[Bug]: Downloaded book in Android client - mobile data still being used extensively while listening #223

New Issue

2026-04-24T23:13:29+02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:13:29 +02:00

Originally created by @Kybeer on GitHub (Jul 7, 2022).

Describe the issue

Hello,

First, thanks for the continuous improvement on Audiobookshelf!

I have Audiobookshelf server v. 2.0.23 running in a container (Podman). I'm using it exclusively with Android client 0.9.49-beta.

I always keep the audiobook I currently listen to download:ed to the phone.

It means the book is listed in the "local" on the main screen of the app. And when playing the book, it says "local" in green letters in the top.

The problem I have is the app is using a lof of mobile data traffic, despite the book being downloaded. We're talking several MBs over 5-10 mintues of listening. 100:s of MB with extensive listening. It's depending on the book size I assume.

In other words, it's like the book is not being played locally, but over the internet/mobile data.

This is not happening at home, when I'm on my local network (phone on wifi). It's happening when I'm out of home.
I'm reaching my Audiobookshelf server over VPN when not at home.

The server log also show local for my users' playback (as opposed to direct play):

Steps to reproduce the issue

Download the book in the Android app.
Leave my home or disconnect from wifi (so I loose connectivity to the server)
Connect to my VPN (so I have connectivity to the server)
Listen to the book
Observe "mobile data usage" for Audiobookshelf app in Android.

Audiobookshelf version

2.0.23

How are you running audiobookshelf?

Docker

Originally created by @Kybeer on GitHub (Jul 7, 2022). ### Describe the issue Hello, First, thanks for the continuous improvement on Audiobookshelf! I have Audiobookshelf server v. 2.0.23 running in a container (Podman). I'm using it exclusively with Android client 0.9.49-beta. I always keep the audiobook I currently listen to download:ed to the phone. It means the book is listed in the "local" on the main screen of the app. And when playing the book, it says "local" in green letters in the top. The problem I have is the app is using a lof of mobile data traffic, despite the book being downloaded. We're talking several MBs over 5-10 mintues of listening. 100:s of MB with extensive listening. It's depending on the book size I assume. In other words, it's like the book is not being played locally, but over the internet/mobile data. This is not happening at home, when I'm on my local network (phone on wifi). It's happening when I'm out of home. I'm reaching my Audiobookshelf server over VPN when not at home. The server log also show local for my users' playback (as opposed to direct play): ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/57593336/177795810-b448aab0-389e-4c67-9a7d-131d235ed90e.png) ### Steps to reproduce the issue 1. Download the book in the Android app. 2. Leave my home or disconnect from wifi (so I loose connectivity to the server) 3. Connect to my VPN (so I have connectivity to the server) 4. Listen to the book 5. Observe "mobile data usage" for Audiobookshelf app in Android. ### Audiobookshelf version 2.0.23 ### How are you running audiobookshelf? Docker

adam added the bug label 2026-04-24 23:13:29 +02:00

adam closed this issue

2026-04-24 23:13:29 +02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:13:31 +02:00

@Kybeer commented on GitHub (Jul 8, 2022):

Android Audiobookshelf got updated to 0.9.51-beta yesterday. It still have the same issue.

Today, on 4g/mobile data, while listening to a downloaded book, I checked the traffic in my VPN app on Android

(I use VPN to reach my server at home)

The amount of Rx+Tx MB over the VPN keeps ticking up really fast - indicating the book is being streamed from my server - not read from the local file.

What's even more strange is that the TX uptick in the VPN app increased faster than RX.

Is Audiobookshelf transmit:ing a lot of metadata back to the server while in playback...?

There's no other traffic over the VPN app. If I pause the playback, the uptick stops.

@Kybeer commented on GitHub (Jul 8, 2022): Android Audiobookshelf got updated to 0.9.51-beta yesterday. It still have the same issue. Today, on 4g/mobile data, while listening to a downloaded book, I checked the traffic in my VPN app on Android (I use VPN to reach my server at home) The amount of Rx+Tx MB over the VPN keeps ticking up really fast - indicating the book is being streamed from my server - not read from the local file. What's even more strange is that the TX uptick in the VPN app increased faster than RX. Is Audiobookshelf transmit:ing a lot of metadata back to the server while in playback...? There's no other traffic over the VPN app. If I pause the playback, the uptick stops.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:13:31 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Jul 8, 2022):

This is a duplicate of https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/issues/238

I spent yesterday evening testing this thoroughly and found some things so I'm going to post an update in that thread. I appreciate your thoroughness, it will be helpful to have your feedback and testing for the next release.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Jul 8, 2022): This is a duplicate of https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/issues/238 I spent yesterday evening testing this thoroughly and found some things so I'm going to post an update in that thread. I appreciate your thoroughness, it will be helpful to have your feedback and testing for the next release.

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Reference: starred/audiobookshelf-app#223