Player controls notification become stuck in tray after remote control

[darkassassin07 652]

When using the android app to control another client and then that app is disconnected from the client it was controlling while media is still playing; the notification with the player controls becomes stuck in the notification tray. (it can't be swiped away and never leaves on its own)

This happens when manually disconnecting as well as when the app is in the background and gets unloaded by androids background app manager.

Once the notification is stuck in the tray, I either have to re-connect to the client I was controlling (which will stop playback upon connecting and remove the stuck notification) or force stop the app from androids settings menu. 

 

App v3.3.32 on a Samsung A52 running Android 13

[Luke 42077]

HI, so this only happens when the app is in the background?

[darkassassin07 652]

No; if the app is in the foreground and connected to another client with media playing, manually pressing 'disconnect' disconnects but leaves the control notification open and stuck in the tray.

 

This also happens when the app is left in the background long enough to unload it from memory.

 

 

I'm now using a Samsung A54 also running Android 13. Emby for Android v3.3.32 and the client I'm using to test with is an Xbox One running emby v1.1.504.70

[yoritta 1]

It's weird, I've never had this kind of problem.

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2025 by GrimReaper

[darkassassin07 652]

This has not improved with 3.3.40

[Luke 42077]

OK thanks for the update.

[darkassassin07 652]

This has improved very minorly, but still has issues using v3.3.56 on android 14:

 

If media is actively playing on the client you are controlling when you disconnect the android app from it, the behavior is the same as previously; the player notification is stuck in the tray and can't be dismissed unless you force stop the app.

 

If however the client has a stream open but that stream is paused when you disconnect; the notification is still in the tray but you can now dismiss it by swiping it out of the tray.

[krislars 4]

Also having this problem.  If casting to a chromecast device, the Emby app "forgets" that it is playing the song.  It seems time based, not anything else happening on the device.  There is to way to interact with the playback other than going to Google Home and stopping the cast.

Two attached images show the notification that the music is playing, but Emby thinks it is not playing.  If I clock on the upper-left Emby icon on the notification, I just get my phone home screen.

[krislars 4]

I think I might have fixed it:  App battery optimization, which is maybe what OP meant here.

On 9/28/2023 at 8:20 PM, darkassassin07 said:

...

This also happens when the app is left in the background long enough to unload it from memory.

...

On my Pixel 8, I did Settings -> Apps -> App battery usage -> All apps -> Emby, set to unrestricted instead of optimized.  Now it doesn't forget that it is playing and the notification stays responsive even when the app is closed midstream.

[darkassassin07 652]

That is part of what I meant yeah. When android choses to unload the app from memory, it shouldn't leave the player notification stranded in the tray. Battery optimization is the main reason it choses to unload apps, so you can delay android from unloading it significantly with the above setting change, but it will still happen. Usually if you have other memory hungry apps in use and/or leave emby in the background for a long time.

 

I'm more concerned about it happening while actively using the app (manually disconnecting from an active client), but both problems should be addressed.

[darkassassin07 652]

This is still very much an issue.

 

When using the android app to control another client; disconnecting that app leaves the player controls orphaned in the notification tray and they cannot be removed in any way except force stopping the app.

 

 

 

It's been 9 months. @Lukeare you planning on addressing this issue ever?

Edited July 4, 2024 by darkassassin07

[Luke 42077]

HI, yes we'll take a look at it. Thanks for reporting.