Skip to main content
Answered

Plex unable to play certain songs "The connection to Plex was lost"

  • July 11, 2025
  • 10 replies
  • 98 views

Brendianer
Forum|alt.badge.img+1

Trying to play music from Plex to my sonos. I get the following error message. - “Unable to play ‘song title’ - the connection to Plex was lost”

I tried everything.

I have the same problem if I use the app on my phone or my computer. I am able to play these songs through “Plexamp” - which makes me think it is a Sonos problem?

My server is hosted on a Synology 718+.

I have the same issue whether I am in the home network or outside (1 Gbit).

Thanks for helping.

Best answer by Stanley_4

As part of trying everything, did you try changing the track's file name and meta data?

The easy way is to make a copy, call it test1, then clear out all Tag information and any embedded image data.

This fixed my (long ago) issues with unplayable tracks. Then putting back the removed data one item at a time identified the problem data item, editing that identified the exact issue. 

This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

10 replies

Pools-3015
Forum|alt.badge.img+17
  • Prodigy I
  • July 11, 2025

I have the same issue whether I am in the home network or outside (1 Gbit).

When outside your home are you also streaming to a Sonos speaker? If not this would point to an issue with your NAS or network.

When was the last time you restarted your network/router and NAS?

Have you considered assigning static IPs to your speakers and NAS if you have not done so already?


Forum|alt.badge.img+4
  • Prominent Collaborator I
  • July 11, 2025

With certain songs makes me think that could be a wrong/unsupported codec for Sonos speakers.


Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • July 11, 2025

Really frustrating to troubleshoot issues like this with the limited information Sonos provides us on internal operations. Best to recreate the issue, submit a diagnostic and call Sonos support where they can see the internal logs.


Brendianer
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • July 14, 2025

This is really frustrating.
And when you contact SONOS support, they say you have to contact PLEX support. They say the service does not come from them.


Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Lyricist III
  • July 14, 2025

With certain songs makes me think that could be a wrong/unsupported codec for Sonos speakers.

Plex transcodes unsupported formats and resolutions to supported AAC so this should be a non issue. 


controlav
Forum|alt.badge.img+24
  • Lead Maestro
  • July 15, 2025

This is really frustrating.
And when you contact SONOS support, they say you have to contact PLEX support. They say the service does not come from them.

Well they are not wrong, it does come from Plex.


Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • Answer
  • July 15, 2025

As part of trying everything, did you try changing the track's file name and meta data?

The easy way is to make a copy, call it test1, then clear out all Tag information and any embedded image data.

This fixed my (long ago) issues with unplayable tracks. Then putting back the removed data one item at a time identified the problem data item, editing that identified the exact issue. 


  • Lyricist II
  • August 3, 2025

As part of trying everything, did you try changing the track's file name and meta data?

The easy way is to make a copy, call it test1, then clear out all Tag information and any embedded image data.

This fixed my (long ago) issues with unplayable tracks. Then putting back the removed data one item at a time identified the problem data item, editing that identified the exact issue. 

Why would this be a problem exactly? Surely there is a way to systemically fix it? 


  • Lyricist II
  • August 3, 2025

Are there best practices anywhere? 

I have my Plex on Truenas core. Mine is intermittent, some songs play, then get the above error like the OP. 

How to best test if things are not optimal? 


Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • August 3, 2025

As part of trying everything, did you try changing the track's file name and meta data?

The easy way is to make a copy, call it test1, then clear out all Tag information and any embedded image data.

This fixed my (long ago) issues with unplayable tracks. Then putting back the removed data one item at a time identified the problem data item, editing that identified the exact issue. 

Why would this be a problem exactly? Surely there is a way to systemically fix it? 

Fixing the underlying issue is certainly an option but so far it hasn't happened. Don't know if it is a Sonos or Samba issue, neither user fixable.

Working around it with either a Samba configuration file change or a mass-edit with a tag editor is something a user can do.