# Plex choosing to transcode 4k down to 1080p when optimized version is available **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-windows\ **Created:** [May 30, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-choosing-to-transcode-4k-down-to-1080p-when-optimized-version-is-available/842938 "2023-05-30T23:54:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jobinrandhawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@jobinrandhawa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jobinrandhawa)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-choosing-to-transcode-4k-down-to-1080p-when-optimized-version-is-available/842938/1 "2023-05-30T23:54:20Z")
Server Version#: 1.32.3.7089 Player Version#: Firestick, AFTMM \ 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, ---
**Author:** ![Junto026](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/junto026/32/306006_2.png) [@Junto026](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Junto026)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 6:55pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-choosing-to-transcode-4k-down-to-1080p-when-optimized-version-is-available/842938/2 "2023-06-10T18:55:00Z")
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. ```auto 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)))) ``` ---
**Author:** ![Manujito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/manujito/32/25508_2.png) [@Manujito](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Manujito)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-choosing-to-transcode-4k-down-to-1080p-when-optimized-version-is-available/842938/3 "2023-06-11T20:09:32Z")
This is an Android specific open issue, I found this topic a while back: > [@Recent plex app update had regression ignoring video quality settings](https://forums.plex.tv/t/recent-plex-app-update-had-regression-ignoring-video-quality-settings/829349): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-choosing-to-transcode-4k-down-to-1080p-when-optimized-version-is-available/842938/4 "2023-09-09T20:09:39Z")
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