Many Plex users are encountering playback errors while trying to play video on Plex. The playback errors are mostly caused because of unsupported codec or the videos file is corrupted but there are other causes too and we have mentioned them in this article.
In this article, we have discussed the causes of the Plex playback error and a few ways to help you fix the error.
What are the causes of Plex playback error?
If you are facing a Plex playback error then below are the possible reasons that might be causing this error:
- The Plex server is under maintenance.
- Poor internet connection.
- Display drivers are outdated.
- VPN is affecting the connection.
Also read: Plex shows not showing up: Quick Fixes
How to fix the Plex playback error?
There are various types of playback errors and they require different solutions, below we have mentioned a few ways to help you fix the common Plex playback errors:
Check the Plex server status
This error might occur because the Plex server is under maintenance or the server is down. The developers always inform the users when the server goes under maintenance, but if you have missed the notification then you can check the official Twitter handle of Plex or you can use websites like downdetector.com.
Click here to go to the official Twitter handle of Plex.
Check your internet connection
Sometimes the Plex playback error might occur because of an unstable connection. Check your internet connection and restart your modem or router to reset the connection, which might help you get a stable connection by resolving any issues with the router.
Relogin to the Plex app
It is possible that you might have not logged in properly in your Plex app because of network or any other issue and are unable to connect to the Plex server properly. So, re-login to your Plex app which might solve the issue.
Restart the device
Restart the PC or the device on which you are using Plex, restarting the device is the best solution for any problem and it also works most of the time in resolving the issues, if the errors are being caused by some minor bugs or glitches or interference by other software and applications in the PC.
Reinstall the Plex app
Some files of the app might have gotten corrupted or missing for some reason, and that might be the reason for this playback error to occur. Uninstall the Plex app completely and then reinstall it.
Change transcoder settings
Different applications require different processing power to run properly, with sufficient processing power the app can transcode the files and stream videos simultaneously. So to fix this playback error you must change the transcoding settings accordingly. To change the transcoding settings follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open the plex app or website and click on the Settings icon.
Step 2: Scroll down the left panel to Settings and then click on the Transcoder option.
Step 3: Click on the Transcoder Quality and select the settings according to your own preference or you can try to choose different settings and check which one is resolving the error for you.
Update Plex server
It is possible that you might be using an outdated version of the Plex media server, updating it to the latest version might resolve the error.
Disable VPN
If you are using a VPN to access the Plex content then we will suggest you disable the VPN and then try to run the video again. VPN interferes with the connection and might cause this error, we will recommend not to use VPN if the Plex is working without it.
Contact Plex Support
If none of the above methods works for you then it is best for you to contact Plex support.
