Anoither comment @deactivated - I am getting a lot of these errors since turning that option on. Never had them beforehand. Could this be related?
Playback Error
An error occurred trying to play “X”.
Error code: h3 (Decode)
Definitely seems related to me too. I see @mervincm mention the same h3 decode error when using the workaround. Are you also watching high bitrate content? If so, HEVC+HDR?
I’ll get back into this next week. It’s going to take a few days of debugging to identify where the issue in Chrome really lies.
Thanks :). That’s pretty high bitrate. Netflix’s UHD content streamed to browsers is about 1/3 rd of that bitrate. Our number is an avg bitrate too so it’ll spike and dip. Safe to assume that file is HEVC+HDR and truehd audio being played via direct stream?
Yes it’s 55551 kbps, 4K, HEVC HDR
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My issue may be different, but it has a similar result. When I have Automatic Quality turned on in Plex Web, the playback will skip ahead a few seconds (~5) every time the quality is adjusted automatically. It appears to only happen on older hardware, not on newer hardware. Forcing transcoding makes the issue go away. However, my internet connection isn’t great so the automatic quality adjustment is very desirable. If there are any logs or anything that would be helpful, I’m happy to provide. If this seems like a different problem, I’ll start a new thread. Thanks
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HEVC+HDR+TRUEHD Audio is correct. But it is not direct playing, it is trancoding in hw. encode and decode. At least now it is. I didn’t note it at the time, and there have been a new PMS server version since.
I am not sure if it is possible to direct stream a 4k HEVC trueaudio file in chrome is it?
But in any case with the debug option enabled it fails, and without it enabled, it plays. claient says transcoding to 4k, but the dashboard says transcoding to 1080p. I tried dropping the transcode rate to 20 mbps, and it didn’t fail , right away at least, I didnt watch the 2 hour movie again 
Thanks for your work but i still have the issue with the new option active.
I generated a sample file with the plex transcoder command:
“C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Transcoder.exe” -i “C:\downloads\file.mp4” -t 120 -map 0 -c copy “output.mp4”
Imported in plex and tried it. The problem is there.
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I have tried all the workarounds recommended in this thread and nothing helped.
I am running Plex 1.19.4.2902 under up to date Windows 10, NVidia 1660 with latest drivers, installed on ssd disk - the issue was in the version before, I noticed there is updated available but it did not fix it
It workd fine few days ago, just suddenly started to do this
both google chrome and firefox tested
the skip happends in very same second of the video every time
all file affected, no matter avi, mp4, mkv, low bit rates, high bitrates, low resolution, big resolutiooon…everything, everywhere
The only solution i have found is to downgrade. I saved the Versión 1.16.6.1592 as my no problems version.
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Unfortunately i am having this same issue. Actually has been happening for a while on very specific files… strange. Randomly every few minutes it will skip 5-10 seconds, will consistently do this for some episodes. I was hoping the newer “Use alternate streaming protocol for video playback” would fix my issues, but still nothing. I am streaming over a local network using direct stream while doing this. Converting my files fixes the issue, but still unfortunate.
This continues to be an issue for me, and appears to be impacting most of the videos I have been adding recently. Any further luck with the investigation? Are you still looking for logs / sample video files? I also connect directly to my server rather than through the app.plx.tv URL, any work as to when plex web will be updated to expose the experimental debug player via this method? I do have more success with that flag flipped, but access my server directly and the option is still not available.
Yes, it works for me.
I opened two Chrome tabs (one with local web player and one with the app.plex.tv web player). The local one is skipping and the other one is playing flawlessly.
Thank you!
This new option resolves the problem here on 2935, please give us an option to enable it server wide, as i do not want to tell every user to go to debug when using the web app.
(FYI: Unraid 6.9.0-beta22 with docker image linuxserver/plex:amd64-1.19.4.2935-79e214ead-ls104 on a ASRock J5005-ITX)
Ive been having this issue randomly too.
Did some testing with the new work around of “use alternate streaming protocol for video playback”
Turning it on didnt seem to make any difference, it was only when i disabled direct stream that the skipping stopped on the test batman video some one posted.
Final settings to get it working were Direct play on, Direct Stream off, alternate streaming off (or on, didnt make a difference)
Edit: The fix worked excellent for the test files, however some of my old avi files (MPEG4 + MP3) still skip randomly, no matter the settings.
Server Version#: Version 1.19.5.3021
Player Version :Firefox Web player = Chrome Web player
I too have been seeing this issue in both chrome and firefox browsers. I followed the dev suggestion to change the setting in Debug>Use alternate streaming protocol for video playback is Checked.
Typically the file will play and within a minute ill see it jump ahead 2-5 seconds a few times throughout playback.
Thank you
Server Version 1.19.4.2935
I’m having the same issue with the audio and video skipping. Plex please fix.
I can confirm that the latest update includes a new web player with the debug option available for local access. This seems to solve most of my playback issues for now. Ideally we would understand whats going on with this skipping and not have to select some sort of special debug flag, but at least this is progress. Thanks.
I am still having this problem on firefox even with the new update. It seems it only does it when it is trying to uptranscode the video file like rendering something that is not there and skips to catch up.
and it only does this on my older files 1mbps and it tries to render at 1.7mbps and then skips unless i skip first every now and again.
I’m having this issue as well, with the ALT setting on or off in Firefox, or direct stream or direct play enabled or disabled. All combinations make no difference. I’m using windows 10 pro, Plex server 1.20.0.3133, Nvidia GTX 1650 driver ver. 27.21.14.5167. Old, new, big, small, they all skip for me, and the settings do nothing.
I think this bug might be related to how Shaka and Chrome interact, and how shaka responds to QuotaExceededErrors. When using shaka with DASH, like default Plex web, I get the large gaps. When using shaka + mux.js with HLS, I get the same large gaps. However, when using hls.js (like Plex web does when using “Use alternate streaming protocol for video playback”), I am able to play back the same content just fine with no errors or gaps. It’s curious why hls.js is able to work if it is a Chrome bug, or if they somehow work around it. Have you discovered this too with shaka vs hls.js in Chrome or have some ideas/guesses about what’s causing this? Is there a bug report for Chromium (or shaka) about this issue?
