iOS: playback stops after 5-10s #750

New Issue

2026-04-24T23:36:40+02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:40 +02:00

Originally created by @andrewmwhite on GitHub (Nov 8, 2023).

Steps to reproduce

Open app
Select audiobook
Touch play button to start playback

Expected behaviour

playback continues indefinitely

Actual behaviour

playback stops after 5-10s
starting a second time seems to proceed as normal
not just paused -- iOS seems to lose the context as well, i.e., the book drops out of "now playing" so can't be resumed with iOS controls or Bluetooth device
definitely happens with local books, I think also with streamed
consistent; happens on every app start AFAICT

Environment data

Audiobookshelf Version:

Android App?
iOS App?

Android Issue

Android version:

Device model:

Stock or customized system:

iOS Issue

iOS Version: 0.9.66-beta

iPhone model: 14 Pro Max

Originally created by @andrewmwhite on GitHub (Nov 8, 2023). ### Steps to reproduce 1. Open app 2. Select audiobook 3. Touch play button to start playback ### Expected behaviour - playback continues indefinitely ### Actual behaviour - playback stops after 5-10s - starting a second time seems to proceed as normal - not just paused -- iOS seems to lose the context as well, i.e., the book drops out of "now playing" so can't be resumed with iOS controls or Bluetooth device - definitely happens with local books, I think also with streamed - consistent; happens on every app start AFAICT ### Environment data Audiobookshelf Version: - [ ] Android App? - [x] iOS App? #### Android Issue Android version: Device model: Stock or customized system: #### iOS Issue iOS Version: 0.9.66-beta iPhone model: 14 Pro Max

adam added the bug label 2026-04-24 23:36:40 +02:00

adam closed this issue

2026-04-24 23:36:40 +02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:41 +02:00

@benonymity commented on GitHub (Nov 9, 2023):

This is related to a bunch of other issues, but is mostly because it takes the app a second to connect to the server, so when you open it and immediately start playing a book, it is still attempting a server connection, and when it succeeds a few seconds later, the app doesn't know how to gracefully transition the existing offline session to being online. The temporary fix is to give the app a few seconds to catch up after you open it before pressing play, but when some other iOS playback bugs get fixed this'll also be resolved

@benonymity commented on GitHub (Nov 9, 2023): This is related to a bunch of other issues, but is mostly because it takes the app a second to connect to the server, so when you open it and immediately start playing a book, it is still attempting a server connection, and when it succeeds a few seconds later, the app doesn't know how to gracefully transition the existing offline session to being online. The temporary fix is to give the app a few seconds to catch up after you open it before pressing play, but when some other iOS playback bugs get fixed this'll also be resolved

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:42 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Nov 11, 2023):

@benonymity I'm trying to reproduce this on v0.9.66 and server v2.5.0 but unable. I added a timeout in the server connection logic to ensure I could start listening before it finishes connecting.

When first launching the app you only see the locally downloaded media. In testing this I'm playing one of the locally downloaded books before the server connection finishes. Once the connection finishes nothing happens with the playback, it carries on like normal.

Is there a step by step I can do to reproduce this issue?

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Nov 11, 2023): @benonymity I'm trying to reproduce this on v0.9.66 and server v2.5.0 but unable. I added a timeout in the server connection logic to ensure I could start listening before it finishes connecting. When first launching the app you only see the locally downloaded media. In testing this I'm playing one of the locally downloaded books before the server connection finishes. Once the connection finishes nothing happens with the playback, it carries on like normal. Is there a step by step I can do to reproduce this issue?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:42 +02:00

@benonymity commented on GitHub (Nov 11, 2023):

@advplyr this is what the issue looks like for me:
https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/assets/62854267/b6a541ac-4a85-461a-bc09-6a070bedee89

@benonymity commented on GitHub (Nov 11, 2023): @advplyr this is what the issue looks like for me: https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/assets/62854267/b6a541ac-4a85-461a-bc09-6a070bedee89

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:43 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Nov 11, 2023):

I'm not sure why I can't reproduce that.
@andrewmwhite Can you confirm that this is what you experiencing?

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Nov 11, 2023): I'm not sure why I can't reproduce that. @andrewmwhite Can you confirm that this is what you experiencing?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:43 +02:00

@benonymity commented on GitHub (Nov 11, 2023):

It could be that I'm 800 miles from my server, so there is a second of delay before it connects. Maybe you can always connect fast enough to avoid the issue?

@benonymity commented on GitHub (Nov 11, 2023): It could be that I'm 800 miles from my server, so there is a second of delay before it connects. Maybe you can always connect fast enough to avoid the issue?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:44 +02:00

@benonymity commented on GitHub (Nov 11, 2023):

It could be that I'm 800 miles from my server, so there is a second of delay before it connects. Maybe you can always connect fast enough to avoid the issue?

@benonymity commented on GitHub (Nov 11, 2023): It could be that I'm 800 miles from my server, so there is a second of delay before it connects. Maybe you can always connect fast enough to avoid the issue?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:44 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Nov 11, 2023):

I added a delay in the code so that the connection takes 10 seconds. Unless this is only happening on production releases.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Nov 11, 2023): I added a delay in the code so that the connection takes 10 seconds. Unless this is only happening on production releases.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:45 +02:00

@andrewmwhite commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023):

Mines a little different, more like 10s. The stops-on-server-connect-or-timeout hypothesis makes some sense to me though. I'll try to pay more attention to whether I let the app connect/timeout first or not. My server isn't internet accessible so it's often not connectable.

I did get a screen recording but it's not uploading... likely bad service where I am right now. Will give it another shot when I have reliable internet again.

@andrewmwhite commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023): Mines a little different, more like 10s. The stops-on-server-connect-or-timeout hypothesis makes some sense to me though. I'll try to pay more attention to whether I let the app connect/timeout first or not. My server isn't internet accessible so it's often not connectable. I did get a screen recording but it's not uploading... likely bad service where I am right now. Will give it another shot when I have reliable internet again.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:46 +02:00

@andrewmwhite commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023):

Mines a little different, more like 10s. The stops-on-server-connect-or-timeout hypothesis makes some sense to me though. I'll try to pay more attention to whether I let the app connect/timeout first or not. My server isn't internet accessible so it's often not connectable.

I did get a screen recording but it's not uploading... likely bad service where I am right now. Will give it another shot when I have reliable internet again.

@andrewmwhite commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023): Mines a little different, more like 10s. The stops-on-server-connect-or-timeout hypothesis makes some sense to me though. I'll try to pay more attention to whether I let the app connect/timeout first or not. My server isn't internet accessible so it's often not connectable. I did get a screen recording but it's not uploading... likely bad service where I am right now. Will give it another shot when I have reliable internet again.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:46 +02:00

@andrewmwhite commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023):

https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/assets/1322614/b5c9ac34-51bb-49f5-a7f4-9837b1aff01f

@andrewmwhite commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023): https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/assets/1322614/b5c9ac34-51bb-49f5-a7f4-9837b1aff01f

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:47 +02:00

@andrewmwhite commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023):

Here I don't start playback until after the connection is established and the library details load, but playback stops after a few seconds.

https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/assets/1322614/eb7199c3-935c-450b-8b63-9cab280de1ea

@andrewmwhite commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023): Here I don't start playback until after the connection is established and the library details load, but playback stops after a few seconds. https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/assets/1322614/eb7199c3-935c-450b-8b63-9cab280de1ea

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:48 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023):

Thanks for sharing the videos. I haven't been able to reproduce the issue so far and I think you are the first to bring up this specific issue.

There is another issue users are having that has to do with pausing the app while it is in the background (phone locked) and the media player closing.

It would be best to try starting with a fresh install of the app where you have no potential database issues. However, since the beta is full right now reinstalling might lose your spot. If there is another way on iOS to clear all app data that would be great.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023): Thanks for sharing the videos. I haven't been able to reproduce the issue so far and I think you are the first to bring up this specific issue. There is another issue users are having that has to do with pausing the app while it is in the background (phone locked) and the media player closing. It would be best to try starting with a fresh install of the app where you have no potential database issues. However, since the beta is full right now reinstalling might lose your spot. If there is another way on iOS to clear all app data that would be great.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:48 +02:00

@benonymity commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023):

I think you can actually just delete the app from your phone and still have it "checked out" in TestFlight, and just redownload it without getting re-added to the beta. I did that a few weeks ago without issues.

@benonymity commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023): I think you can actually just delete the app from your phone and still have it "checked out" in TestFlight, and just redownload it without getting re-added to the beta. I did that a few weeks ago without issues.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:48 +02:00

@andrewmwhite commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023):

I was able to reinstall by deleting the app from the Home Screen then
installing again from TestFlight.

Will update if I notice the issue reoccurring.

Sent from my mobile device; please excuse the brevity, punctuation, and
spelling.

On Sun, Nov 12, 2023 at 9:56 AM Ben Bassett @.***>
wrote:

I think you can actually just delete the app from your phone and still
have it "checked out" in TestFlight, and just redownload it without getting
re-added to the beta. I did that a few weeks ago without issues.

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@andrewmwhite commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2023): I was able to reinstall by deleting the app from the Home Screen then installing again from TestFlight. Will update if I notice the issue reoccurring. Sent from my mobile device; please excuse the brevity, punctuation, and spelling. On Sun, Nov 12, 2023 at 9:56 AM Ben Bassett ***@***.***> wrote: > I think you can actually just delete the app from your phone and still > have it "checked out" in TestFlight, and just redownload it without getting > re-added to the beta. I did that a few weeks ago without issues. > > — > Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub > <https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/issues/933#issuecomment-1807196721> > or unsubscribe > <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-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ou are receiving this email because you authored the thread. > > Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS > <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> > or Android > <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub> > . > >

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:49 +02:00

@gh0sti commented on GitHub (Nov 13, 2023):

I think you can actually just delete the app from your phone and still have it "checked out" in TestFlight, and just redownload it without getting re-added to the beta. I did that a few weeks ago without issues.

Once you are enrolled in a testflight beta you can delete and reinstall. I am enrolled in serveral apps where I can test from testflight and update to production from app store.

@gh0sti commented on GitHub (Nov 13, 2023): > I think you can actually just delete the app from your phone and still have it "checked out" in TestFlight, and just redownload it without getting re-added to the beta. I did that a few weeks ago without issues. Once you are enrolled in a testflight beta you can delete and reinstall. I am enrolled in serveral apps where I can test from testflight and update to production from app store.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:36:49 +02:00

@andrewmwhite commented on GitHub (Nov 14, 2023):

Seems to be resolved with the reinstall.

@andrewmwhite commented on GitHub (Nov 14, 2023): Seems to be resolved with the reinstall.

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Reference: starred/audiobookshelf-app#750