VLC for Mobile Version 3.0.4 3/13/2019 for Apple TV has issues with SMB

[Derpy]

Today's update VLC for Mobile Version 3.0.4 3/13/2019 for Apple TV is seriously broken.

It will no longer play any video files via Local Network from SMB servers. It just sits there with "Please wait" and the spinner. The previous version worked just fine.

[Rory]

Exact same issue.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

SMBv1 or SMBv2 servers?

[tguillem]

Today's update VLC for Mobile Version 3.0.4 3/13/2019 for Apple TV is seriously broken.

It will no longer play any video files via Local Network from SMB servers. It just sits there with "Please wait" and the spinner. The previous version worked just fine. Someone needs a kick on the 'nads for this snafu.

We just added support for SMBv2.
We did a lot of test with a lot of different Windows setup and were always able to connect to both SMBv1 + SMBv2 servers.
Unfortunately, some users on Android and iOS are complaining about SMBv1 browsing broken.
We still don't know how to reproduce this issue. Could you tell us the exact configuration of your Windows + SMB share setup ?

[Derpy]

Today's update VLC for Mobile Version 3.0.4 3/13/2019 for Apple TV is seriously broken.

It will no longer play any video files via Local Network from SMB servers. It just sits there with "Please wait" and the spinner. The previous version worked just fine.

We just added support for SMBv2.
We did a lot of test with a lot of different Windows setup and were always able to connect to both SMBv1 + SMBv2 servers.
Unfortunately, some users on Android and iOS are complaining about SMBv1 browsing broken.
We still don't know how to reproduce this issue. Could you tell us the exact configuration of your Windows + SMB share setup ?

Windows 7 and Windows 10: Simply create a share using "net share Watch=E:\Watch" as Administrator. Browsing to share works and shows contents. Playing files does not work.

Seagate NAS with NAS OS 4.3: Browsing SMB shares works ok (contents show ok), playing files does not work.

Network IPs provided by a wired/wireless router that supplies both IPv4 and IPv6 IPs to all machines and devices. NAS is IPv4 only. Disabling IPv6 does not help.

Playback device is Apple TV 4K with latest tvOS.

...sometime later...

VLC for iOS Version 3.1.7 (322) works on this network on an iPad Pro. So this is an Apple TV/tvOS issue.

[memevlc]

Exact same issue.

Killed my setup too.

4k ATV with a SMB share on a mini... I see the files, but I get "please wait" forever. Should have turned auto update on :/

[Rory]

Exact same issue.

Killed my setup too.

4k ATV with a SMB share on a mini... I see the files, but I get "please wait" forever. Should have turned auto update on :/

Same setup. Everything worked fine before the update. VLC sees files on the mini. Just get a “please wait”.

I’ve tried rebooting. Logging out of my smb, reboot, log in. Still hangs.

[Tigertodd]

All of the sudden I cant access my SMB local network from the Apple TV app. Also on my iphone. For some reason my iPad works. I just have to put the info in as new and click save and it will access it, I have to do this every time. I can acccess my network from my MacBook Pro but not being able to from the Apple TV hurts most. This is really frustrating as I have an external HD plugged into my AirPort Extreme bass station and usually I can access my library of media threw the VLC app on the Apple TV. I even rested my Apple TV to no avail. Pls help!

[moistrobot]

Same issue here. SMB worked fine prior to update. Other Apple TV media players work fine.

[mh19]

Same problem here... Both my Apple TVs no longer show anything but 'Empty Folder' when connecting to either a Linux or Windows Share. Both worked prior to the 3/13/19 update. I can connect and play from VLC on my iPhone.

[echoz]

Same here since 3.0.4 update on a Mac, "Please wait ..."
bugtracker report established: https://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/22028

[starfrog]

Same problem here.

Apple TV 4th Gen 64GB running tvOS 12.1.2. Just updated to VLC 3.04 (307). Still sees my Time-Capsule SMB in Local Network but when connecting I now see only 'Empty Folder' screen. Everything was working fine before the update.

However, VLC for iOS 3.1.6 (321) on iPad works fine on same network. Can see all media content on two connected drives to the TC.

Hoping for quick fix!

[stanaquil]

Apple TV broken here too! Please revert version if you can’t fix this.

My VLC now crashes immediately on connecting. I have “sent” dozens of reports by now, does no good as far as I can see.

[ra5mushellum]

Try this on your Mac: Disable sharing from preferences, open terminal and paste: sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.smb.server SigningRequired -bool FALSE. reenable your share via preferences. Now you should be able to view your movies again on the Apple TV.... look this Apple support regarding smb implementation on macOS 10.13.4 -> : https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205926

[EvilSpock]

Apple TV , iPad and iPhone broken on the latest release.
But on the iPhone and Ipad I was able to punch in the IP address select SMB connect and it shows the folders if this helps. Can someone add the same ability to search to the Apple TV so it lines up with Ipad and iPhone capabilities.
Sorry to be all over the place but I did see an issue with Apple screen mirroring if you try to play anything over 720p to the Apple TV from the iPhone or Ipad you loose the sound. I found this after trying to screen mirror videos using the connect by IP address on the iPhone and Ipad.

[shines20]

All of the sudden I cant access my SMB local network from the Apple TV app. Also on my iphone. For some reason my iPad works. I just have to put the info in as new and click save and it will access it, I have to do this every time. I can acccess my network from my MacBook Pro but not being able to from the Apple TV hurts most. This is really frustrating as I have an external HD plugged into my AirPort Extreme bass station and usually I can access my library of media threw the VLC app on the Apple TV. I even rested my Apple TV to no avail. Pls help!

I have a same issue. no more working from my external hdd.

[jdwuzhere]

For a SMB shares hosted on OS X Mojave THIS helps:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205926

Hope this also explains where the bug in VLC is for devs.

[josephl]

Since upgrading Apple TV to 3.0.4 for TVos I can't connect to a shared drive with media files. Says empty folder can see any of my content.

I am trying to connect appleTV 4th gen to an Airport express drive. This has worked beautifully for over 6 months and broke with this version.

[gheydt]

Nothing works for me now. Been using an Apple Time Machine for the file sharing on Apple Tv. I have used it constantly for years and never a problem and as of a week ago, I can see the SMB Time Machine icon and when I click it says empty folder. Even then tried to use my Mac mini as the file sharing point and still didn't work. Tried the link for apple support above and did what it said in Terminal and still nothing. This messes up my whole home system as I use the SMB files all the time through VLC on Apple tv. When will this get fixed or when will they tell us how to fix it?

[jab701]

My setup is an Apple TV connecting to a QNAP NAS over SMB. Hasnt worked since this update.

However, I have enabled DLNA sharing on my QNAP NAS and this is working with the Apple TV, however I prefer to use SMB than have extra services running on my NAS that I dont normally use.

[ride_a_bike]

My setup is an Airport Extreme with a USB drive attached as a shared network drive. Been working fine for many months prior to latest update using Local Network and connecting as SMB. Here's what's working and what's not:

THESE DON'T WORK
The following VLC installations/versions can see the Airport Extreme as a "Local Network" with USB drive attached. My server is listed as a (SMB) File Server. I put in username “admin” and password and see endless spinning or “folder empty:”
iPhone X (12.1.4) - VLC for iOS v3.1.7 (322)
iPad Air (12.1) - VLC for iOS v3.1.7 (322)
Apple TV (v12.1.12) - VLC for tvOS - v3.0.4 (307)

THIS STILL WORKS
The following VLC installation/version can see the Airport Extreme as a "Local Network" with USB drive attached. My server is listed as a (SMB) File Server. I put in username “admin” and password and see all folders within USB drive. I can open folder and select media and it streams successfully:
VLC for Android v3.0.13

[mgw2]

Today's update VLC for Mobile Version 3.0.4 3/13/2019 for Apple TV is seriously broken.

It will no longer play any video files via Local Network from SMB servers. It just sits there with "Please wait" and the spinner. The previous version worked just fine. Someone needs a kick on the 'nads for this snafu.

We just added support for SMBv2.
We did a lot of test with a lot of different Windows setup and were always able to connect to both SMBv1 + SMBv2 servers.
Unfortunately, some users on Android and iOS are complaining about SMBv1 browsing broken.
We still don't know how to reproduce this issue. Could you tell us the exact configuration of your Windows + SMB share setup ?

In my case I am running 12.1.2 tvOS, VLC 3.0.4, on an iMac running 10.14.3. Cant tell you about SMB version - don't know how to identify that. All I know is that I can see folders and files but all that I get is "Please wait".

[dmg15]

I have the same issue. My SMB share is hosted on a timecapsule with firmware v7.7.9 so the SMB configuration is very limited. Apple TV is a 4th gen 32gb with tvOs 12.1.2.

I have reverted to using remote playback which seems to work fine but its super annoying that the files aren’t/can’t be sorted by name so if you transfer a whole season of a tv show you have to scroll through randomly sorted files, 5 at a time, to find the next episode. Also there is twice as many files to search through when you need to use subtitles.

[memevlc]

For a SMB shares hosted on OS X Mojave THIS helps:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205926

Hope this also explains where the bug in VLC is for devs.

If I follow the tip, the shared SMB doesnt turn up. Cant acces it at all. With the setting on true I get spinning wheel and no playback. Rubbish :/

[ntu150]

Got it to work! Thanks for the tip, Ibuyss! Setup is Apple Time Capsule (old flat version) and AppleTV 4K 32 Gb.

The thing is that you need to change the name of the Time Capsule to the port number (I changed mine to 1024) and NO LETTERS in the field. So go to AirPort Utility in a Mac or iOS and change the Time Capsule or AirPort name to just a port number (not sure if other numbers work. Used 1024 as that port number worked on my iOS VLC apps) then restart/update the Time Capsule/AirPort. I initially tried a name with colon then port number, but it didn't work since VLC TVOs turns all punctuation into dashes. I guess the server name field in TVOS is now actually the port field?

At least it's working again until they make another update.