Playback Freezes

[Alexfxv 0]

Hello. I’m experiencing playback freezes when using the Emby for Android (mobile) app on a TCL 55 C7K TV running Android 12 (not Android TV).

When I try to fast forward or rewind videos (both HEVC and AVC), playback freezes — the picture stops, and the interface becomes unresponsive for several seconds. Sometimes I have to force close the app to restore functionality.

The issue occurs consistently during Direct Play.

In ViMu Player, seeking works smoothly without freezes.

In the Emby for Android TV app, freezes also happen but much less frequently than in the regular Android version.

Device: TCL 55 C7K

Android version: 12.

Emby for Android app: 3.5.12.

Emby Server: 4.9.1.80.

Subscription: Emby Premiere (Lifetime).

Playback mode: Direct Play.

Tested files: MKV AVC 1080p, MKV HEVC 1080p.

Network: Local LAN, no proxy or VPN.

 

Please check this bug. Thank you for your

work and support!

Edited October 13 by Alexfxv

[Luke 41257]

@Alexfxv

 

Hi there, let's look at an example. Please attach the information requested in how to report a media playback issue. Thanks!

 

[Alexfxv 0]

Unfortunately, I can’t export logs from the app — when I tap “Share” in the Emby Android client and select an app, nothing happens (no logs are shared). I can attach photos if needed.

After thorough testing, I discovered:

The issue occurs only with AC3 (Dolby Digital) audio tracks.

When I transcode or remux the audio to AAC, playback and seeking work perfectly

The issue affects videos with H.264, H.265, and AV1 equally — the video codec doesn’t matter.

It appears in both Emby and Jellyfin, but not in ViMu, Kodi, or Plex, which suggests it’s specific to the ExoPlayer implementation used by Emby and Jellyfin.

When using Emby for Android TV, enabling “Downmix audio to stereo (2.0)” completely solves the issue.

However, I prefer the universal Emby for Android app because it’s better supported and works across devices.

Feature request:

Please consider adding an option in the universal Emby for Android app to force audio transcoding or downmixing for AC3 (for example, to AAC stereo).

This would help users with hardware that has unstable AC3 decoding through ExoPlayer.

Thank you for your attention and for maintaining such a great ecosystem!

I’m happy to provide additional details or screenshots if it helps reproduce the issue.

Edited October 31 by Alexfxv

[Luke 41257]

Quote

 

Unfortunately, I can’t export logs from the app — when I tap “Share” in the Emby Android client and select an app, nothing happens (no logs are shared). I can attach photos if needed.

Hi, it sounds like you don't have any apps installed that can share text files?

[Luke 41257]

Quote

This would help users with hardware that has unstable AC3 decoding through ExoPlayer.

Yes, makes sense, although we will also be updating exoplayer to a new major version very soon. That's something else that might help with this.

[Alexfxv 0]

12 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, it sounds like you don't have any apps installed that can share text files?

Thank you for your patience — I was able to extract the logs, I just needed to connect a mouse.
Here are the logs: the freezes occurred between 9:09 and 9:11, and again around 9:14.

emby_android_1761940477041.txt embyserver .txt

[Luke 41257]

OK we are looking into it. Thanks.