Fix: Emby for Windows downloads stuck on "Ready to transfer" (non-ASCII computer name)

[CPB1337 0]

Symptom: Downloads never start in Emby for Windows (v2.317.2.0, Windows 10). Items stay on "Ready to transfer", while the Android app downloads fine.
Problem: The Windows computer name contained non-ASCII characters. Emby sends the device name in HTTP headers, and the sync fails with Request headers must contain only ASCII characters.
Fix:

1. Rename your PC (Settings → System → About → Rename this PC). Use only ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, hyphen). Letters with diacritics such as é, ü, ñ, ø, å, ß, č, or symbols/emoji will break downloads.
2. Restart Windows.
3. Sign out and back in to Emby.
4. Clear the download queue and try again.

Suggestion for the Emby team:
Could you add support for non-ASCII characters in PC names, or show a clear error message when the name is not supported? It took me a while to find the cause.

Logs:

Spoiler

logs

2026-10-03 18:14:29.711 Debug Application: ConnectWebView: complete
2026-10-03 18:14:29.711 Info Application: ==== STARTUP COMPLETE ====
2026-10-03 18:14:29.711 Info MainWindow: MainWindow_ConnectWebView_Exit
2026-10-03 18:14:32.105 Info ConnectionManager: [ApiClient] Successfully reached server at <cleared>
2026-10-03 18:14:32.105 Info ConnectionManager: [ApiClient] Successfully reached server at <cleared>
2026-10-03 18:14:32.128 Debug MediaSync[8fc7834fbe274e08b461e80950a0f875]: Sync: Enter
2026-10-03 18:14:32.128 Debug MediaSync[a7ebf4e01b7d4b69902b26973f1850dc]: Sync: Enter
2026-10-03 18:14:32.129 Debug MediaSync[8fc7834fbe274e08b461e80950a0f875]: ProcessDownloadStatus: Enter
2026-10-03 18:14:32.129 Debug MediaSync[a7ebf4e01b7d4b69902b26973f1850dc]: ProcessDownloadStatus: Enter
2026-10-03 18:14:32.231 Debug MediaSync[a7ebf4e01b7d4b69902b26973f1850dc]: ProcessDownloadStatus: Exit
2026-10-03 18:14:32.232 Debug MediaSync[a7ebf4e01b7d4b69902b26973f1850dc]: ReportOfflineActions: Enter
2026-10-03 18:14:32.235 Info WebView: Message received: RaiseEventOneWay-NativeLocalSync-progress-2 Size: 124
2026-10-03 18:14:32.238 Debug MediaSync[8fc7834fbe274e08b461e80950a0f875]: ProcessDownloadStatus: Exit
2026-10-03 18:14:32.238 Debug MediaSync[8fc7834fbe274e08b461e80950a0f875]: ReportOfflineActions: Enter
2026-10-03 18:14:32.239 Info WebView: Message received: RaiseEventOneWay-SyncSettingsHost-contentupdate-3 Size: 5064
2026-10-03 18:14:32.262 Debug MediaSync[a7ebf4e01b7d4b69902b26973f1850dc]: ReportOfflineActions: No actions to report
2026-10-03 18:14:32.263 Debug MediaSync[a7ebf4e01b7d4b69902b26973f1850dc]: GetNewMedia: Enter
2026-10-03 18:14:32.268 Debug MediaSync[8fc7834fbe274e08b461e80950a0f875]: ReportOfflineActions: No actions to report
2026-10-03 18:14:32.268 Debug MediaSync[8fc7834fbe274e08b461e80950a0f875]: GetNewMedia: Enter
2026-10-03 18:14:32.342 Error LocalSync: LocalSync.SyncQueue_Fired: During MediaSync
System.Net.Http.HttpRequestException: System.Net.Http.HttpRequestException: Request headers must contain only ASCII characters.
at RestSharp.ResponseThrowExtension.ThrowIfError[T](RestResponse1 response) at Emby.ApiClient.Client.ApiClient.GetReadySyncItems(String targetId) at Emby.Client.Sync.Implementation.Components.MediaSync.GetNewMedia(SyncOptions options, Int32 downloadItemCount) at Emby.Client.Sync.Implementation.Components.MediaSync.Sync(SyncOptions options) at Emby.Client.Sync.Implementation.Components.LocalSync.<>c__DisplayClass25_1.<<SyncQueue_Fired>b__12>d.MoveNext() --- End of stack trace from previous location --- at Emby.Client.Sync.Implementation.Components.LocalSync.SyncQueue_Fired(Object sender, ConcurrentQueue1 e)
Source: RestSharp
TargetSite: RestSharp.RestResponse1[T] ThrowIfError[T](RestSharp.RestResponse1[T])

 

[Luke 43217]

Hi there, please attach the Emby server log from when the problem occurred:

How to Report a Problem

Thanks!