r/PlexMedia • u/Usoppinho • 7h ago

General Help Can't open 4k files, constant buffering

I don't know what's happening, it's the first time I encounter this issue. I simply cannot read any 4k file. I have no problems watching 1080p content, but if it's 4k it buffers constantly (though sometimes I get only sounds, but no picture). If I switch the picture quality to 720p it reads the file though...

Picture quality is set to Original, I've restarted my Apple TV 4k 3rd gen, my router (the wifi is strong, no issues there).

I just don't get it, it doesn't work. The app auto-updates on my Apple TV, was there a recent update that broke the 4k content on PleX? Anyone else facing this issue?

10 Upvotes

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14 comments sorted by

2

u/AdditionalCost2016 5h ago

Take a look at Rivulet. Switched to it a few weeks ago. Regular updates etc https://github.com/l984-451/Rivulet

1

u/FeistyTask4707 6h ago

The Apple TV Plex app is just broken. Nothing you do will fix it. Just pay the $5 for Plezy and everything will work perfectly.

1

u/Usoppinho 6h ago

Oh but is it only the Apple TV? I have a Xiaomi box 3rd Gen laying around, I'll check if it works, I don't mind using it for a while.

1

u/mattalat 32m ago

Just bite the bullet and pay for the infuse app. It’s so worth it

0

u/FeistyTask4707 5h ago

Yeah anything would be better. I've read that the Plex Apple TV app doesn't reserve RAM correctly so 4K 10bit files will just choke

1

u/Vivid_Engineering669 6h ago

Ditto on the Apple plex app being a$$ me. I went with Infuse and didn’t look back. Zero issues now.

1

u/OnlyMeFFS 5h ago

The 4K issue was raised...... BUT...... The player team got laid off.... So I wouldn't hold your breath..... https://www.reddit.com/r/PleX/s/KTa0FD7U3s

1

u/Inside_Chip_5671 4h ago

I think it is time to move on from Plex and find an alternative like Jellyfin, Emby, etc. My Apple TV Plex app experience has been horrible, too. Audio sometimes stops for no reason for me. With the latest new of the layoffs, I am moving to a different one when I replace my old NAS.

1

u/Justanynamehere 3h ago

Ok, so I’m not crazy

1

u/S3C3C 3h ago

I ended up getting Infuse as my main player on my Appletv 4k. No issues since. I too was having lots of issues, buffering or flat errors. Hardwired to boot.

1

u/DRAbreaks 1h ago

Yes happening here too, known issue. Others have just lowered it to the next 1080p stream but keeping the HDR intact

1

u/I-IAL9000 7h ago

If you're using the latest update for apple tv v2026.20 then I'm having the same problem. My Plex won't play any DoVi/HDR10+ content regardless of resolution. It will however play 4K/1080p HDR10+ content so it seems to be Dolby Vision that is the problem. Check if it's the same for you. This was not a problem for me in v2026.19 so it's a new bug. Hope they fix it with the next update, but I also saw they just laid off their player team so who knows.

1

u/Usoppinho 7h ago

Yes, the 4k files I have are indeed all DoVi... Guess we'll just have to wait for a fix, hoping it comes quick!

1

u/Odd-Art7602 4h ago

The latest layoffs don’t give me much confidence that a fix will be dropped very soon.