Problems offline downloading with Android client(s) ONLY on home network

Plex Players Mobile Devices
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1

Server Version#: 4.69.1
Player Version#: 8.28.0.30077

I’ve recently started using Plex and purchased the lifetime pass, so I am kinda new to this.

I’m having trouble downloading files for offline viewing through the Plex Android client apps. When I try to download something, it turns up under the Downloads tab as a 0.00 KB file and (repeatedly) says that there were problems downloading the file and that I can try again. It always tries downloading and fails immediately (so not while in the middle of a download or anything).

This happens only:

  • When using the Android client app (tried it on my Pixel 4a on Android 12, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE on Android 11)
  • Through my home network, however I can download the same files when using my mobile data instead.
  • Using the new Downloads feature; when I use the old Sync feature however I can also download the same files without any problems.

Streaming works perfectly fine. Downloading the file using the Plex web application through a browser also works fine, and downloading using the PlexAmp Android client app also works without any problems.

My Plex server is running on a (new) ASUSTOR Lockerstor 2 AS6602T NAS. I’ve enabled portforwarding in my router for the NAS and portforwarding is also enabled through the NAS. I’ve also tried setting up my Windows 11 laptop as a PMS, and encountered exactly the same problem as when using my NAS.

I was hoping to get some help on how to (possibly) resolve the issue, because downloading for offline use is one of the main appeals of Plex to me.

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2

Manufacturer: samsung
Device: d2q
Model: SM-N975U1
Product: d2que
Version: 11
Server Version#: 1.25.2.5319
Player Version#: 8.28.0.30077

Been having the same issue all week, last I checked (like 2-3 weeks ago) it was doing just fine but now it fails for every show, every time

3

I have the same issue on
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Android 11)
Pixel 4a (Android 12)

I bought Plex Pass to be able to download for offline watching.

Windows 10 Plex Server version 1.25.3.5409
Android Plex Player version 8.28.0.30077

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4

I’ve recently updated all Plex clients on Android / Windows, and the reinstalled the PMS on my NAS but I still can’t download anything using the new Downloads feature for offline viewing.

On the Windows client app, the download option is also missing from the dropdown menu’s.

I would really like to get some help on looking into the issue. If I should have posted this question in a different topic, please let me know.

5

Exactly the same issue here, when on my wifi my pixel just says there were problems downloading this file.

On 4g it works. Immensely frustrating as mostly I want to use this on my tablet which only ever uses the wifi at home, else I have to tether it to my mobile.

6

Same issue for me:

Downloads work over mobile data but not over wifi at home.

They do, however, work if I download them over my neighbour’s wifi…

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7

Same issue here on Samsung Tab S6 Lite with Plex 8.29.1.30697
Old sync function works but downloads doesn’t (not on internal storage and not on sd card). A full reset of the app did not solve it.

Downloading on a 4G hotspot works fine.

Changing download quality (original or transcoded) doesn’t solve the issue.

This is the main reason why I bought the plex pass subscription so I could watch my media when travelling but if that doesn’t work why bother…

8

Same here, can’t get downloads to work on Android 11!
Downloads fail instantly on my home network with error message:
“There was an error downloading this file. Swipe to remove or tap to retry.”

I can, however, download the file through 4G.

This is beyond annoying, is there a solution?

9

same here, 4g/any other WiFi is working, same Network only getting errors … :frowning:

10

I think I’m running into the same issue on both iOS and Android. Downloads fully complete, then throw an error and start retrying. The logs show that the error is related to not being able to find a certain hostname during the download verification step.

11

Has anyone heard of any progress being made on this?

12

I have not. The problem still persists. I’ve kept my Plex server updated and the Android client apps also. Every new update I try if this problem has been magically fixed yet, but no luck so far.

In addition to my original problem/post the Plex Windows client app (not the web application) doesn’t show any option for downloading files either.

13

Looking for a solution too, any news on that?

14

have ya’ll tried downloading files smaller than 2gb? it still fails sometimes, but not as often as with larger files

15

Same problem here can not download if on same network as media server, nuts

16

I am having the same issue on all of my Android clients. The clients are running the latest app version, have plenty of free space, the server is up to date, clients and server restarted but the issue continues.

When will plex fix this issue?

17

I was having this same issue but for me what was causing the problem was my router blocking the connection as a “possible DNS-rebind attack”.

I use Tomato (similar to DDWRT) and was able to add this to my dnsmasq configuration “rebind-domain-ok=/plex.direct/”

Otherwise, you can disable “Prevent DNS-rebind attacks”

18

@SergeantPanda you are a genius! works like a charm!
german ISP with FritzBox router…
thank you so much!

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19

You are welcome! Glad it worked!

20

I wonder how this is done… My router is ISP provided and I’ve tried to look for anything that resembles a post for this but I can’t seem to find anything. Any clues to look for as I haven’t been able to get downloads working locally, but they work on mobile data connection.

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