Latest Emby Windows App Frequently Hangs While Starting

[saj 14]

I use the latest Emby Windows App frequently, and it works fine most of the time. However, it fairly frequently hangs when starting. By this, I mean it displays the animated logo but then, instead of showing the normal home screen, it displays a fixed Emby logo and freezes. I can see no way to exit the app except to force it to close via Alt-F4 or Task Manager, etc. I have looked at the logs and they don't seem very helpful. I turned on debug logging, and here is a sample of one of the resulting logs from such a hung session.

2026-02-04 14:10:15.777 Info Application: App details
    Name:         Emby Windows
    Version:      2.234.2.0
    Device Name:  HTPC-2
    Device Id:    bf3ca858-f3e8-8b24-abb9-2fbf61d6f286
    Package:      EmbyMedia.EmbyTheater_svmepx4c03f7m
    Data Path:    C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\Packages\EmbyMedia.EmbyTheater_svmepx4c03f7m\LocalState\data
    Log Path:     C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\Packages\EmbyMedia.EmbyTheater_svmepx4c03f7m\LocalCache\logs
    Webroot:      C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\EmbyMedia.EmbyTheater_2.234.2.0_x64__svmepx4c03f7m\web
    OS Info::     Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.26200.0 6.0.36
    OS/App::      64bit/64bit
    
2026-02-04 14:10:16.143 Info MainWindow: MainWindow.Load: AppWindow.IsVisible: False
2026-02-04 14:10:16.193 Info Application: ApplicationStateMonitorWinUI.Window_Activated
2026-02-04 14:10:16.200 Info Application: ApplicationStateMonitorWinUI.Window_VisibilityChanged: Visible=True
2026-02-04 14:10:16.202 Info MainWindow: AppWindow_Visible Fired - AppWindow.IsVisible: True
2026-02-04 14:10:16.202 Info MainWindow: AppWindow_Visible: DidVisibilityChange == true
2026-02-04 14:10:16.243 Info MainWindow: AppWindow_Visible: Invoke LoadWebView
2026-02-04 14:10:16.246 Info MainWindow: LoadWebView: Before EnsureCoreWebView2Async
2026-02-04 14:10:16.249 Info MainWindow: WebView2X: Start Init
2026-02-04 14:10:16.326 Info MainWindow: WebView2X: Fixed runtime path: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\EmbyMedia.EmbyTheater_2.234.2.0_x64__svmepx4c03f7m\WebView2\x64
2026-02-04 14:10:16.349 Debug SuperThemeInteropController: QuantizationTimer_Fired: Enter
2026-02-04 14:10:16.350 Debug SuperThemeInteropController: CreateStatusInfo: Enter
2026-02-04 14:10:16.381 Info MainWindow: WebView2X: Window Handle: 4196474
2026-02-04 14:10:16.701 Info MainWindow: LoadWebView: After EnsureCoreWebView2Async
2026-02-04 14:10:16.707 Info MainWindow: LoadWebView: WebViewAdapterWinUI created
2026-02-04 14:10:17.122 Info MainWindow: LoadWebView: CoreWebView2.Navigate
2026-02-04 14:10:17.561 Debug WebViewAdapterWinUI: CoreWebView2_WebResourceRequested: WebResourceRequested: file:///C:/Program%20Files/WindowsApps/EmbyMedia.EmbyTheater_2.234.2.0_x64__svmepx4c03f7m/web/index.html?autostart=false
2026-02-04 14:10:17.568 Debug WebViewAdapterWinUI: CoreWebView2_WebResourceRequested: WebResourceRequested: file:///C:/Program%20Files/WindowsApps/EmbyMedia.EmbyTheater_2.234.2.0_x64__svmepx4c03f7m/web/modules/fonts/material-icons/mi_2024_05.woff2
2026-02-04 14:10:17.568 Debug WebViewAdapterWinUI: CoreWebView2_WebResourceRequested: WebResourceRequested: file:///C:/Program%20Files/WindowsApps/EmbyMedia.EmbyTheater_2.234.2.0_x64__svmepx4c03f7m/web/apploader.js
2026-02-04 14:10:17.571 Debug WebViewAdapterWinUI: CoreWebView2_WebResourceRequested: WebResourceRequested: file:///C:/Program%20Files/WindowsApps/EmbyMedia.EmbyTheater_2.234.2.0_x64__svmepx4c03f7m/web/modules/alameda/alameda.js
2026-02-04 14:10:17.571 Debug WebViewAdapterWinUI: CoreWebView2_WebResourceRequested: WebResourceRequested: file:///C:/Program%20Files/WindowsApps/EmbyMedia.EmbyTheater_2.234.2.0_x64__svmepx4c03f7m/web/modules/themes/logowhite.png
2026-02-04 14:10:17.574 Debug WebViewAdapterWinUI: CoreWebView2_WebResourceRequested: WebResourceRequested: file:///C:/Program%20Files/WindowsApps/EmbyMedia.EmbyTheater_2.234.2.0_x64__svmepx4c03f7m/web/app.js
2026-02-04 14:10:25.898 Info MainWindow: AnimationWindow_ShowLogo invoked
2026-02-04 14:10:25.906 Info MainWindow: AnimationWindow_AnimationHidden invoked
2026-02-04 14:10:42.732 Info Application: Disposing ServiceManager
2026-02-04 14:10:42.733 Info Application: Disposing ApplicationStateMonitorWinUI
2026-02-04 14:10:42.733 Info Application: Disposing ConnectionManager
2026-02-04 14:10:42.734 Info Application: Disposing FeatureProvider
2026-02-04 14:10:42.735 Info Application: Disposing FeatureProvider

I have many logs from such hung sessions, and they are all very similar to this. The app doesn't crash, so there is no associated crashdump. It's just stuck.

Note that sometimes it will fail like this several times in a row and then suddenly load just fine without my doing anything to intervene.

 

On a few occasions, the app has appeared to crash during the creation of the animated logo. I am attaching a crashdump that I believe is associated with one such failure. This is much less frequent than the hung sessions.

Note that I still also have the older Emby Theater installed, and it never has any issues like this. Indeed, once the new app starts successfully, it works just fine too.

These are running on a very capable and up-to-date Windows 11 machine dedicated as a home theater PC. I have a separate dedicated Windows 11 machine running the server.

I would appreciate any assistance ending this annoyance.

Thanks

 

Emby.Client.WinUI.exe.5868.dmp

[Luke 42435]

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

[softworkz 5205]

Actually, we are looking at it already in the beta (https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/146021-new-windows-xbox-beta-229200/)

@saj - Thanks a lot for the detailed description and analysis.

It's the MS WebView2 which has that weird behavior that it sometimes starts without firing certain events we are relying on.

[saj 14]

Thank you for looking into this.

I also meant to mention that when I was investigating this issue, I noticed an odd anomaly with the view log files display in the app. The log file name is listed followed by a display of the date and time for the entry. However, the displayed time is incorrect. In my case it showed times that were hours into the future. I am attaching a screenshot that illustrates this. Note that this screenshot was from 2/4, and several log files list times far beyond the current time on the display, and they don't match with the times in the log file names.

[Neminem 1701]

Check server time/zone

[RickyRialto 0]

Same problem on my win 10 system when starting the emby app. Freeze on the static emby logo on black background. Not always, only random ...

[Luke 42435]

On 3/10/2026 at 7:56 PM, RickyRialto said:

Same problem on my win 10 system when starting the emby app. Freeze on the static emby logo on black background. Not always, only random ...

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

[pwhodges 2053]

This is a well-known issue.  FWIW, I haven't had it at all with the current beta.

Paul

[odohvare 1]

I've got the same problem.  Just on every Windows Device...  I try to start the Windows Viewer app, and it hangs on a White Screen forever..   Android, and Web works like a champ.  Windows App is totally boned right now....5 Windows devices(2 desktops, 2 Laptops and 1 Surface Tablet) that have to use the web browser right now.  All happened at the same time..  Apparently after an update.  Not sure if it is App side or Server side.  The server is run Locally, and No internal Firewall rules to block any ports.  It seriously worked one day flawlessly, and the next we're stuck with the web interface..  Any Idea???

[odohvare 1]

On 3/14/2026 at 5:57 PM, pwhodges said:

This is a well-known issue.  FWIW, I haven't had it at all with the current beta.

Paul

If this is fixed in the beta, where do I get that..   Server side or Client side???

[Team-Manimal 3]

5 hours ago, odohvare said:

I've got the same problem.  Just on every Windows Device...  I try to start the Windows Viewer app, and it hangs on a White Screen forever..   Android, and Web works like a champ.  Windows App is totally boned right now....5 Windows devices(2 desktops, 2 Laptops and 1 Surface Tablet) that have to use the web browser right now.  All happened at the same time..  Apparently after an update.  Not sure if it is App side or Server side.  The server is run Locally, and No internal Firewall rules to block any ports.  It seriously worked one day flawlessly, and the next we're stuck with the web interface..  Any Idea???

For me this seems to have happened when windows updated webview2 to version 147.0.3912.72 (a few days ago) and I have not been able to find any fix or workaround to get the windows store version of Emby to work / load beyond the splash screen.

[pwhodges 2053]

13 hours ago, odohvare said:

If this is fixed in the beta, where do I get that..   Server side or Client side???

I'm afraid the Windows app beta is not public...

Paul

Edited April 23 by pwhodges

[Luke 42435]

17 hours ago, Team-Manimal said:

For me this seems to have happened when windows updated webview2 to version 147.0.3912.72 (a few days ago) and I have not been able to find any fix or workaround to get the windows store version of Emby to work / load beyond the splash screen.

Hi, we are working on getting this resolved. Thanks.

[RanmaCanada 515]

The latest update that was pushed resolved this issue for me.

[softworkz 5205]

5 minutes ago, RanmaCanada said:

The latest update that was pushed resolved this issue for me.

Which version?

[softworkz 5205]

18 hours ago, Team-Manimal said:

For me this seems to have happened when windows updated webview2 to version 147.0.3912.72 (a few days ago) and I have not been able to find any fix or workaround to get the windows store version of Emby to work / load beyond the splash screen.

This is interesting because the Emby app includes its own webview2 runtime...

[Team-Manimal 3]

5 hours ago, softworkz said:

This is interesting because the Emby app includes its own webview2 runtime...

Noted, but it is odd that Emby has stopped loading at the same time Edge/ webview2 was updated by windows.

[Mahinepua 106]

Same issue here after the update, stopped working immediately.

[softworkz 5205]

On 4/23/2026 at 9:13 PM, pwhodges said:

On 4/23/2026 at 7:26 AM, odohvare said:

If this is fixed in the beta, where do I get that..   Server side or Client side???

I'm afraid the Windows app beta is not public...

 

Everybody in this conversation is invited to join the beta now!

And also help test our new beta portal: https://beta.emby.media/

 

[RanmaCanada 515]

On 24/04/2026 at 00:30, softworkz said:

Which version?

My apologies, I just assumed that one was rolled out as my Emby after the latest updates, either for Windows or for Emby, is now working perfectly fine. It no longer hangs nor freezes.

[softworkz 5205]

6 hours ago, RanmaCanada said:

my Emby after the latest updates, either for Windows or for Emby, is now working perfectly fine.

That must have been Windows updates then. The stable version of the Emby app hasn't been updated for months.

@Team-Manimal @Mahinepua

Do you see the same?

[softworkz 5205]

On 4/24/2026 at 10:30 PM, Mahinepua said:

Same issue here after the update, stopped working immediately.

You are talking about the stable here, not beta, right?

[Mahinepua 106]

Yes stable.

[Team-Manimal 3]

2 hours ago, softworkz said:

That must have been Windows updates then. The stable version of the Emby app hasn't been updated for months.

@Team-Manimal @Mahinepua

Do you see the same?

Yes, stable version of emby which has been the same version for a while now.

[softworkz 5205]

By "do you see the same?", I meant to ask whether it's working again after installing the latest Windows updates (like @RanmaCanadamentioned)?