VLC on Android TV stopped working properly today

[teaowl]

Hi, so I watch videos on Sony Android TV using VLC, videos are from my PC and I am using Universal Media Server. All videos are mkv with built-in subtitles, because VLC cannot recognize external subs for me for some reason. Worked fine for years until today. Now it's all weird - firstly it doesn't see any videos in my folders, then after a few ins and outs it does but plays them all wrong. It doesn't let me choose the subs track, it says that there are no subs but it plays them automatically anyway. It doesn't show the length of the videofile, it's always 0.0 and the countdown is reverse, and it doesn't let me fast forward or rewind. Also, my PC seems really hard working while playing the video on TV, like the transcoding demands all its resources, also not a typical behavior.
Again, it all started today, multiple PC and TV reboots don't do anything. Tried also reinstall the VLC, didn't help either. Very frustrated, please help!

[Aza]

What is your VLC for Android version?

[teaowl]

3.5.0, it updated right the day before so I assumed it must be the problem. No other recent changes.

[Aza]

Could you please share some logs? Reproduce the issue and then go to: Settings > Advanced > Debug logs. Then share the logs with the sharing service you prefer (Google Drive, Dropbox, pastebin...).

[Kurg]

I have a similar problem on my tablet Xiaomi mi pad 5 with the new version 3.5.0.
The tablet stopped correctly seeing files shared on the network. In some cases, he starts to see them again, but this is rare and not all files. At the same time, he can see the folder structure well, but writes that they are empty.
My phone and TV have an older version of 3.4.4 and there is no such problem.

[Kurg]

Here is the log from my tablet Xiaomi mi pad 5
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rvez4E ... sguN_XFmgs

[teaowl]

Here's my log
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17UeGbN ... sp=sharing

[Kurg]

Installing an older version helped me solve the problem.
I found version 3.4.4 on the Internet and put it on the tablet.

[teaowl]

I guess I should do the same, I just have to somehow figure out if I can install apps on my TV that are not from Google Play, and how to prevent this older version from updating. I am not a techie person at all, I just want to watch movies.

[Lotesdelere]

I just have to somehow figure out if I can install apps on my TV that are not from Google Play, and how to prevent this older version from updating.

Uninstall your current version.
Download and install the APK file from here:
https://get.videolan.org/vlc-android/3.4.4/
Try with the Arm64-v8a first, if it doesn't install then install the Armeabi-v7a one.
Since it has been manually installed it will not auto update.

[teaowl]

I just have to somehow figure out if I can install apps on my TV that are not from Google Play, and how to prevent this older version from updating.

Uninstall your current version.
Download and install the APK file from here:
https://get.videolan.org/vlc-android/3.4.4/
Try with the Arm64-v8a first, if it doesn't install then install the Armeabi-v7a one.
Since it has been manually installed it will not auto update.

Thank you! Really good to know it will not auto update.

[teaowl]

So I managed to install the Armeabi-v7a version and everything is working fine again. Thank you, what a relief.

[odlaw]

same for me on Android phone (android 11, VLC 3.5.0)

No longer lists videos or music via the upnp browser. Can play some that are already in history and have confirmed that DLNA server is working correctly using a linux laptop client (where vlc v3.0.16 is working fine).

Another problem appears to be that I can't authenticate to my SMB share. Again, confirmed working correctly from a Linux file browser with same username/password combination.

[slyphnier]

joining for reporting the similar issue with VLC 3.5.0

tested device with android 9 (arm64-v8a) and android 5.1 (armeabi-v7a) DLNA to NAS (synology-intel)

folder randomly marked as empty, "refresh/rescan folder" not working
sometimes restarting show up those folder content, but folder with certain amount of files(more than 100 with subfolders) or probably long filenames (*i am not really sure) will be marked as empty

rollback to 3.4.4 everything scanned+listed just fine
hope dev. can hotfix this issue asap

[tguillem]

Hello, thanks all for the bug report,

I created an issue, that you can track here: https://code.videolan.org/videolan/vlc/-/issues/27173

[teaowl]

Well, my joy was short lived. My manually installed 3.4.4 version updated automatically to 3.5.0, so now I have to roll back again. My everyday routine from now on I suppose.

[mikeprocess]

Just to let you know I had the same VLC problem on my 2 Android TV (chromecast) devices. I installed Armeabi-v7a version (the v8a version wouldn't install) and everything is back to normal. Originally I spent HOURS trying to trouble shoot problem. Thinking the problem was on my end. I uninstalled and reinstalled VLV several times, rebooted the Google TV device several times, rebooted my Synology server. Eventually I had the idea that if something is wrong for me, it might be broken for someone else....which is why I ended up checking out this forum. The experience is very disappointing. My back up video player is: Nova. I think I'll promote it as my main video player and demote VLC.

Update:
Teaowl wrote;
> "Since it has been manually installed it will not auto update."

It did auto update on my two Google TV (chromecast dongles) You need to to disable auto updates in the settings on the dongle.

[Kurg]

Well, my joy was short lived. My manually installed 3.4.4 version updated automatically to 3.5.0, so now I have to roll back again. My everyday routine from now on I suppose.

The same thing, every time you turn off the TV it automatically updates to version 3.5, you have to delete it and install 3.4.4
I hope that problems with version 3.5 can be quickly resolved.

[teaowl]

Installed v 3.5.2 from the Play Store, no fix for me, my problem remains exactly the same. Doesn't see subs, doesn't show the time remaining, cannot rewind or fast forward. Returned to v 3.4.4 again.

[Stratosferic]

Hi teaowl,
I also experiment a problem with VLC 3.5.2 for Android TV on my Sony smart TV.
For years, I have been watching videos located on the hard disk of a video server (Freebox Revolution) with the upnp protocol. Worked great.
Today, impossible to access the hard disk. Error message says there is nothing on the disk (which is not true: Works with Nova).
Is there a fix for VLC?
Thanks

[Alaric]

Installed v 3.5.2 from the Play Store, no fix for me, my problem remains exactly the same. Doesn't see subs, doesn't show the time remaining, cannot rewind or fast forward. Returned to v 3.4.4 again.

Looks like your discover failures are now fixed at least!
I'll try to reproduce your subtitle and seeking issues...

Hi teaowl,
I also experiment a problem with VLC 3.5.2 for Android TV on my Sony smart TV.
For years, I have been watching videos located on the hard disk of a video server (Freebox Revolution) with the upnp protocol. Worked great.
Today, impossible to access the hard disk. Error message says there is nothing on the disk (which is not true: Works with Nova).
Is there a fix for VLC?
Thanks

Sorry for the inconvenience, could you share some logs so we can locate the problem? Reproduce the issue and then go to: Settings > Advanced > Debug logs and share the dumped log file.

[teaowl]

My main problem is with subs actually as I depend on them.
It's like it sees any file with embedded subs as corrupt. No problem with files without subs, but considering most of the HD go with multiple subs these days, they create a problem even when I don't need them.

[Stratosferic]

Installed v 3.5.2 from the Play Store, no fix for me, my problem remains exactly the same. Doesn't see subs, doesn't show the time remaining, cannot rewind or fast forward. Returned to v 3.4.4 again.

Looks like your discover failures are now fixed at least!
I'll try to reproduce your subtitle and seeking issues...

Hi teaowl,
I also experiment a problem with VLC 3.5.2 for Android TV on my Sony smart TV.
For years, I have been watching videos located on the hard disk of a video server (Freebox Revolution) with the upnp protocol. Worked great.
Today, impossible to access the hard disk. Error message says there is nothing on the disk (which is not true: Works with Nova).
Is there a fix for VLC?
Thanks

Sorry for the inconvenience, could you share some logs so we can locate the problem? Reproduce the issue and then go to: Settings > Advanced > Debug logs and share the dumped log file.

I am sorry Alaric, I am afraid I can't do that on Android TV

[Alaric]

My main problem is with subs actually as I depend on them.
It's like it sees any file with embedded subs as corrupt. No problem with files without subs, but considering most of the HD go with multiple subs these days, they create a problem even when I don't need them.

Thanks, I'll try to reproduce.

I am sorry Alaric, I am afraid I can't do that on Android TV

Your issue might be related to https://code.videolan.org/videolan/vlc- ... ssues/2694
Sorry for the inconvenience it will be fixed in the next minor release soon!