# Transcoding when run as a service

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoding-when-run-as-a-service/817514>\
**Category:** Plex Media Server\
**Tags:** server-windows\
**Created:** [November 6, 2022, 5:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoding-when-run-as-a-service/817514 "2022-11-06T17:32:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mirdragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@mirdragon](https://forums.plex.tv/u/mirdragon)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2022, 5:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoding-when-run-as-a-service/817514/1 "2022-11-06T17:32:13Z")

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Hi,

Looking at potentially reinstalling plex as some users are preferring this, but as I’ve switched to a windows based pc for holding my content, can plex still use transcoding if needed when set to run as a service?  
I know on linux based systems (ubuntu) it does but what about on windows based systems as previous posts from years ago mention it could not be done and the pc is not logged in as a specific user

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**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoding-when-run-as-a-service/817514/2 "2022-11-06T19:50:20Z")

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Windows does not allow a system service to access the hardware video decoder.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoding-when-run-as-a-service/817514/3 "2023-02-04T19:51:12Z")

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