Plex choosing to transcode 4k down to 1080p when optimized version is available

[jobinrandhawa]

Server Version#: 1.32.3.7089
Player Version#: Firestick, AFTMM
<If providing server logs please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only debug logging should be enabled>
On a remote firestick as well as my Android phone plex is choosing to transcode instead of using the optimized version, iPhone is working correctly,

[Junto026]

Download the logs from the troubleshooting page on Plex Server and look for the transcode decision. You can CTRL+F for “reached decision” and review the information before and after. I pasted an example below.

Plex will decide to direct play or transcode on a device-by-device basis, based on what type of codec/bitstream/etc the client device can accept. If it is direct-playing on iPhone but not Android/Firestick then there are some video/audio settings that iPhone can accept but Android/Firestick cannot.

Your options to change this would be to transcode the original video file and re-add to Plex. You could get fancy and use scripts, or applications that have codec-inspection-and-automatic-transcode capabilities on import.

Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.760 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] Found session GUID of e6i2mgrf614a7gabfj30okta in session start.
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.760 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] TranscodeUniversalRequest: adapting profile with augmentation data: add-transcode-target(type=videoProfile&context=streaming&protocol=hls&container=mpegts&videoCodec=h264,hevc,mpeg2video,mpeg4&audioCodec=aac,ac3,eac3,mp2,mp3)+add-limitation(scope=videoAudioCodec&scopeName=mp2&type=upperBound&name=audio.bitrate&value=350)+add-limitation(scope=videoAudioCodec&scopeName=mp3&type=upperBound&name=audio.bitrate&value=350)+add-limitation(scope=videoCodec&scopeName=h264&type=upperBound&name=video.level&value=51)+add-limitation(scope=videoTranscodeTarget&scopeName=h264&scopeType=videoCodec&context=streaming&protocol=hls&type=upperBound&name=video.bitDepth&value=8)+add-limitation(scope=videoTranscodeTarget&scopeName=h264&scopeType=videoCodec&context=streaming&protocol=hls&type=upperBound&name=video.width&value=3840)+add-limitation(scope=videoTranscodeTarget&scopeName=h264&scopeType=videoCodec&context=streaming&protocol=hls&type=upperBound&name=video.height&value=2160)+add-limitation(scope=videoTranscodeTarget&scopeName=hevc&scopeType=videoCodec&context=streaming&protocol=hls&type=upperBound&name=video.bitDepth&value=10)+add-limitation(scope=videoTranscodeTarget&scopeName=hevc&scopeType=videoCodec&context=streaming&protocol=hls&type=upperBound&name=video.width&value=3840)+add-limitation(scope=videoTranscodeTarget&scopeName=hevc&scopeType=videoCodec&context=streaming&protocol=hls&type=upperBound&name=video.height&value=2160)+add-limitation(scope=videoTranscodeTarget&scopeName=mpeg2video&scopeType=videoCodec&context=streaming&protocol=hls&type=upperBound&name=video.bitDepth&value=8)+add-limitation(scope=videoTranscodeTarget&scopeName=mpeg2video&scopeType=videoCodec&context=streaming&protocol=hls&type=upperBound&name=video.width&value=1920)+add-limitation(scope=videoTranscodeTarget&scopeName=mpeg2video&scopeType=videoCodec&context=streaming&protocol=hls&type=upperBound&name=video.height&value=1080)+add-limitation(scope=videoTranscodeTarget&scopeName=mpeg4&scopeType=videoCodec&context=streaming&protocol=hls&type=upperBound&name=video.bitDepth&value=8)+add-limitation(scope=videoTranscodeTarget&scopeName=mpeg4&scopeType=videoCodec&context=streaming&protocol=hls&type=upperBound&name=video.width&value=1920)+add-limitation(scope=videoTranscodeTarget&scopeName=mpeg4&scopeType=videoCodec&context=streaming&protocol=hls&type=upperBound&name=video.height&value=1080)
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.760 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] TranscodeUniversalRequest: using augmented profile Generic
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.760 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] Downloading document http://127.0.0.1:32400/library/metadata/26617?includeBandwidths=1&offset=-1&X-Plex-Incomplete-Segments=1&X-Plex-Session-Identifier=0kcnkktagssm53mo157tnzyl
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.762 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode/Req#e34c] We're going to try to auto-select an audio stream for account 1.
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.762 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode/Req#e34c] Selecting best audio stream for part ID 63929 (language: en)
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.762 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode/Req#e34c] Audio Stream: 176544, Subtitle Stream: -1
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: Selected protocol hls; container: mpegts
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: analyzing media item 46330
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: Direct Play is disabled
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: media must be transcoded in order to use the hls protocol
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: no direct play video profile exists for http/mp4/h264
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: no direct play video profile exists for http/mp4/h264/ac3
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: no direct play video profile exists for http/mp4/h264/aac
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] My Episode - video.width limitation applies: 1920 > 1280
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: Direct Streaming is disabled, so video stream will be transcoded
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: no remuxable profile found, so video stream will be transcoded
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: Cannot direct stream video stream due to profile or setting limitations
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: My Season - S1 E2 - My Episode: selected media 0 / 46330
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Required bandwidth unknown (media requires deep analysis) Changing decision parameters provided by client to fit bandwidth limit of 4000kbps
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Determining preferred transcode encoders through transcode only decision.
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Reducing playback quality for 3809kbps stream bitrate: audio channels to 6, quality to 10, disable audio DS as 640kbps is > the 336kbps available
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: Selected protocol hls; container: mpegts
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: analyzing media item 46330
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: Direct Play is disabled
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: media must be transcoded in order to use the hls protocol
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: no direct play video profile exists for http/mp4/h264
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: no direct play video profile exists for http/mp4/h264/ac3
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: no direct play video profile exists for http/mp4/h264/aac
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] My Episode - video.width limitation applies: 1920 > 1280
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: Direct Streaming is disabled, so video stream will be transcoded
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: no remuxable profile found, so video stream will be transcoded
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: Cannot direct stream video stream due to profile or setting limitations
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: E2 - My Episode: Audio Direct Streaming is disabled, so video's audio stream will be transcoded
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: Cannot direct stream audio stream due to profile or setting limitations
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] MDE: My Season - S1 E2 - My Episode: selected media 0 / 46330
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Adding session 0xffffa35cc808:0kcnkktagssm53mo157tnzyl which is using transcoder slot.  Used slots is now 1
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Added session 0xffffa35cc808:0kcnkktagssm53mo157tnzyl
Jun 10, 2023 14:12:40.763 [281473383440608] DEBUG - [Req#e34b/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Reached Decision id=26617 codes=(General=1001,Direct play not available; Conversion OK. Direct Play=3000,App cannot direct play this item. Direct play is disabled. Transcode=1001,Direct play not available; Conversion OK.) media=(id=46330 part=(id=63929 decision=transcode container=mpegts protocol=hls streams=(Video=(id=176543 decision=transcode bitrate=3416 encoder=libx264 width=1280 height=720) Audio=(id=176544 decision=transcode bitrate=336 encoder=aac channels=6 rate=48000))))

[Manujito]

This is an Android specific open issue, I found this topic a while back:

Recent plex app update had regression ignoring video quality settings

Server Version#: 1.30.1.6562 / 1.31.0.6654 Player Version#: 9.15.0.38159 (should start with a version a week ago) I don’t think it’s a server side issue. I have two android devices with auto-updates and the app has been updated twice in recent week. And since then it just ignores my video setting (using 1080p instead of max quality). The video I tried to play has two versions: 4k and 1080p. I uploaded them and merged the two into a single item in plex. For these two devices, they don’t support…

I since joined the conversation, had a lenghty back and forth via PM with a staff member, and was then completely ignored. I wish they would acknowledge it and start working on a fix.