AV1 Codec support not working?

[DarkStar1977 119]

Hi, same issue here.

Specially with 4K videos downloaded from Youtube (I think is the same scenario).

An easy testing would be downloading with JDownloader, Miley Cyrus Flowers video from here: https://youtu.be/G7KNmW9a75Y

This video in 4K is AV1 and presents issues when imported into emby, playback hangs, stops and sometimes even crashes the client.

Happens to all AV1 videos downloaded from youtube.

Hope this helps.

 

[Luke 42077]

@DarkStar1977

 

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

 

[DarkStar1977 119]

@Lukefind attached the server log.

embyserver (1).txt

For what I've seen the log shows no issues, tried with 2 videos that are causing problems.

The issue can be replicated only when playing it from a non-web client.

You can dowload the suggested video from my original post, upload it to emby music videos library and play it from a non-web client.

Appears with chromecast devices and appletv devices.

Hope this helps, in any case I've opted to re-encode these videos to not use AV1 codec and the issue is solved for me.

Edited September 20, 2025 by DarkStar1977

[Luke 42077]

Do the devices you were playing it on have native hardware av1 support?

[DarkStar1977 119]

Not sure about chromecast or apple tv, but my mac yes, in fact the videos play perfectly with VLC, INAA and other players.

Find attached a new llog.

In this one, first played video says no streams available (client Chrome MAC)

Second, the same video plays but stops each 2 seconds for 2 seconds (client Chrome same as before)

Third, the same video on Emby Theater for mac, plays audio and no video, Emby Theatre UI frozen need to force quit.

Fourth, the same video again, video says no streams available (client Chrome same as before)

Hope this helps.

PS: This video plays perfecly on AppleTV via emby, if you need the video itself, tell me and can share it privately.

 

embyserver (1).txt

Edited October 1, 2025 by DarkStar1977

[brothom 177]

@DarkStar1977your issue most likely overlaps with the issue from two weeks ago: 

This issue had something to do with Emby uses different av1 encoders, causing some devices to either stutter or become unplayable.
Emby's upcoming update for macOS should fix this issue however.

[DarkStar1977 119]

3 hours ago, brothom said:

@DarkStar1977your issue most likely overlaps with the issue from two weeks ago: 

This issue had something to do with Emby uses different av1 encoders, causing some devices to either stutter or become unplayable.
Emby's upcoming update for macOS should fix this issue however.

Thanks.

But I'm less concerned of Emby Theatre not working than others like AppleTV and Chromecast were errors are present, including browsers.

If it's a server issue, I'm more interested on this being corrected on WDPR4100 release that's where my server is running.

[brothom 177]

11 minutes ago, DarkStar1977 said:

Thanks.

But I'm less concerned of Emby Theatre not working than others like AppleTV and Chromecast were errors are present, including browsers.

If it's a server issue, I'm more interested on this being corrected on WDPR4100 release that's where my server is running.

Considering it has to do with the codecs on the serverside, the device you're using shouldn't matter, unless that device actually (natively) supports AV1.
All other devices that can't play AV1 directly will rely on Emby transcoding the media to a support format, transcoding can be slow on devices that barely or have issue with, transcoding certain codecs.

Due to the fact that you can play it on AppleTV seems to cement that it it's that same codec issue. Apparently Apple TV 4K (2nd gen) has native AV1 support as of a year back or so. A lot of other devices still don't support AV1.

---

Personally I prefer to convert my media into different formats/contains so that basically all devices support, for example h264 hevc with aac audio. Even downscaling 4K videos to 1080p because some TVs and browsers (laptops, computers) don't support 4K.
Maybe your man-in-the-middle solution would be to create alternate non-AV1 versions for devices that can't play AV1 direct? But that's just how I tend to deal with situations like this.

Edited October 1, 2025 by brothom