “cast” the content to another device in your home network?
No, just viewing directly on the computer

Is there a “screen grabbing” device or driver software installed (like e.g. used for creating video podcasts etc.)
No

It used to work without issue, but I haven’t tried to stream Live-Streams in a few months. And, like I said, I can stream live stuff via a browser, without issue. It is truly just the Windows App that’s having issues. I have also tried shutting down any background apps, just in case something might be interfering, but nothing.

Attached are logs from yesterday and today.
Logs.zip (897.7 KB)

4

What is selected as “video playback quality” under
Settings - ‘Show Advanced’ - Plex for Windows - Player?
If it’s cranked up, try setting it down to “Normal”.

If there is a “Hardware Decoding” toggle, try changing that as well.

5

Playback was at “Normal” and Hardware Decoding was on.

I tried “Normal” without Hardware Decoding, as well as “Low” with and without Hardware Decoding. Same results.

6

Just got this error:

Playback Error
An unknown error occurred (4294967280)
Error code: 4294967280

First time I have seen an error.

7

So, just to add more confusion to the issue, not all channels seem to be affected.

Some channels seem to start every time I try (examples: Hot Ones, Johnny Carson TV, Euronews Deutsch). Others fail almost always (examples: Cooking Panda, Mythical 24/7, Emeril Lagasse Channel). And only some generate the error I posted earlier (examples: Tastemade, Wicked Tuna Channel).

This is just a small test, so I cannot say that those channels which work, work 100% of the time, but they definitely work more reliably. However, there is definitely an issue with certain channels.

The really strange thing is that my other devices (2x Samsung TVs & 2x Rokus, 1x Android) don’t have any issues. I haven’t tested those devices thoroughly, but haven’t seen issues either. I’ll test them more thoroughly. However, it seems to eliminate a general network issue.

I have another W10 System that has the same issue. Web works; App doesn’t. Same issues with the same channels. Wired ethernet and WiFi, same issue.

Very odd. I’ll keep testing and see if I find anything else.

E

8

I can confirm I am getting this issue as well with Plex channels in Windows client.
In web browser the channel plays; in Windows (10) client, I get:

Playback Error: An unknown error occurred (4294967280)

For example, I get this error on Mystery TV but not with, e.g. Unsolved Mysteries channel.

9

Anything on this? I have the exact same issue, works with web and Android clients, but not Windows on 2 different machines, one Win10 one Win11.

10

I just updated to the latest version of the Windows client (1.108.1.307) and it hasn’t changed. Some almost always start streaming, most almost never, and only some generate the error mentioned. My TVs and Android devices work fine.

So, nothing seems to have changed.

E

EDIT:

Worth mentioning…

When I stream on the web interface, the streams start almost immediately (usually <2 seconds). With the app, the channels that do start, take a long time to start streaming, like 10-15 seconds.
For comparison, the channels that don’t start, switch to a black screen (vs. a splash screen of the show/channel) at about 15 seconds. So, it seems, the channels that do start with the app, just barely manage to do so.

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