Plex may occasionally show various errors when you try to play a video. For example, one of the most common error messages reads as follows: “An error occurred while attempting to play this video.” The problem is that the error persists even after restarting the app. Let’s see what else you can do to troubleshoot this problem.
How to Fix Video Playing Errors on Plex
Play Smaller Videos
First of all, make sure to update your Plex Media Server and app to the latest releases. If you’re getting this error on an Android device, go to Settings and select Quality settings. Then enable the option that allows you to play smaller videos.
If you’re experiencing bandwidth issues, Plex will try to preserve the video quality by playing the content as a smaller video. Keep in mind that video playback may still occasionally pause if the connection is painfully slow.
Tweak Your Audio Settings
Other users fixed this problem by changing their audio settings. If your movie has a PCM 5.1 audio track in it, switch it to DTS 5.1 and check if the error goes away. If the issue persists, try switching to AC3 and check the results. Switching to DTS 5.1, AC3, or anything other than PCM 5.1 did the trick for many users.
Several users confirmed the issue went away after disabling the Audio passthrough setting (Settings → Advanced → Player). Use this workaround as well and check which solution works best for you.
Additional Solutions
- Go to Settings, select Advanced and turn off the new player. Reverting to the original player worked for many users.
- Go to Account settings, Advanced, and disable H264 maximum level. This solution also allows you to keep the default player.
- Try turning the subtitles off and play the problematic video again.
Conclusion
If Plex fails to play your videos, disable the new player, as well as the H264 maximum level setting. Additionally, play smaller videos and switch PCM 5.1 audio tracks to DTS 5.1 or AC3. Are you still experiencing the same error? Let us know in the comments below.
Frank Castle says
The server must have changed from the time you posted this because if you just go to advanced there are several options. I can’t find disabling the new player or the settings you mentioned via the provided info you posted. My files no longer play after the latest update and I can’t figure out what setting changed.
Max says
I’ve got similar issues as Tom Andrew. Sometimes, several of my movies won’t play, it will just keep buffering and buffering, or Plex will even crash before the movie manages to start. Other movies play perfectly. But it’s just sometimes, other times everything is working smoothly. I’m running the server on Windows 10 and using an NVidia Shield for Plex. All is running locally, and I know the network is more than plenty fast for the content I try to play (4k remuxes mostly). I make sure nothing is using up my computer resources, and the task manager confirms everything is fine. There’s no rhyme or reason to the issue.
Plex is driving me mad. I’ve tried tweaking all the settings and nothing ever makes a difference. Deleting the cache on the server side or the client side does not seem to change anything.
TOM ANDREW says
Hate to be joining the party here, but PLEX has given me a problem on all my TV’s. Works fine on my phone and laptop but not my TV. Always always buffers. Doesn’t matter if the video is dropped from 2.0 to the lowest quality. Most of what has been said here isn’t clear enough for me. I’ve gone to Advanced and see NONE of the things you’ve all mentioned. I’d post a pic but can’t. I have Allow Insecure Connections, Prefer Insecure Connections, Log to Media Logging Level and Reset App under the Advanced tab in settings….NOTHING has helped. Not really sure what things should be set at under settings/ Video. Nothing in my Audio shows anything DTS.
I’m certainly not a complete idiot about electronics but the abbreviations and numbers you’ve all been tossing around have me clueless. I thought I’d see all that in my settings but I don’t. I’m using the app on a new Samsung smart tv. But I’ve always had this issue. Thought it was my WiFi connection so I purchased and extender. What a waste of money. Nothing changed. I’d love to fix this but don’t know how. Anyone care to try to help me? Oh…one other thing. Sometimes I get NO buffering. It isn’t at the same time every day. It’s always at different times.
CMAC says
I’m still having issues even trying all the fixes. Running Plex server on Win 10. TV and server are hardwired. My Roku, LG TV, Samsung TV, Mac, and Windows PCs all are able to play the file without issue. My Sony running Android TV OS wont play the some files and doesn’t auto advance to the next episode.
Prasanga Dissanayake says
As Howard Townsend commented, clearing cache of the app plex did the trick for me. I had already updated both server and client to latest versions and tried all settings changes in this article with no success..
Thanks Howard!
Howard Townsend says
Go into settings on your Android device, Apps and select Plex.
Stop the App then clear the cache.
This fixed mine.
Johan says
Updating Plex media server in Google Play store in NVIDIA shield worked for me.
Erich says
Updating plex server fixed this for me also.
M Moreno says
Plex was working fine. Now it won’t work on the Fire TV, Android phone, but does play through a browser. I’ve tried everything to but still not working.
Dave says
Plex was working fine till June. Now it won’t work on the Fire TV, Android phone or tablet, but does play through a browser with lots of buffering. I’ve tried everything to no avail, please sort this Plex as my whole entertainment system is now redundant!!!
Paul Azzopardi says
HELLO … did everything and still have the error as well. Plex on NVIDIA Shield only! my plex server is on a WD mycloud home and it plays fine on all other devices in the house except for the NVIDIA shield…. any ideas?
liz says
I updated my server version and it worked!
Tav Koblick says
Also running Synology DS3617xs NAS Disk Station, 10Gb ethernet interface with the most current Plex server version 1.24.0.4930-6000
Tav Koblick says
I have this issue but have been able to determine that video resolution seems to play a part in my issue. I am able to stream all my movies locally but am unable to stream some movies from remote location via either FireTV or SmartTV apps. The factor that determines the success of playing a movie from a remote site is the video resolution.. Movies under 1080p will run but anything in the 1900 range will fail. I have 1Gb/s (Nextlight) service and have tested up and down and my up is at least .320Mb/s, so I don’t think the uplink is an issue.
Chris says
I also received the error message when trying to play a movie in my library.
I just resolved this by updating the Plex Media Server App manually, by going to the Google Play Store app in the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro. The Plex Media app and the Plex Media Server app are two separate apps. When you first set up your Shield with your TV and update all apps automatically, unfortunately, it does not update the Plex Media Server app. The Plex Mecia Server app is in the Apps section of the Shield under System Apps snd needs to be updated manually.
To manually update this app, in the Shield, go to the Google Play Store and in the Search box type Plex Media Server. When you see the app, select it and then press Update. After the update on my Shield, I restarted my Shield (in Settings on the device) and I was able to play my movies.
I hope this helps.
Samaritan says
H, I had the error message appearing when using the android plex app. I tried lots including reverting to older plex apps and changing multiple settings in the plex app. Reverting to 8.11 plex app on my firesticks and then ‘turning off the new player’ in the advanced section fixed them, but that option wasn’t available in the android app. in the end the manual install of the most recent plex media server software fixed it. I updated my android plex apps back to 8.2 and they still work.
Dev Nath says
I keep getting “An error occurred while attempting to play this video. pease check your connection and try again” when i try to play any of my Movies, Tv shows and Home movies. i can still play my music, view my photos and watch the movies and shows on plex. I’ve been running my plex server from my WD NAS device since late 2019, haven’t changed anything. this issue seems to be connected with the latest update. I can watch my movies if i log into my server manager on plex.tv.
what is the issue here, how can i fix it?
Greg Pearson says
Ditto what Scott said “Yes plex will not play using the app. It will load all my movies just fine but when I go to play them it gives me an error message. It will however work just using a regular web browser. Seems like I’m not the only one with this issue. Was there a recent update that caused this problem.
Please help”
Shane says
Tried everything suggested here without success, I’m using Plex on Chromecast with Google TV… It still works if I cast from my phone but not through the app
Bob says
Yes something got messed up in past 6 months.
I can see my libray but get a connection error when I try to play the movie on my Xigmanas plex server. Was working fine not long ago and I changed nothing
Broken
1. Amazon Fire Stick plex
2. Android phone plex
WORKING
1. Windows PC plex via browser works fine.
Fix this Plex people!!!!
Andrew says
I have the same problem. Nothing mentioned above works.
David says
Just found a solution! At least for those using a nvidia shield for a server. Go to the flex app on the Google play store on the shield and do a manual updaye . I did this and can play media on my Shield and Fire stick again
Yannick Semail says
I was running the default version of the Plex server available on Synology NAS and got the same error message from early June 2021.
I had to upgrade the Plex server to the latest version by manually installing it on the Synology NAS.
See video how to do that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do_ctMmLGPc
Then I reinstalled the latest version of the Plex Player on Chromecast with Google TV and Plex worked again flawlessly on the Chromecast.
kevinconlon69@gmail.com says
One more thing, I can see the library correctly, but when I go to play a video, it gives the error, “An error occurred while attempting to play this video. Please check your connection and try again.”
Kevin C says
I’m also having the issue with the app not working, but I can play it through the browsers. Been pulling my hir out, it used to work.
Scott says
Yes plex will not play using the app. It will load all my movies just fine but when I go to play them it gives me an error message. It will however work just using a regular web browser. Seems like I’m not the only one with this issue. Was there a recent update that caused this problem.
Please help
Scott says
Same problem It will load all my movies from my server to my tv using wifi but when I try to play a movie I get an error.. It will only work when I log onto my plex account on my computer and directly connected to my router. Please fix this plex.
Michelle Smith says
I have the same problem..
Jaquan Freeman says
Did those things and it still didn’t work
Andrew says
Nothing fixed it. Still workings from the browser – I’m guessing it’s to do with the June 8 update.
dtopdoug says
performed all suggested options and am still having the same problem.
Ben Huang says
I did everything you mention and still having the error, please help