# Plex keeps buffering **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Tags:** server-mac\ **Created:** [November 16, 2018, 11:37pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076 "2018-11-16T23:37:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/joseflaw_yahoo_com/32/239294_2.png) [@joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://forums.plex.tv/u/joseflaw_yahoo_com)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 11:37pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/1 "2018-11-16T23:37:42Z")
I’m using late 2014 MacBook Pro as server. The CPU is 3.1GHz Intel Core i7 with 16 GB RAM. Don’t tell me that the buffering is because of the slow CPU. My WiFi speed is 85MBPs both up and down. I’m using Apple AirPort extreme router. So don’t tell me that it is because of the network. Even I sit right by the router or hardwired, a 754MB small video keeps buffering. What’s going on? ---
**Author:** ![BigWheel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/bigwheel/32/78783_2.png) [@BigWheel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BigWheel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 11:45pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/2 "2018-11-16T23:45:47Z")
Please provide a log from the player and server covering whatever you are playing. I have the same machine with a slower processor i5. A poorly encoded video could be a reason it would buffer while transcoding regardless of file size. but it could be lots of things. Does it start buffering immediately? can you provide a sample file? ---
**Author:** ![joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/joseflaw_yahoo_com/32/239294_2.png) [@joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://forums.plex.tv/u/joseflaw_yahoo_com)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 11:50pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/3 "2018-11-16T23:50:02Z")
Thank you for so quick reply. I’m playing it on SamSung TV… Where can I find the log file? And when will it supports the .mkv file? ---
**Author:** ![BigWheel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/bigwheel/32/78783_2.png) [@BigWheel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BigWheel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 11:57pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/4 "2018-11-16T23:57:50Z")
If you are using our Samsung app you enable logging the the app settings then it will actually write to the sever logs. In the app it can be found in `Settings>Privacy>log to Media Server`. so after enabling that , play a file that cause it then get the server logs which can be found in settings of the server under troubleshooting ---
**Author:** ![BigWheel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/bigwheel/32/78783_2.png) [@BigWheel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BigWheel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 11:59pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/5 "2018-11-16T23:59:49Z")
It does support MKV, but not all MKVs are made the same. there are a million ways video and audio can be encoded ---
**Author:** ![joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/joseflaw_yahoo_com/32/239294_2.png) [@joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://forums.plex.tv/u/joseflaw_yahoo_com)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2018, 12:01am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/6 "2018-11-17T00:01:18Z")
Thanks. Let me try later. ---
**Author:** ![BigWheel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/bigwheel/32/78783_2.png) [@BigWheel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BigWheel)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2018, 1:24am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/9 "2018-11-17T01:24:00Z")
been looking at logs and don’t see anything obvious. I was curious as it looks like you have subtitles enabled for playback can you try playing the file with them off. ---
**Author:** ![joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/joseflaw_yahoo_com/32/239294_2.png) [@joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://forums.plex.tv/u/joseflaw_yahoo_com)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/10 "2018-11-17T01:38:53Z")
Thank you for trying. I’ll try to turn off the subtitles ---
**Author:** ![BigWheel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/bigwheel/32/78783_2.png) [@BigWheel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BigWheel)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2018, 1:41am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/11 "2018-11-17T01:41:39Z")
I wasn’t sure in our original post if you have the TV itself hardwired or wifi. I was also talking with one of the other guys and they mentioned on many Samsung TVs wifi is actually better than being wired ( but i don’t have one) If you have not it may be worth trying whichever it is not currently using. ---
**Author:** ![joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/joseflaw_yahoo_com/32/239294_2.png) [@joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://forums.plex.tv/u/joseflaw_yahoo_com)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2018, 1:42am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/12 "2018-11-17T01:42:22Z")
I’m using wifi for my Samsung tv ---
**Author:** ![MeatBall](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/meatball/32/197491_2.png) [@MeatBall](https://forums.plex.tv/u/MeatBall)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2018, 7:33am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/13 "2018-11-17T07:33:51Z")
It’s your network or server isn’t powerful enough ---
**Author:** ![joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/joseflaw_yahoo_com/32/239294_2.png) [@joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://forums.plex.tv/u/joseflaw_yahoo_com)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2018, 11:44am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/14 "2018-11-17T11:44:33Z")
Please read my original post. I’m an IT professional. 3.1GHz Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM and 1T SSD HD server. 85 MBPs up and down Internet speed. I tried sit by router using WiFi and also tried hardwire. How power of a system or a network does a simple video server need? People useing Plex for its simplicity and doesn’t need business line of supper power computer or server. Hope you don’t work at Plex as a developer or IT person. I paid Plex not just for service. I liked what people say about Plex and paid for supporting the developer there. Your answer disappoits me and disgraces Plex. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![MeatBall](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/meatball/32/197491_2.png) [@MeatBall](https://forums.plex.tv/u/MeatBall)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/15 "2018-11-18T20:50:06Z")
I’m not a plex employee, only a user trying to help but you haven’t given us anything to work with. I read your original post. The issue is almost certainly on your end but I won’t know that it’s the server, your network, the file or something else without details: -As mentioned you should paste the logs immediately after replicating the issue. -What happens when you try to play the same file on a different client? -Any difference when you hardwire the mac hosting PMS? -Which versions of MacOS and PMS are you running? with that we should be able to find the issue. ---
**Author:** ![joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/joseflaw_yahoo_com/32/239294_2.png) [@joseflaw\_yahoo\_com](https://forums.plex.tv/u/joseflaw_yahoo_com)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2018, 11:20pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/16 "2018-11-18T23:20:21Z")
I uploaded the log files. Two sessions and BigWheel, Plex Employee has checked them and didn’t find anything wrong. I removed the files after he finished to protect my privacy. BTW, if this helps, I found the issue. Plex needs to work on Samsung TV app. Plex works fine with Firetv, Apple TV, iPand and iPhone. I believe the issue the Samsung app. I’ll keep helping Plex with testing or whatever Plex needs. ---
**Author:** ![MeatBall](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/meatball/32/197491_2.png) [@MeatBall](https://forums.plex.tv/u/MeatBall)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 7:22am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/17 "2018-11-19T07:22:49Z")
gotcha- glad they helped review your stuff so you could figure it out. I’ve always had a tough time with the smart tv apps, so that makes sense. Best of luck. ---
**Author:** ![PimpDiggler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e99b99/32.png) [@PimpDiggler](https://forums.plex.tv/u/PimpDiggler)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 12:06pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/18 "2018-11-19T12:06:03Z")
I am also dealing with buffering on a 2015 Samsung TV. I have started trying to tweak the buffers in the app and as of now based on what I saw the TV requesting via the network Ive set the “Total Buffer” to 35 MB for starters. I dont know what the app or TV’s default values are but I started there. My Apple TV request over 500-800 mb/s the TV is only requesting ~220 and I can see when the TV stops requesting or runs out of data in my network monitor on that machine. The apple TV doesnt have this issue and I am Direct Playing to the TV Direct Streaming to the Apple TV if that makes a difference. I think the next time around I want to try another TV manufacturer. My system specs are: 8x Intel® Xeon® CPU E3-1280 V2 @ 3.60GHz 16 GB of Ram 14.3 TB storage Raid 0 2\*1Gb/s link aggregated nic cards. Buffering should not be a thing ---
**Author:** ![MeatBall](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/meatball/32/197491_2.png) [@MeatBall](https://forums.plex.tv/u/MeatBall)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 6:23pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/19 "2018-11-22T18:23:25Z")
You’re right. You should be able to play whatever/whenever at home and it should smooth as silk. The smart tv clients are tough. My suggestion (only because I’ve been thru it myself) would be in the future to avoid the smart tv apps all together. Reason being is tv manufactures are looking to sell tv’s and the apps are part of the marketing. Once the tv leaves the shelf the motivation to maintain good software is probably pretty minimal. I’m generalizing there are of course exceptions to this. But I’d bet you could put just about any other client on your tv- Roku, apple, firetv, htpc, etc etc and they would all work beautifully. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-keeps-buffering/333076/20 "2019-02-20T18:34:16Z")
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