# Which Plex client supports H265? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Created:** [September 20, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363 "2020-09-20T17:01:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chihuahuaz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chihuahuaz/32/3912_2.png) [@chihuahuaz](https://forums.plex.tv/u/chihuahuaz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/1 "2020-09-20T17:01:36Z")
I’m thinking about moving over to H265 for the future and to save on space. How can you tell which Plex client/devices support H265? I want to be able to direct play all H265 files. How can you tell whether a particular device will support direct playing of H265 files? Where can you get this information? 2019 and up Samsung TV running Tizen OS, iPads and iPhones running iOS 14, Apple TV’s. Is the support hardware or software dependent? ---
**Author:** ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/2 "2020-09-20T17:49:43Z")
> [@chihuahuaz](#): > > How can you tell which Plex client/devices support H265? HDR media is H.265, so any device that supports HDR will support H.265. Otherwise, you’ll have to check the device specifications. There will always be a few “gotchas” for which you have to watch. Some hardware may support H.265, but with limitations. Playback may be limited to 30 fps or to certain H.265 profiles & levels. As a result, direct playing of 10-bit video or framerates above 30 fps may fail. For SmartTVs, in addition to the device specifications, check the list of supported devices: [Which Smart TV models are supported?](https://support.plex.tv/articles/204080173-which-smart-tv-models-are-supported/) Some Plex clients have limitations that affect direct playing H.265 video. For example, the LG & Samsung TV apps cannot direct play PGS or VOBSUB subtitles (no matter the video format). Enabling either forces a video transcode in Plex. Transcoded audio + SRT subtitles also forces a video transcode in both apps. Specifications may be misleading for some clients. For example, the FireTV Cube v1, seems to support 4K HDR if you read the specifications, but in reality it does not work with Plex. 1080p, non-HD H.265 playback works fine. No web browser on Windows supports H.265 video. Safari on iOS and MacOS supports H.265, but has minimum software and hardware requirements. I do not know if the Plex Web client supports H.265 video, even with current Apple hardware (My MacBook does not meet minimum h/w reqs). See [HEVC/H.265 video format | Can I use... Support tables for HTML5, CSS3, etc](https://caniuse.com/hevc). * * * FireTV specifications: > **[Fire TV Device Specifications: Overview | Amazon Fire TV](https://developer.amazon.com/docs/fire-tv/device-specifications.html)** > > Fire TV device specifications for all models are provided here. The specifications provide more detail than the product pages on Amazon.com, as they're intended for developers b... ---
**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:** [September 20, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/3 "2020-09-20T17:51:40Z")
> [@FordGuy61](#): > > I do not know if the Plex Web client supports H.265 video It doesn’t, regardless of platform or browser type. ---
**Author:** ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/4 "2020-09-20T17:53:13Z")
Thanks for the clarification. ---
**Author:** ![chihuahuaz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chihuahuaz/32/3912_2.png) [@chihuahuaz](https://forums.plex.tv/u/chihuahuaz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/5 "2020-09-20T18:21:57Z")
Thanks, seems like I should just stick with h264/aac/mp4 for the time being for the most compatibility. All this is confusing. I want to avoid the dreaded ‘transcoding’ if at all possible. I have some friends that I use the ‘watch together’ feature with on iOS devices, and some videos will trigger the dreaded transcode and I am trying to figure out how to avoid this. Is it because the file has a DTS audio track and that iOS devices can’t natively play it that’s why PMS has to transcode the audio? If I can recall correctly, when I had my Apple TV (4th Gen), I was able to direct play movie files with DTS audio tracks without transcoding. ---
**Author:** ![SE56](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/se56/32/222425_2.png) [@SE56](https://forums.plex.tv/u/SE56)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/6 "2020-09-20T18:24:31Z")
Samsung and LG have stopped support of DTS, if that helps ---
**Author:** ![chihuahuaz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chihuahuaz/32/3912_2.png) [@chihuahuaz](https://forums.plex.tv/u/chihuahuaz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/7 "2020-09-20T18:27:38Z")
So what would happen if I were to play a video (mp4 file encoded in H.264, with a DTS audio track) on the Plex client on my 2019 Samsung TV? Would PMS trigger a force transcode since the TV doesn’t natively support DTS and then direct play the video? Or would it transcode both audio and video? ---
**Author:** ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/8 "2020-09-20T18:34:08Z")
Audio transcoding, unlike video transcoding, is not CPU intensive. Unless you’re using a low-powered system it should not present CPU utilization issues. Caveat: Aforementioned issues with subtitles and transcoded audio resulting in video also transcoding. Whether audio direct plays varies by device. Some devices may direct play certain audio formats even if they are not supported by the device. AppleTV: AppleTVs do not support dts or TrueHD audio. The audio is converted by the Plex client and sent to the attached TV/receiver/soundbar as PCM. Therefore, Plex Media Server still direct plays the audio. Amazon FireTV: Basically, the same as AppleTV. The audio is converted by the FireTV and sent to the attached equipment as Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus, depending on the FireTV settings. ---
**Author:** ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/9 "2020-09-20T18:39:28Z")
> [@chihuahuaz](#): > > So what would happen if I were to play a video (mp4 file encoded in H.264, with a DTS audio track) on the Plex client on my 2019 Samsung TV? **No subtitles** Plex Media Server will transcode the audio to a supported format. The video will not be transcoded. The [Plex Dashboard](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200871837-status-and-dashboard/) will show this as Direct Streaming, as the Plex Server must remultiplex the video and transcoded audio into a single stream before sending it to the client. Reference: [Streaming Media: Direct Play and Direct Stream](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250387-streaming-media-direct-play-and-direct-stream/) → Partially Transcoded Direct Stream. Example: See screenshot below. Playback is via Plex Web, which also supports H.264 video but not dts audio. **Subtitles** Plex will transcode both the audio and the video. Plex must burn in the subtitles to keep the audio, video, and subtitles in sync with each other. * * * ![Screenshot (212)](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/8/6/867e9451e224d85a4d01f6f4de050f2337c16dcb.png) [https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250387-streaming-media-direct-play-and-direct-stream/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250387-streaming-media-direct-play-and-direct-stream/) ---
**Author:** ![chihuahuaz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chihuahuaz/32/3912_2.png) [@chihuahuaz](https://forums.plex.tv/u/chihuahuaz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/10 "2020-09-20T18:57:23Z")
Thanks for clearing up some of the confusing I’ve been having. As for subtitles. Would it be better to use an external file (.srt) for subtitles instead of having it being part of the file itself? Or will Plex always transcode if you have subtitles enabled whether it’s using an external subtitle file or directly baked into the video file itself? I did a test on my iPhone by playing a tv show that is using external SRT for the subtitles and under ‘playback info’ it is showing that it’s Direct playing the source, even with subtitles enabled. I thought that with subtitles enabled that plex would have to transcode the video? ---
**Author:** ![Cafe\_Diem](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/cafe_diem/32/208501_2.png) [@Cafe\_Diem](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Cafe_Diem)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/11 "2020-09-20T19:02:33Z")
If you decide to encode your material to h264 for avoid transcoding, I absolutely recommend reading about the profiles in this post. > [@\[How To\] Pre-encode to avoid Transcoding (using VidCoder Presets)](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-to-pre-encode-to-avoid-transcoding-using-vidcoder-presets/573857): > > Hi all, [Downmix your Surround Sound to Stereo before using this “Pre-encoding” guide](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-to-downmix-surround-sound-to-aac-stereo-properly-using-ffmpeg-batch-converter/575073) I have decided to make available my x264 presets for VidCoder that have taken me so long to come up with, but which will 99.9% do away with all your transcoding issues slight_smile There are many Handbrake/VidCoder presets and settings sprinkled throughout the Plex forums and the internet for that matter. What makes these presets different? Why would I not just use the normal encoder “Preset” and “Tune… Also, h265 has generally been available on most devices in the past few years, even most low-end ones. If possible, you may want to see if all the devices support it by doing a few test encodes and playing them back. Lastly, a good rule of thumb: At an equivalent quality level, h264 will have the larger file size, but h265 will encode much slower. So along with compatibility concerns, consider your CPU and storage capacities. [Full disclosure: I typically use h265 10-bit on everything now, because my playback devices support it. However, I’m considering a separate friends/family folder with specially-encoded copies that are 720p/4mbps/pro-logic-stereo, for both compatibility and bandwidth reasons. Plex’s client will automatically choose the best version based on their device and bandwidth restraints.] ---
**Author:** ![chihuahuaz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chihuahuaz/32/3912_2.png) [@chihuahuaz](https://forums.plex.tv/u/chihuahuaz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/12 "2020-09-20T19:09:52Z")
Thanks for the links. May I ask what are the benefits from using the 10-bit h.264/h.265 encoding options? ---
**Author:** ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/13 "2020-09-20T19:13:21Z")
> [@chihuahuaz](#): > > I thought that with subtitles enabled that plex would have to transcode the video? It varies by client and by subtitle type. I do not know of a definitive list. Android & Android TV clients direct play image (PGS/VOBSUB) subtitles and SRT subtitles whether or not the audio is transcoding. LG/Samsung always transcode image subtitles. Transcoded audio + SRT subtitles result in a video transcode. I do not have any iOS/AppleTV clients. ---
**Author:** ![Cafe\_Diem](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/cafe_diem/32/208501_2.png) [@Cafe\_Diem](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Cafe_Diem)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/14 "2020-09-20T19:20:05Z")
> [@chihuahuaz](#): > > May I ask what are the benefits from using the 10-bit h.264/h.265 encoding options? 10-bit H264 shouldn’t be used in general, it’s often not supported in players. When used with SDR videos, 10-bit H265 allows for slightly better encoding at similar bit rates, which basically means it will either have slightly better quality, or a bit smaller file size at same quality. Typically dithering is also better, especially in dark scenes. All my devices support it, so I use it. HDR is always 10-bit H265, but not all 10-bit H265 is HDR. Figuring out which devices can handle 10-bit H265 is even more complicated than just H265 in general. If you’re unsure, I’d shy away from it. ---
**Author:** ![Cafe\_Diem](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/cafe_diem/32/208501_2.png) [@Cafe\_Diem](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Cafe_Diem)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/15 "2020-09-20T19:22:04Z")
Adding on, B&H explains a little more about what 10-bit brings to the party over 8-bit. > **[8-Bit, 10-Bit, What Does It All Mean for Your Videos?](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/video/tips-and-solutions/8-bit-10-bit-what-does-it-all-mean-for-your-videos)** > > Bit depth is an all-important technical figure that many professionals have been pushing to improve in recent years, especially for video. Here's a quick explanation of what it means for you. ---
**Author:** ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/16 "2020-09-20T19:25:32Z")
Note that Handbrake has 8-bit internals. Encoding to 10-bits in Handbrake does not buy you anything (that I can see, anyway). If Vidcoder is a front-end for Handbrake, the same would seemingly apply. Reference: See the comment from galad87. > > > hello, i know handbrake is not supporting 10 bit at this moment but i got a question about how handbrake is... ---
**Author:** ![RockStar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/rockstar/32/613_2.png) [@RockStar](https://forums.plex.tv/u/RockStar)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/17 "2020-09-20T20:50:38Z")
> [@chihuahuaz](#): > > 2019 and up Samsung TV running Tizen OS, iPads and iPhones running iOS 14, Apple TV’s. Is the support hardware or software dependent? All your stuff supports it. Your Apple devices even support it with image based subtitles. Go right ahead and move to h265. Its tons better so long you dont have to transcode it and the source file has 10bit colors. ---
**Author:** ![SE56](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/se56/32/222425_2.png) [@SE56](https://forums.plex.tv/u/SE56)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/18 "2020-09-20T21:12:57Z")
Ninety five % of my movie libraries are now H.265 10 bit, it’s just awesome. But as long as you don’t have to transcode, as Rockstar said. It’s like time stood still and your PC fans are out of control. I recommend mkv containers and if you wish to keep everything simple audio AAC. Most useful tool for correcting your files. > **[MKVToolNix news – Matroska tools for Linux/Unix and Windows](https://mkvtoolnix.download/)** ---
**Author:** ![chihuahuaz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chihuahuaz/32/3912_2.png) [@chihuahuaz](https://forums.plex.tv/u/chihuahuaz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/19 "2020-09-20T21:56:10Z")
I heard others recommending to use MP4 as the container because of less overhead. Which means it won’t need to buffer as much as MKV. Is this true? I have some 80’s and 90’s TV Shows on DVD that I plan on ripping soon. Would encoding them using H.265 for the codec, and AAC for the Audio and MP4 as the container be the best and most optimized setting for my particular setup? ---
**Author:** ![Cafe\_Diem](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/cafe_diem/32/208501_2.png) [@Cafe\_Diem](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Cafe_Diem)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 10:26pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363/20 "2020-09-20T22:26:16Z")
> [@FordGuy61](#): > > Note that Handbrake has 8-bit internals. Encoding to 10-bits in Handbrake does not buy you anything (that I can see, anyway). That only applies when you trying to encode HDR-to-HDR. It basically forces 10-bit HDR to 8-bit then back to 10-bit, so it’s awful. If you’re encoding SDR (8-bit) to 10-bit, it’s just fine, because it goes into the pipeline already at 8-bit. [Next page](https://forums.plex.tv/t/which-plex-client-supports-h265/635363.md?page=2)