2025-07-13, 12:39 PM
If Jellyfin is transcoding there is some incompatibility between your media and the Roku client. Is the transcoding random or does it happen to certain media everytime? Because if it happens everytime with certain media then that is a spot for investigation. Have you checked the logs to see if Jellyfin is giving a reason for the transcoding--e.g. bitrate too high, codec not supported, etc.
The other side is the Roku client--have you checked the settings on the Roku? The Jellyfin app on there has a ton of settings that determine what codecs it will direct play and it has a maximum bitrate setting as well that could be affecting your direct play.
The handshake between the server and client can be sometimes hard to get right to direct play without transcoding. As theguymadmax is saying by figuring out adequate transcoding settings it would allow you to bypass all the incompatibility issues between your media and the Roku.
-JR
The other side is the Roku client--have you checked the settings on the Roku? The Jellyfin app on there has a ton of settings that determine what codecs it will direct play and it has a maximum bitrate setting as well that could be affecting your direct play.
The handshake between the server and client can be sometimes hard to get right to direct play without transcoding. As theguymadmax is saying by figuring out adequate transcoding settings it would allow you to bypass all the incompatibility issues between your media and the Roku.
-JR