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Playback Error - Client isn't compatible - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: Playback Error - Client isn't compatible (/t-playback-error-client-isn-t-compatible)

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RE: Playback Error - Client isn't compatible - Daniel_King - 2023-07-17

How is this transcoding thing in general working, on what is it depending if something needs to be transcoded or not?
I thought if a video can be played natively on the device, Jellyfin should also be able to stream it without transcoding, or is this a wrong assumption?

One of my video files which can be played natively but won't work without transcoding on Jellyfin:


Playback Info
Player: Html Video Player
Play method: Transcoding
Protocol: http
Stream type: HLS

Video Info
Player dimensions: 3840x1981
Video resolution: 3840x2160
Dropped frames: 1
Corrupted frames: 0

Transcoding Info
Video codec: H264
Audio codec: AAC
Audio channels: 2
Bitrate: 63.1 Mbps
Transcoding progress: 0.9%
Transcoding framerate: 30 fps
Reason for transcoding:
The video codec is not supported
The audio codec is not supported

Original Media Info
Container: webm
Size: 74.2 GiB
Bitrate: 67.7 Mbps
Video codec: HEVC Main 10
Video bitrate: 62.7 Mbps
Video range type: HDR10
Audio codec: TRUEHD
Audio bitrate: 4.2 Mbps
Audio channels: 8
Audio sample rate: 48000 Hz
Audio bit depth: 24


If the audio is getting transcoded I don't mind, I just would like to get the raw video stream.


RE: Playback Error - Client isn't compatible - TheDreadPirate - 2023-07-17

(2023-07-17, 10:26 AM)Daniel_King Wrote: How is this transcoding thing in general working, on what is it depending if something needs to be transcoded or not?
I thought if a video can be played natively on the device, Jellyfin should also be able to stream it without transcoding, or is this a wrong assumption?

One of my video files which can be played natively but won't work without transcoding on Jellyfin:


Playback Info
Player: Html Video Player
Play method: Transcoding
Protocol: http
Stream type: HLS

Video Info
Player dimensions: 3840x1981
Video resolution: 3840x2160
Dropped frames: 1
Corrupted frames: 0

Transcoding Info
Video codec: H264
Audio codec: AAC
Audio channels: 2
Bitrate: 63.1 Mbps
Transcoding progress: 0.9%
Transcoding framerate: 30 fps
Reason for transcoding:
The video codec is not supported
The audio codec is not supported

Original Media Info
Container: webm
Size: 74.2 GiB
Bitrate: 67.7 Mbps
Video codec: HEVC Main 10
Video bitrate: 62.7 Mbps
Video range type: HDR10
Audio codec: TRUEHD
Audio bitrate: 4.2 Mbps
Audio channels: 8
Audio sample rate: 48000 Hz
Audio bit depth: 24


If the audio is getting transcoded I don't mind, I just would like to get the raw video stream.

It also depends on your browser.  I'm assuming you are watching in a browser because the playback info.  Try playing your content in the desktop Jellyfin Media Player.  My content is also transcoding with I play in Chrome, but direct plays in the desktop JF Media Player.  Here is an example.  I am playing the same video at the same time, one in Chrome the other in JMP.  The browser is transcoding, JMP is direct playing.


RE: Playback Error - Client isn't compatible - Mastan s - 2023-07-29

Can anyone help with this issue?


RE: Playback Error - Client isn't compatible - TheDreadPirate - 2023-07-29

I re-read your log. I see you are using Jellyfin Mobile for iOS? That app hasn't been updated since May 2022. Try one of the other iOS apps. Like Swiftfin.


RE: Playback Error - Client isn't compatible - Mastan s - 2023-08-02

Hi @TheDreadPirate thanks for the response, I tried Swiftfin but it doesn't transcode, and no option to change resolution. Only that's the Application I found.


RE: Playback Error - Client isn't compatible - Okami - 2023-08-05

@TheDreadPirate, thank you for your help. After swapping out Jellyfin Mobile (iOS) for Swiftfin, my videos play. They're also playing normally on the Swiftfin app for tvOS. However, I cannot get them to play within my PC's web browser (both Firefox and Chrome).

Attached is the codec as shown by VLC and the FFmpeg Transcode log. Any idea why videos aren't working on web browser?

Thank you.


RE: Playback Error - Client isn't compatible - TheDreadPirate - 2023-08-05

(2023-08-05, 02:16 PM)Okami Wrote: @TheDreadPirate, thank you for your help. After swapping out Jellyfin Mobile (iOS) for Swiftfin, my videos play. They're also playing normally on the Swiftfin app for tvOS. However, I cannot get them to play within my PC's web browser (both Firefox and Chrome).

Attached is the codec as shown by VLC and the FFmpeg Transcode log. Any idea why videos aren't working on web browser?

Thank you.

Jellyfin can't see your Intel GPU/iGPU.  It is trying to transcode from HEVC to, probably, H264 (better support in those browsers).  Make sure all the drivers are installed and, if you are using docker, that you are passing the GPU into the container.

https://jellyfin.org/docs/general/administration/hardware-acceleration/intel#linux-setups


RE: Playback Error - Client isn't compatible - wbravin - 2023-09-12

Hello all

I have the latest jellyfin server installed as an addon in truenas core which is itself installed as a vm on proxmox 8. Not on docker

I have the same issue as above and i tried all the recommendations to no avail.

From server "This client isn't compatible with the media and the server isn't sending a compatible media format".

Fron jellyfin media player "Playback failed with error "loading failed". Retry with transcode? (Note this may hang the player."

I have this issue regardless if i try to play any media from the server directly or from a jellyfin media player. Transcode is set to auto.

What can i change to make work

Thank you in advance for your help


RE: Playback Error - Client isn't compatible - TheDreadPirate - 2023-09-12

(2023-09-12, 08:24 PM)wbravin Wrote: Hello all

I have the latest jellyfin server installed as an addon in truenas core which is itself installed as a vm on proxmox 8. Not on docker

I have the same issue as above and i tried all the recommendations to no avail.

From server "This client isn't compatible with the media and the server isn't sending a compatible media format".

Fron jellyfin media player "Playback failed with error "loading failed". Retry with transcode? (Note this may hang the player."

I have this issue regardless if i try to play any media from the server directly or from a jellyfin media player. Transcode is set to auto.

What can i change to make work

Thank you in advance for your help

Jellyfin is probably trying to transcode and failing.  With virtualization you have to pass the GPU through each layer.


RE: Playback Error - Client isn't compatible - g7ivp - 2023-10-08

I was having this problem playing some music files, but not others.
My server was indexing and when it finished the problem went away.