How to Fix Plex Playback Errors (s1001, Conversion Failed & More)

You might have encountered various Plex playback error messages such as “s1001 Network”, “conversion failed”, “an error occurred loading items”, “check the file and drive”, etc. The root causes behind Plex playback errors can be a variety of complicated issues, including incorrect configuration, insufficient settings, unsupported codecs, and more.

It’s extremely annoying to find that the Plex Server is unable to play videos on Smart TV, Roku, and numerous players. The error messages aren’t precise enough to provide a hint. To save you time and effort, we’ve offered possible solutions to fix the Plex playback error.

Common Causes of Plex Playback Errors

• Incorrect Plex server settings
• Corrupted Plex database
• Unsupported video codecs and formats
• Network and connectivity issues
• Hardware and transcoding limitations

How to Fix Plex Playback Errors

1. Plex Playback Error: An error occurred trying to play this item

Solution 1: Repair or Recover the Plex Database

When the playback error S1001 (Network) occurs, if you also notice words such as “database disk image is malformed” in the error log, this indicates that the Plex database has been corrupted. It is necessary to either restore an earlier database or fix the one you have. To do this, you must perform a Plex database repair.

Step 1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue box. After that, enter ‘cmd’ into the text box. Press the keys Ctrl, Shift, and Enter. This will display the Command Prompt.

Step 2. Enter the following commands and press Enter

copy com.plexapp.plugins.library.db com.plexapp.plugins.library.db.original
sqlite3 com.plexapp.plugins.library.db “DROP index ‘index_title_sort_naturalsort'”
sqlite3 com.plexapp.plugins.library.db “DELETE from schema_migrations where version=’20180501000000′”
sqlite3 com.plexapp.plugins.library.db .dump > dump.sql
del com.plexapp.plugins.library.db
sqlite3 com.plexapp.plugins.library.db < dump.sql

Step 3. Take out or save (in another directory) both files listed below, then restart PMS:

com.plexapp.plugins.library.db-shm
com.plexapp.plugins.library.db-wal

Also read: Solve Stremio Playback Error: 9 Troubleshooting Tips You Need

Solution 2: Remove the Movie Pre-Roll Video

If you receive an error message like Plex Playback Error S1001, but you have the option to skip or retry, click Skip. If Skip is working, it indicates that Plex cannot play the skipped media item, which is a sign of an issue with “trailers/pre-roll video.

The best solution is open Settings and General, then Extras, and then clear all URLs from the section Movie Pre-Roll Videos. If you remove the pre-roll video and clear the URLs, Plex could be moved into the movie. Or you may move the pre-roll video out of the library, for instance, from G:\media\movies\ to G:\MoviePre-Roll\MoviePre-roll.mp4 and try again.

Solution 3: Reinstall Plex Media Server

A poor Plex update could cause Plex Playback Error s1001, particularly when the error happens following the installation of a recent version. You can fix the issue after uninstalling the version of Plex Media Server. Remove the registry key for Plex, and then install the latest version without any hassle.

Solution 4: Rename the Source Folder

Change the name of the library folder to an alternative title (like Movies > Movies1) and create a new one with the same name as the first (Movies). After that, refresh the library, delete trash, and then remove the new folder named Movies. Rename the original library folder (e.g., Movies1> Movies).

Plex Playback Error: Conversion Failed

There are different Plex Conversion failed errors, for example, “The transcoder exited due to an error.” “A required codec could not be found or failed to install.” “The transcoder could not start or start up, etc. The errors can have myriad causes. To fix the issue, try these fixes:

• Update to the latest Plex version.
• Do not save the Transcoder Tempo Directory in”C: Program Files Windows secured location “C:\Program Files (x86)”.
• Verify that you can determine if the Plex container is on a drive with nonexec. If so, change it to execut.
• Enable”Default Subtitle” to avoid Plex playback errors and failed conversion problems caused by incorrect or damaged subtitles.
• Check the Windows keys or the keysets are valid.
• Re-download the missing DLLs decoder for Plex.

Plex Playback Error: An Error Occurred Loading Items to Play

This Plex playback error is prevalent in Plex users. There aren’t any efficient solutions available. In most cases, the issue is caused by music tracks or podcasts, and movies on Nvidia Shield TV, Roku PC desktop, and other devices. Below are some possible solutions mentioned by users who encountered the same issue.

• Completely uninstall Plex and reinstall it, and then let it re-scan the library. You can also roll back to the old Plex version.
• The database could be damaged. Restore the Plex database according to the instructions for Solution 1 Playback Error S1001.
• The issue could be caused by sporadic path issues that occur when using Docker containers. Change the names of custom directories to normal Plex paths, such as /movies/music, etc.
• If you see the error message when playing the podcast, ensure you have an active Tidal account.
• Move the media drive onto another computer and try it again.

Also read: How to Fix YouTube Playback Errors in 2025

Plex Playback Error: Please Check That the File Exists and the Drive Is Mounted

The explanation for the Plex playback error is largely simple to comprehend. It basically means that Plex cannot locate the content in the specified location. This is a sign of an error about the name of the file or drive. This could be due to an unnamed or moved file. Therefore, it’s simple to fix the problem as follows:

• Check the path of the troublesome media with the normal path and see for any additional and/or missing letters, words, numbers, slashes, etc. within the library path.
• Check if Plex is connected to the correct folder for media on your device.
• Go to Control Panel, Shared Folders. And for each share that holds your media, grant users Plex either Read/Write, or the Read-Only option. Then, you can restart.
• Check that the user Plex is granted access to the video share. Set up your own shared folder, and then transfer the video to it if needed.

Plex Playback Error: Server Not Powerful Enough to Convert Video

The error, along with similar errors such as “Playback was not possible, not enough CPU for conversion of this item,” occurs when playing back complex videos in MKV and 4K, HEVC, and when several users are transcoding simultaneously. If you’re using an NAS device with an ARM-based processor, issues may happen more frequently. Here are some things you can do to fix the Plex playback error.

• Switch off “Disable video Stream Transcoding” and switch off “Use Hardware Acceleration when available”.
• Update your NAS devices to an even more robust NAS for Plex.
• Reduce the streaming video quality settings within the app for your Wi-Fi.
• Convert the content in 4K/HEVC format to be more compatible with Plex or reduce the file’s size and resolution by using a third-party tool.

Also read: Disney Plus Error Code 83: How to Fix It

Plex Not Working on Smart TVs (Unexpected Playback Problem)

Many users have reported that the Plex application is no longer capable of playing movies on their smart TVs since Plex changed its settings on September 30th, 2021, but it is able to play on their mobile or other device.

What’s the cause? The reason is that Samsung’s Tizen-based phones, with older models being stripped of support for secure connections.

To fix this unexpected playback issue, the Plex developer recommends that your Plex application and Plex server be configured to allow insecure connections.

On the TV App:

Settings → Advanced → Allow Insecure Connections → Always

On Plex Server:

Settings → Network → Secure Connections → Preferred

Final Thoughts

Plex playback errors can stem from database corruption, transcoding limitations, unsupported codecs, or device compatibility issues. By identifying the specific error message and applying the right fix, most Plex playback problems can be resolved without replacing your entire setup.

FAQs: Plex Playback Error