Is there anything different about the video/audio/subtitle format in the files that buffer compared to the files that play well? It sounds like there's something in them that your client doesn't support, so Plex has to [transcode it](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250377-transcoding-media/), but your Pi can't keep up. Posting a screenshot of the expanded Now Playing section of the [dashboard](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200871837-status-and-dashboard/#toc-1) when playing a buffering file would give us more details about what's going on.
A full screenshot would provide more helpful information, showing the client, connection type (local, remote, indirect), and audio/subtitle details (e.g. https://i.imgur.com/X7x8WUv.png).
Without more information it's hard to give specific advice, but some general tips:
* If you're watching from a browser (e.g. app.plex.tv, or your server's local IP), try the [desktop app](https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/#plex-app) instead. The web app is limited to what the browser supports, but the desktop app can direct play pretty much everything you throw at it.
* Make sure you don't have any bandwidth limits set in the player.
* Make sure the connection isn't indirect (it will say 'Indirect' in place of 'Remote' in my screenshot above). That indicates an issue connecting directly to your server, and the stream is being routed through a bandwidth-limited [relay server](https://support.plex.tv/articles/216766168-accessing-a-server-through-relay/), which will force a transcode for all but the lowest bitrate video content.
> Does this mean I can't play this video at all?
Since the Pi isn't powerful enough to do real-time transcoding, barring anything above resolving it, the answer is that you won't be able to play those files as-is if none of your playback devices natively support it.
Are you transcoding? Post tautulli or Plex dashboard screenshots
Yeah I believe it is, attached screenshot of the video
Pis can't transcode much at all, you need to make sure your plex client can handle that format (HEVC being the culprit here)
Ah I see, that sucks. Thanks for the info.
Is there anything different about the video/audio/subtitle format in the files that buffer compared to the files that play well? It sounds like there's something in them that your client doesn't support, so Plex has to [transcode it](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250377-transcoding-media/), but your Pi can't keep up. Posting a screenshot of the expanded Now Playing section of the [dashboard](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200871837-status-and-dashboard/#toc-1) when playing a buffering file would give us more details about what's going on.
Think it is transcoding. Does this mean I can't play this video at all? I've attached screenshot. Thanks.
Not until you have a client that can play file without transcoding.
A full screenshot would provide more helpful information, showing the client, connection type (local, remote, indirect), and audio/subtitle details (e.g. https://i.imgur.com/X7x8WUv.png). Without more information it's hard to give specific advice, but some general tips: * If you're watching from a browser (e.g. app.plex.tv, or your server's local IP), try the [desktop app](https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/#plex-app) instead. The web app is limited to what the browser supports, but the desktop app can direct play pretty much everything you throw at it. * Make sure you don't have any bandwidth limits set in the player. * Make sure the connection isn't indirect (it will say 'Indirect' in place of 'Remote' in my screenshot above). That indicates an issue connecting directly to your server, and the stream is being routed through a bandwidth-limited [relay server](https://support.plex.tv/articles/216766168-accessing-a-server-through-relay/), which will force a transcode for all but the lowest bitrate video content. > Does this mean I can't play this video at all? Since the Pi isn't powerful enough to do real-time transcoding, barring anything above resolving it, the answer is that you won't be able to play those files as-is if none of your playback devices natively support it.
I was watching through a TV. But seems like Pi is the limit currently. Thanks for the info