Why is 'Plex Transcoder' using my CPU when nothing is playing?

Why is ‘Plex Transcoder’ using my CPU when nothing is playing?

If no one is playing content from your Plex Media Server, there are a few common reasons for a “Plex Transcoder” process to be running:

Video Preview Thumbnails Generation

The most common reason users will see this unexpected CPU usage is when they enable their Plex Media Server to generate video preview thumbnails.

If you have the Generate video preview thumbnails (advanced) setting enabled, then your Server will generate video preview thumbnails for new content.

Related Page: Video Preview Thumbnails

This process essentially requires a transcode of the media file in order to generate a series of screengrabs, which are then used to make the media index file. The process is CPU-intensive and can take anywhere from a few minutes to tens of minutes for a single item depending on both your processor power/speed as well as the duration and resolution of the media file.

If you enable that setting prior to adding a large amount of library content, you can expect the “Plex New Transcoder” process to be running and using a large amount of CPU for hours or even days.

Chapter Thumbnails Generation

When you add new content to a “Movie” library, one of the things Plex does is try to find chapter information to match that movie so that you can quickly jump to a desired chapter when watching it. If we find chapter information (either embedded in the file or from an online source), then we also grab some quick screenshots around the start of every chapter. Those screenshots can be used by apps when displaying chapter information to you.

In most cases, you’ll hardly even notice this occurs. On most desktop computers, this would take just a few seconds, for instance. However, if you run your Plex Media Server on a low-powered computer such as a NAS device, then it’s possible the process could take a fair bit longer and you might notice some high CPU usage while the chapter thumbnails are generated.

Preparing Sync Content

When you specify content to sync—either for Mobile Sync or Cloud Sync—then your Plex Media Server will first prepare that content to ensure it is in a compatible format. For the majority of content, this will involve transcoding the content.

Content transcoding is a very CPU-intensive process and can take tens of minutes for a single item in some cases. If you inadvertently select an entire library to Cloud Sync, for instance, then your Server is going to be trying to transcode the entire library to prepare it to sync.

You can check sync jobs that you’ve created in your Plex Web App.

Note: If you share libraries with friends and you’ve enabled Allow Sync for their share, they may have set content to sync, too.

Related Page: Monitoring Sync Status

Media Optimizer

If you have created any “optimization” jobs for content, then Media Optimizer might be using the transcoder to process and optimize content for you. If that is happening, then it will appear in the Conversion Queue.

Related Page: Media Optimizer

Last modified on: February 28, 2019

Terms of Service

Revised November 29, 2018

IMPORTANT—PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS OF SERVICE (REFERENCED HEREIN AS “TOS”) BEFORE OR WHEN USING THE PLEX WEBSITE, A PLEX SOFTWARE, MOBILE, OR WEB APPLICATION(S), OR ANY RELATED PLEX SERVICE(S) (referenced collectively herein as the “Plex Solution”). PLEX GmbH (“Plex”) IS WILLING TO LICENSE AND PERMIT USE OF THE PLEX SOLUTION SUBJECT AT ALL TIMES TO AGREEMENT WITH THIS TOS. BY USING OR OTHERWISE ACCESSING THE PLEX SOLUTION, YOU ACCEPT AND AGREE TO THIS TOS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THIS TOS, DO NOT USE THE PLEX SOLUTION.

LICENSE.
1. 1.1. Plex Solution Overview. For more information regarding the currently available Plex Solution, please click here. The Plex Solution is provided pursuant to this TOS to individual persons (and not entities) residing in the countries or regions where Plex makes available its products and services.
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INDEMNIFICATION. You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold Plex (and its affiliated companies, contractors, employees, agents, and suppliers and partners) harmless from any and all claims, suits, actions, liabilities, losses, costs, damages, expenses, and any other liabilities, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, arising out of or related in any manner to your breach or alleged breach of this TOS, your Interfacing Software, or for any violation or alleged violation of the rights (including, without limitation, patents, copyrights, or trademark rights) of any other person or entity by your User Content.
ARBITRATION. You agree that all disputes between you and Plex (whether or not such dispute involves a third party) with regard to your relationship with Plex, including, without limitation, disputes related to this TOS, your use of the Plex Solution, and/or rights of privacy and/or publicity, will be resolved by binding, individual arbitration. Without limiting Plex’s right to seek injunctive or other equitable relief (as set forth below), any disputes arising with respect to this TOS between you and Plex (“parties”) shall be referred to an arbitrator affiliated with the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“JAMS”). The arbitrator shall be selected by joint agreement of the parties. In the event the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the initiating party providing the other party with written notice that it plans to seek arbitration, the parties shall each select an arbitrator affiliated with JAMS, which arbitrators shall jointly select a third such arbitrator to resolve the dispute. Arbitration shall be conducted under the rules then prevailing of JAMS/ENDISPUTE Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand for arbitration. The parties specifically incorporate the terms of California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1283.05 with respect to discovery. The arbitrator’s award shall be binding and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitration proceeding shall be carried on and heard in Santa Clara County, California using the English language. In any action or proceeding to enforce rights under this TOS, the prevailing party will be entitled to recover costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees from the other party. You may bring claims only on your own behalf. Neither you nor Plex will participate in a class-wide arbitration for any claims covered by this TOS. This dispute resolution provision will be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act.
GOVERNING LAW. The Plex Solution is controlled and operated by Plex from its offices within the United States. This TOS has been made in and will be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California as applied to agreements entered into and completely performed in the State of California. You access and use the Plex Solution on your own volition and are responsible for compliance with all applicable laws with respect to your access and use of the Plex Solution. Additionally, Plex’s headquarters are located in the United States. Please be aware that information you provide to Plex, or that Plex obtains as a result of your use of the Plex Solution, may be processed and transferred to the United States and be subject to United States law. Subject to the foregoing arbitration right, any action to enforce this TOS will be brought in the courts presiding in the Superior Court of Santa Clara County and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and all parties to this TOS expressly agree to be subject to the jurisdiction of such courts. You and Plex waive trial by jury. Moreover, you may bring claims only on your own behalf. Neither you nor Plex will participate in a class action or class-wide arbitration for any claims covered by this TOS. You also agree not to participate in claims brought in a private attorney general or representative capacity, or consolidated claims involving another person’s account, if Plex is a party to the proceeding.
COMMUNICATIONS AND NOTICE. Any communication(s) or notice (and any related materials or information) to be sent pursuant to this TOS shall be in the English language and shall be deemed provided: (a) upon receipt if by personal delivery; (b) upon receipt if sent by certified or registered U.S. Mail (return receipt requested); (c) one day after it is sent if by next-day delivery by a major commercial delivery service; or (d) with respect to termination of this TOS or for information applicable generally to end users of the Plex Solution, to the email address designated by you.
EXPORT CONTROL AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE. You represent and warrant that you are not (a) located in a country that is subject to a U.S. Government embargo, or that has been designated by the U.S. Government as a “terrorist supporting” country; and (b) listed on any U.S. Government list of prohibited or restricted parties. You hereby agree that (i) you will comply with all applicable Sanctions and Export Control Laws, (ii) you are solely responsible for ensuring that the Plex Solution is used, disclosed, and/or transported only in accordance with all applicable Sanctions and Export Control Laws, and (iii) you will not re-export or transfer the Plex Solution, in any form, directly or indirectly, to any person or entity based in Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, or North Korea.
ENFORCING SECURITY. You may not use the Plex Solution or any of Plex’s data, systems, network, or services to engage in, foster, or promote illegal, abusive, or irresponsible behavior, including, without limitation, accessing or using Plex data, systems, or networks in an unauthorized manner, attempting to probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of a Plex system or network, circumventing any Plex security or authentication measures, monitoring Plex data or traffic, interfering with any Plex services, collecting or using from the Plex Solution email addresses, screen names, or other identifiers, collecting or using from the Plex Solution information without the consent of the owner or licensor, using any false, misleading, or deceptive TCP-IP packet header information, using the Plex Solution to distribute software or tools that gather information, distributing advertisements, or engaging in conduct that it likely to result in retaliation against Plex or its data, systems, or network. Actual or attempted unauthorized use of the Plex Solution may result in criminal and/or civil prosecution, including, without limitation, punishment under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 under U.S. federal law. Plex reserves the right to view, monitor, and record activity through the Plex Solution without notice or permission from you. Any information obtained by monitoring, reviewing, or recording is subject to review by law enforcement organizations in connection with investigation or prosecution of possible criminal or unlawful activity through the Plex Solution as well as to disclosures required by or under applicable law or related government agency actions. Plex will also comply with all court orders or subpoenas involving requests for such information. In addition to the foregoing, Plex reserves the right to, at any time and without notice, modify, update, suspend, terminate, or interrupt operation of or access to the Plex Solution, or any portion of the Plex Solution in order to protect the Plex Solution or Plex.
INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. You acknowledge that any breach, threatened or actual, of this TOS, including, without limitation, with respect to unauthorized use of Plex proprietary assets, will cause irreparable injury to Plex, such injury would not be quantifiable in monetary damages, and Plex would not have an adequate remedy at law. You therefore agree that Plex shall be entitled, in addition to other available remedies, to seek and be awarded an injunction or other appropriate equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction restraining any breach, threatened or actual, of your obligations under any provision of this TOS. Accordingly, you hereby waive any requirement that Plex post any bond or other security in the event any injunctive or equitable relief is sought by or awarded to Plex to enforce any provision of this TOS.
TERM AND TERMINATION. This TOS will take effect (or re-take effect) at the (and each) time you begin installing, accessing, or using the Plex Solution, WHICHEVER IS EARLIEST, and is effective until terminated as set forth below. Plex reserves the right to terminate this TOS at any time on reasonable grounds, which shall specifically include, without limitation, discontinuation of the Plex Solution (or related services) as an offering of the Plex business, nonpayment, termination of account, fraudulent or unlawful activity, or actions or omissions that violate this TOS, subject to the survival rights of certain provisions identified below. In addition, Plex shall have the right to take appropriate administrative and/or legal action in the event of breach or (alleged) criminal activity, including alerting legal authorities, as it deems necessary in its sole discretion. You may also terminate this TOS at any time by providing Plex with notice of cancellation, but all applicable provisions of this TOS will survive termination, as identified below. You may close your account by clicking here. Upon termination and in accordance with law, your right to access and use the Plex Solution shall cease (regardless of the subscription period) and you must immediately destroy all copies of any aspect of the Plex Solution in your possession. Termination shall result in deactivation or deletion of your account with Plex. The provisions concerning Content, License Grant Restrictions, Proprietary Rights, Permission to Use User Content, Proprietary Rights, Feedback, Confidentiality, Additional Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer of Warranty, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification (for a period of one year after termination), Arbitration, Governing Law, Enforcing Security, Injunctive Relief, Term and Termination, Waiver & Severability, and Entire Agreement will survive the termination of this TOS for any reason. Further, Plex shall not be responsible for any damage that may result or arise out of termination of this TOS.
WAIVER & SEVERABILITY. Failure to insist on strict performance of any of the terms and conditions of this TOS will not operate as a waiver of any subsequent default or failure of performance. No waiver by Plex of any right under this TOS will be deemed to be either a waiver of any other right or provision or a waiver of that same right or provision at any other time. If any part of this TOS is determined to be invalid or unenforceable pursuant to applicable law including, but not limited to, the warranty disclaimers, venue, claim, and liability limitations set forth above, then the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed superseded by a valid, enforceable, provision that most clearly matches the intent of the original provision and the remainder of this TOS shall continue in effect.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT. No joint venture, partnership, employment, or agency relationship exists between you and Plex as a result of this TOS or your utilization of the Plex Solution, and you do not have any authority of any kind to bind Plex in any respect whatsoever. This TOS represents the entire agreement between you and Plex with respect to your individual use of the Plex Solution. This TOS is not assignable, transferable, or sub-licensable by you except with Plex’s prior written consent. Plex may transfer, assign, or delegate this TOS and its rights and obligations without consent. Please note that Plex reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of this TOS and the terms and conditions under which the Plex Solution and its offerings are extended to you by posting online a revised TOS or mailing and/or e-mailing notice thereof to you. In addition, Plex may add, modify, or delete any aspect, program, functionality, or feature of the Plex Solution. Your continued use of the Plex Solution following any addition, modification, or deletion will be conclusively deemed acceptance of any change to the terms and conditions of this TOS. Accordingly, please review this TOS found at this location on a periodic basis.
CONTACT INFORMATION. If you have questions regarding the Plex Solution or if you are interested in obtaining more information concerning Plex or its products, services, or solutions, please contact Plex.

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