📌 95% of Plex issues are client-side.
Before reaching out for help, please review the guide below — most problems can be solved directly on your device.
Root Causes (Client-Side Only):
Poor or unstable internet connection
Weak Wi-Fi signal or interference
Streaming device not capable of handling high-bitrate media
Subtitles or audio formats forcing unnecessary transcoding on the client
Plex app not optimized or out-of-date
Solutions:
Use a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi if possible
If on Wi-Fi, connect to the 5GHz band and stay close to your router
Reduce playback quality in the Plex app:
Go to Settings > Quality > Playback Quality and select a lower option
Disable subtitles (see below) if not needed
Update your Plex client app to the latest version
Reboot your streaming device
Checklist:
Ensure you're logged in to the same Plex account that was invited
Open the Plex Web App: https://app.plex.tv
On mobile/TV apps, try logging out and back in
Restart the app and your device
Ensure you accepted the friend invite from devonwheaton
Still missing the server?
Try removing and re-adding devonwheaton as a Plex friend under:
👉 https://app.plex.tv/friends
Likely Causes:
Your playback device or TV doesn't support the selected audio format
Your audio output (TV speakers, soundbar, or receiver) can't decode advanced audio (e.g. 7.1, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X)
Audio passthrough is misconfigured
Fixes:
During playback, switch to a different audio track (e.g. Stereo or 5.1 if 7.1 is selected)
In your Plex app settings:
Turn off Direct Play Audio or Audio Passthrough if you're hearing silence or static
Use HDMI instead of optical or Bluetooth for better audio compatibility
Restart the app and reselect the correct output (some TVs/soundbars change settings automatically)
Symptoms:
Subtitles don't appear
Subtitles are out of sync
Playback buffers or stutters when subtitles are enabled
Causes (Client-Side):
Certain subtitle formats (e.g. image-based like PGS or VOBSUB) may not be supported by your client
The subtitle being used may force software rendering on low-powered devices
Subtitles not downloaded or incorrectly synced
Fixes:
Switch Subtitle Track during playback:
Use the in-player options to try another subtitle format (prefer SRT)
Disable Subtitles to test if buffering disappears
Download new subtitles:
Use a site like Subscene.com or OpenSubtitles.org
Upload them via Plex Web → Click the pencil/edit icon on the item → Subtitles → Add External Subtitle
Set subtitle defaults in Settings > Languages > Subtitle Mode
Applies to:
iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Roku, Fire Stick, Android TV, etc.
Fixes:
Force close and reopen the app
Clear the app cache (especially Android, Fire Stick)
Fully uninstall and reinstall the Plex app
Restart your device after reinstalling
Disable any experimental features or beta firmware in device settings
Common Client-Side Triggers:
Outdated app version
Misconfigured playback settings
HDMI handshaking issues (TV doesn’t recognize source)
Solutions:
Update the Plex client app to the latest version
Go to Settings > Playback > Use Recommended Settings
Try switching Direct Play or Direct Stream on/off
Unplug and replug HDMI cables; reboot the TV and device
On TVs: switch HDMI ports to force signal renegotiation
If you can stream locally but not remotely:
Things to check:
You're logged into the correct Plex account
Your device is not using a VPN or AdBlocker that may interfere with traffic
Switch networks (e.g., try mobile data instead of Wi-Fi)
Fixes:
Sign out and sign back in
Disable VPN or firewall apps temporarily
Try the web app for comparison: https://app.plex.tv
What is Dolby Vision (DV)?
Dolby Vision is a premium form of HDR (High Dynamic Range) that enhances colors, brightness, and contrast beyond standard HDR10. However, not all TVs, monitors, or streaming devices support DV, and not all DV profiles are equally compatible.
Washed-out colors
Extremely dark or overly bright images
Flickering or distorted colors
Video won't play at all
DV Profile Compatibility:
DV Profile 7 is often found in remuxes and requires dual-layer support (most TVs and clients do not support it).
DV Profile 5 is for streaming and works on many DV-compatible devices.
DV Profile 8 is backward compatible with HDR10, better for general use.
Profiles 5 and 8 are going to be the most commonly used on this server, however sometimes a Profile 7 will sneak in, if you are having DV issues and you know for a fact that your streaming device AND TV support DV (and it is enabled and you've tested it's working on other media) then feel free to contact me to let me know and I can replace the file with one that is Profile 5 or 8 and will work.
Switch to another version of the media file (e.g. SDR or HDR10 if DV isn’t working).
Lower playback quality to avoid transcoding complex DV files.
If your TV doesn’t support DV, Plex may attempt to transcode — some devices struggle with this.
Try playing the content in a browser — if it looks normal there, it’s likely your TV or streaming stick doesn’t fully support DV or HDR.
💡 Not all HDR files are created equal. HDR10 is more broadly supported than Dolby Vision. If unsure, go with SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) versions.
If you're having playback issues on your TV, tablet, or streaming stick, the simplest way to troubleshoot is to:
👉 Open https://app.plex.tv in Google Chrome or Firefox, and try streaming the same media.
The browser runs the Plex web client in a standardized environment
Browsers don’t support advanced audio passthrough or DV/HDR → You get a "clean" fallback version
If playback works fine in the browser but not on your device, it's almost certainly an issue with the client device, not the file or server
If playback behaves the same way in the browser, then it absolutely fine to contact me and let me know. I can either try to help diagnose and resolve issues or if it's a server side issue I can usually replace the file with a working one pretty quickly.
✅ If it works in the browser but not on your TV, it’s a client limitation — not something wrong with the server or the media.
| 🔧 Action | 💡 Tip |
|---|---|
| Reboot device | Solves 90% of spontaneous bugs |
| Use the Web App | https://app.plex.tv is more reliable than some mobile/TV apps |
| Use modern devices | Devices like Nvidia Shield, Apple TV, or Chromecast with Google TV perform best |
| Update often | Always keep your apps and OS updated for bug fixes |
| Keep connections clean | Prefer wired internet or strong 5GHz Wi-Fi |
If none of the above helps, please collect the following before messaging Devon:
Your device type (TV, phone, browser, etc.)
The title of the media you’re having issues with
Whether the issue happens with all content or just one title
Screenshots or short videos of the issue, if possible
📧 Email: [email protected]
💬 Or reach out in the Wheatflix Discord