Xbone cannot be remote controlled - sort of

[darkassassin07 652]

I've noticed the new xbone app (v2.210.70.0) does not display remote controls in the server dashboard.

 

 

It also does not display player controls to users that connect via the cast menu in other clients (tested with the web app + android)

When connected with another client; you can use it to begin playing new media on the xbone you're connected to (hence, 'sort of'), but at no point are you presented with media controls for the currently playing media.

 

 

My emby server is behind an nginx proxy that all clients are forced to use. (only the WAN address in the dash is routable regardless of where the client is)

It contains the following config lines and no other client has websocket issues (android, IPhone, and the web app all work perfectly), so I do not believe it's proxy related.

proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
	proxy_set_header Connection $http_connection;
	proxy_connect_timeout 10s;
	proxy_send_timeout 1h;
	proxy_read_timeout 1h;

 

Edited January 21, 2025 by darkassassin07

[Clackdor 109]

@darkassassin07Do you also have the beta installed? I had to uninstall both the beta and stable app, then reinstall the stable app to resolve this on two of my Xboxes. My third one still has this issue as I haven't gotten around to uninstalling/reinstalling on that one yet. I'm on the "plus" Xbox app as well.

I should also note that while I use IIS as a reverse proxy, I didn't see the remote control options with it bypassed until reinstalling, so it very likely isn't a proxy issue in your case either.

 

[darkassassin07 652]

No, I've only used the standard app, and the 'holiday bonanza' version.

To be thorough, I just removed it from my system and re-installed using the same user account that entered the draw. (twice)

I got the same results: no player controls in the dashboard and remote clients. The version number is the same.

 

It also says 'Emby Xbox' now, where it used to say 'EmbyPlus Xbox' last I'd looked (a few weeks ago); and I have the option to enter the Holiday Bonanza in the settings again despite already entering and 'winning'. For good measure, I entered again: 'already registered'

HEVC content is direct playing.

 

Side note: This time, I had significantly more problems getting past the 'the app has been setup' popup message on initial startup. Opening the side menu, trying all the inputs on both controller and ir remote, restarting the app/console; it just would not give focus to the popup window for you to select 'ok'. Spent a good 15min on that alone; eventually it worked when I spammed the A button between animations.

Edited January 21, 2025 by darkassassin07

[Clackdor 109]

@darkassassin07It was a few weeks ago when I reinstalled the app. I may have also had to remove the device from the server dashboard as well before reinstalling. I honestly don't recall right now. If you haven't already tried that maybe give it a shot and see.

Edit:

I just deleted the device entry on the server dashboard for my third Xbox where I still hadn't resolved the remote control issue. After signing back in remote control is working. The entry was also still showing the beta version of the app listed rather than the standard one before I deleted it. It now shows as "Embyplus Xbox" as it should.

My best guess is that something wonky happens server-side with having different app versions on the same Xbox since the standard, plus, and beta are all different apps.

Edited January 21, 2025 by Clackdor
Additional information after testing

[darkassassin07 652]

Interesting;

Deleted the device in the server, started the xbone up and launched the app (it acted like first install again). Once logged in again, remote controls are now showing in the dash and on remote clients.

 

It does still say 'Emby Xbox 2.210.70.0' and not EmbyPlus Xbox, though HEVC direct plays so I'm not sure what's up with that. I was wrong; it is transcoding. I don't know why I don't have the plus app anymore...

Maybe @softworkzhas an idea?

Edited January 21, 2025 by darkassassin07

[softworkz 5066]

On 1/21/2025 at 4:32 AM, darkassassin07 said:

Maybe @softworkzhas an idea?

Can you PM me your Xbox Live e-mail, then I can see whether it's stil i the list.

Check for updates first, there's a new release (2.211.0) of both, main and plus app.

[softworkz 5066]

Your e-mail is still registered. Can you check for updates again?

On my Xbox it updated (while it was "off") to the non-plus app as well. Then I went to "My Apps & Games" and launched the app there, then it started updating to the Plus app.

I think what is happening is that when it updates in the background, there's no user context, so it doesn't "see" the Plus app. 

[darkassassin07 652]

I've manually checked for updates both before PMing you and just now. None available, Still just the regular version.

[softworkz 5066]

Maybe try uninstall/reboot/reinstall?

Are you logged in with your Xbox live account (left top)?

[darkassassin07 652]

I did that twice yesterday (including the reboot in between). Doesn't change.

 

Yes, logged in as the user that entered the draw.

[darkassassin07 652]

Well, seems this is finally sorted out on my end. @softworkzI entered/gave you the wrong email the second time; so I entered the third one and waited for you to announce a draw. Didn't want to bother you again.

 

Microsoft loves to be a PITA. I didn't have the plus app last night. Started up the xbone this morning and checked for updates. It insisted there were none, even after waiting for the longer check. I then tried to launch the app and it immediately closed and updated to the plus version...

 

HEVC now direct plays as it should.

 

I guess there's an issue with having multiple Microsoft accounts logged into an xbox and not having them both enter the draw.

[darkassassin07 652]

Hmm.

 

Emby for Xbox updated to v2.211.70.1 and once again the remote controls for connected clients and the dashboard are not present.

 

Deleting the device from the server and setting it up again as a new device restores this, as it did last time; however being forced to remove the device, re-add the host information, and login again using the asinine passwords @Lukedemands everyone use FOR LOCAL CONNECTIONS is getting incredibly frustrating.

 

I am so sick of opening my password manager to read and manually enter a password on xbox with a [redacted] controller every couple of days.

Edited January 27, 2025 by darkassassin07

[softworkz 5066]

During the beta there were issues reported about multiple devices showing up on Emby Server when used by multiple users.

Then I changed the ID to be based on a "per-publisher-per-device" id. This means that it's the same for all Emby apps on your Xbox. Are you also using the beta? 

[darkassassin07 652]

No, I only have the standard app (well, the bonanza 'plus' app). I've never used the Beta channel.

 

This seems to occur when updating from the standard app to the plus app. I'm not sure if it will also occur with each new update to the installed 'plus' app, or if it'll just be fine until the transition back to standard app once MS properly approves it and the plus app becomes obsolete.

[Clackdor 109]

1 hour ago, darkassassin07 said:

Emby for Xbox updated to v2.211.70.1 and once again the remote controls for connected clients and the dashboard are not present.

 

1 hour ago, darkassassin07 said:

This seems to occur when updating from the standard app to the plus app. I'm not sure if it will also occur with each new update to the installed 'plus' app, or if it'll just be fine until the transition back to standard app once MS properly approves it and the plus app becomes obsolete.

Is the update being applied when signed into a different Microsoft account than the one that's entered in the bonanza? It sounds like for some reason you're installing the standard app, then the plus app each time there's an update.

I haven't encountered any issues with updates to the standard app after resolving the weird conflict I had with the beta. My Microsoft account is the only one that's been entered in the bonanza, so I do try to make sure to check for updates when signed under my account. For me updates are going from one version of the plus app to the next and I haven't seen the non-plus version get installed at all.

[darkassassin07 652]

There's two xbox live accounts on this console; both have entered the draw, so that shouldn't be an issue going forward.

I'll have to wait and see how the next update goes; there were too many variables this time around.

 

Honestly I'm still just frustrated with the authentication changes that were forced on us a while ago. We need a better solution for logging in on clients that don't have keyboards.

[softworkz 5066]

If the Xbox is updating in the background (while sleeping) and there's a new update, it will install the normal app (because you're not logged in).

You don't always see this, because the plus app gets into the store before the regular app.

When you're logged in between these two publishing dates, you will get the plus app. But when you're not logged in, it will update to the regular app in the background. For the most recent update, the period between has been shorter than before (where certification failed multiple times, not affecting the plus app, though).

The only "fix" for the time being is to make sure that your Xbox really powers off rather than just sleeping.