Unexpected behavior with Android Universal app and Shield Pro Home Button

[rdhardi 42]

I’ve always used the Shield's Home Button (circle icon button on the Shield remote) to exit the Android TV app. This always stopped playback, it no longer showed as Now Playing in the Dashboard.

In the Android Universal app, when I use the Shield’s home button, playback does not stop…it still shows under Now Playing in the Dashboard. I just realized this when I sat down at my computer & the Dashboard showed something playing…but I wasn’t watching anything and I’m the only one here  It was a channel I was watching earlier and, as I always do, I clicked the Home button, assuming it had stopped. I opened the universal app, and the channel was still there but stuck, not playing. I had to use the Back button (which I rarely use) to click, click...my way out.

I just ran both apps and verified this does not happen in the AndroidTV app. Is this normal behavior in the universal app?

[Luke 42077]

Hi, can you do an uninstall reinstall of the app and then see if it still happens? Thanks.

[rdhardi 42]

I uninstalled and installed the latest ? Beta: v3.5.05 (2025/09/25) as listed here: https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/21348-emby-latest-versions/#comment-1463175, but my Dashboard is reporting it as 3.5.04. This did not resolve the issue.

Now that I'm actually watching TV, when I click on the Shield's Home button, it doesn't appear to be "stuck", but paused. It still shows up in Now Playing on the Dashboard, but when I go back into the app and click on the Shield's pause button, playback resumes.

Before that (every time I sideload an update) I have to turn off PIP, otherwise clicking the Home button brings up a PIP screen in the lower right of the screen and two dialouge windows that flash alternatively in the middle of the screen where I have to click to exit. I've already submitted a post about this issue a while back. Hope that makes sense...typing it out sounds confusing to me!  Maybe I can take a video while it's happening, but disabling PIP in the Emby app on the Shield resolves that issue for me. My main concern is the behavior of the Home button pausing playback instead of stopping it. Thanks!

Edited to add: Just to clarify, the Home button does take me to the Shield home screen, but it still shows as playing in the Dashboard, and apparently it's paused instead of ending playback as I expected.

 

Edited September 26, 2025 by rdhardi

[Luke 42077]

OK this is normal behavior, so that if you return you can resume. Once it idles the server will terminate it anyway.

[rdhardi 42]

@Luke

Since this is expected behavior in the new app (universal), yes, my question has been answered and marked as solved.

But, is there a setting where I can change it to STOP playback vs PAUSING it, like it did in the TV app when I use the Shield's Home button? 

You said, "Once it idles the server will terminate it anyway". I tested this today, and after several hours, it did not idle...still showed it was playing in the Dashboard all day (Live TV).

I'm still on server 4.8.11.0, Emby for Android version 3.5.04.

Edited October 8, 2025 by rdhardi

[Luke 42077]

Quote

I tested this today, and after several hours, it did not idle...still showed it was playing in the Dashboard all day (Live TV).

HI there, can you please provide a specific example?

How to Report a Problem

Thanks !