I have tried to search for a solution to this issue but I’m A) Not very good with forums and B) not as technically minded as some people out there. I do ok, but when it gets into changing configurations and command lines and EDID things I’m at a loss. I really wish I could just email someone with Plex but evidently that isn’t an option.
Here’s my issue. I have an HTPC running the latest versions of Plex Media Server and Plex Media Player (I say latest versions of PMP, but I should point out I’ve had this problem since I’ve had the HTPC, through every version.)
The HTPC is hooked up via HDMI to a Sony A/V Receiver, then goes via HDMI to my TV.
I have the “Full Screen,” “Always on Top,” and “TV” options checked in the settings.
Any time I leave out of Plex to switch over to my Roku, Switch, or broadcast TV… when I come back Plex is now about 1/4 its size and situated in the upper-left corner of the screen. My windows desktop is visible around it.
I can go into the settings and the “Full Screen” option is no longer checked. I check it, and Plex does go back to full screen… HOWEVER… the shrunken version remains in the upper left corner, blocking out 25% of the screen.
Can someone PLEASE tell me how to fix this? I really just want to be able to switch away from Plex and back to it without having to go through the whole rigamarole of redoing the settings, exiting (blind, as the smaller windows is blocking so much of it), then restarting the player. I don’t have a keyboard hooked to the HTPC because I use a remote for it, so these keyboard tricks I’ve seen mentioned don’t work either.
It’s annoying, but the only solution I have found is not to close PMP in full screen and don’t leave it open when the TV switches to another input and don’t select Always On Top - 'cause that really freaks it out. <—what was ‘Full Screen’ for that HDMI input is totally borked when the TV ‘re-negotiates’ a new resolution (4K or Non-4K), or tries to survive a TV Power Down (while open and Forced Full Screen and On Top) and shoves what used to be ‘Full Screen’ into the upper right quadrant - still Forced to Full Screen and On Top.
The ‘Solution’ may also be annoying - but it’s less annoying than trying to fix it through 75% of the screen, with all the juicy bits hidden.
Another ‘work-around’ may well be to never turn the TV off… what are the chances of that happening (real good at my house, but…)?
Loved ‘Rigamarole’…
We may be the only guys on this forum that knows what that means - and this truly is Rigamarole and very possibly Evil Rigamarole…lol
How can we possibly be the only two that know rigamarole? LOL
Ok, just to double check what you’re saying… are you saying if I’m gonna switch inputs, I should close out of PMP entirely… then just reopen it again when I go back to the Plex input?
I mean, I see that working, but like you said, still annoying, especially if I need to switch inputs while pausing something in Plex.
Well, we know that Bible Belt Christians use that work in the place of BullSh%t…'cause neither of my Parents would have said that word if they were neck deep in it…lol
Being from the Bible Belt - you know that’s a sin, right?
Don’t Pause - Stop.
Yes, when I leave the input PMP is on - I minimize it - then close it.
I leave the TV On almost all the time, but when it’s powered down - PMP is absolutely not open. When I do open it the next time - and make sure the TV is ON - it opens on the TV and I only have to Maximize it.
I would turn off Always on Top.
At least until something different happens in development circles. It’s way too annoying to deal with when this goes Total Rigamarole… as you know.
That’s a good question.
I fear the answer is you can’t.
Which remote?
I use my phone app to control PMP when it’s open - I don’t have a fancier one - but I also have a wireless mouse in the end-table drawer that makes short work of it. A Logitech M510 has amazing range, is only $20 at Amazon (I’m an Autocad guy and wear 'em out in a year), and the new Logitech Radios will let you run a bunch of wireless devices on the same radio…
Yea, Rigamarole of another kind, but ‘Work-Around-Amarole’ is easier - or it wouldn’t be a thing…
Android - is the one I use…:
open up the phone app and hit the little ‘Cast’ icon predominantly displayed in the upper right - AFTER you fire up PMP with your nifty Logitech… when Plex has noticed PMP is ‘on the air’ PMP will be avilable as one of the ‘Targets’ for the ‘Cast’ - or in this Case - ‘The Mirror’ - and everything you do on the phone will be done on PMP. Like Magic.
If you have an app on a Pad of some kind - oh, Man - that opens up a whole new door… My Sister in Law is a machine on that IPad thing… don’t get in her way… stand back and watch it happen…
No, that’s what the Mouse is for.
At least I haven’t tried it, but when in ‘Cast Mode’ you can also switch to a ‘Remote Control’ that has some giant buttons, and that one may be able to hit that icon… now I’m gonna have to see if it does… and you can as well.
Yeah, I’ll have to try it when I get home. I don’t have a mouse hooked up to it either. It sits in a cabinet with the HDDs holding the media, just the Flirc is out in the open.
Well, install the logitech software.
That will let you run multiple wireless devices on the one ‘thingy’ - that little USB Radio I have plugged into THE BACK of my Server and it hears the mouse from another room for cryin’ out loud… as soon as I turn it on (via the little power button on the bottom of the mouse) yea… amazing range.
All these ‘things’ have to be on the same network - of course.
Plex
PMP
Phone Apps
Pad Apps
Then Plex plays Traffic Cop and can hook everybody up with everybody else.
Developers aren’t users - if they were they’d have added total mouse support for PMP 418 years ago. <—Worse - is during the big ‘Killing PMP’ forum meltdown - the first thing they responded with was suggesting we buy a Shield. <—it went downhill fast after that. <—let’s just say it wasn’t Plex’s best day in Customer Relations.
No, you can’t hit the ‘Full Screen’ button with the phone app remote - that I have found anyway - the ‘button’ doesn’t even appear until you roll a mouse over PMP - proof developers don’t use the thing anywhere else than on the desktop their designing the thing on - and ONLY use the keyboard.
Oh, yes - it’s gonna be a ‘Work-Around’ all the way.
… and you’re gonna need a few extra moving parts…lol
HTPC Users are few - but relentless.
When it became clear the only way Plex was going to get their forum back was by doing something different, a new plan was developed on the fly - keeping PMP.
Now they want to remove the Plexweb View - that may well start another Dumpster Fire, but I don’t care either way. I can’t see Plexweb View on my TV anyway - without these:
I do use Plex for Windows to view stuff at the Desktop - and it only has Plexweb view so that works out fine.
I’ve also had this problem with PMP for ages. Ultimately I found that as long as I quit out of PMP before switching inputs or turning off the TV, it’s all good.
Besides, if you pin PMP onto the Taskbar, this it’s simply a single click to launch it.
Not perfect, but nowadays I find it harder to get off the sofa than to do that… Perspective!
A more precise question might actually be… Where does the problem actually lie? Is it a PMP software problem? Is it a Windows problem? Is it how the AV speaks to the PC via HDMI?
I haven’t actually ran any tests with any other full screen software yet, but would be interesting to narrow it down a little…
