Fixing The External Player Bug After The 2.9.3 Update

Jul 28, 2025 by ADMIN 54 views

Bug External Player Doesn't Work Anymore After 2.9.3 Update

Hey guys, it looks like some users are experiencing an issue with external players after the 2.9.3 update. Let's dive into what's going on, how to troubleshoot it, and potential solutions.

Understanding the Issue

So, the main problem is that after updating to version 2.9.3, external players are throwing errors when trying to play videos on Android. This is a usability issue, meaning it's affecting how smoothly you can use the app. Users have reported that they were using external players just fine before the update, and now it's broken. This can be super frustrating, especially if you've got your setup dialed in just the way you like it.

When dealing with technical issues, it's crucial to understand the root cause. In this case, the update to version 2.9.3 seems to have disrupted the way external players interact with the application. External players are often used to enhance the viewing experience, providing support for more video formats, codecs, and customization options. When these players fail to launch or function correctly, it significantly impacts the user experience. The error logs and user reports are key pieces of evidence in diagnosing the problem. By analyzing these, developers can identify specific incompatibilities or bugs introduced in the latest update. The process involves not just looking at the error messages, but also understanding the sequence of events leading up to the error, such as the initial video selection, the handoff to the external player, and the player's attempts to stream the content. Moreover, differences in how various external players handle media streams can complicate the matter, necessitating a player-specific approach to troubleshooting. Understanding these dynamics is vital for a swift and effective resolution, ensuring users can return to enjoying their content without interruption. So, to sum it up, the issue at hand is a disruption in the external player's functionality post-update, and understanding the context around this issue is the first step toward fixing it.

Steps to Reproduce

Here’s how you can reproduce the bug:

Try playing a video on your Android device using an external player.
You'll likely encounter an error message or the video simply won't play.

The user who reported this issue was using players like dev.anilbeesetti.nextplayer and com.brouken.player. These players were working fine until the update.

To accurately reproduce a bug, it's important to follow a systematic approach. Start by ensuring that you have the same environment as the user reporting the issue—in this case, the 2.9.3 version of the app on an Android device. The steps to reproduce should be as specific as possible, beginning with launching the app and navigating to the video playback section. Next, select a video known to have issues with external players and attempt to play it using one of the affected players, such as dev.anilbeesetti.nextplayer or com.brouken.player. Document each step meticulously, noting any error messages or unexpected behaviors. If the video fails to play, or an error message appears, record the exact text of the message and the state of the application. This detailed process not only helps confirm the bug but also provides valuable information for developers. For example, knowing that certain players are more prone to the issue helps narrow down the problem. Similarly, if the bug only occurs with specific video formats or codecs, that information becomes crucial. In essence, a precise reproduction process is the cornerstone of effective bug reporting and resolution, ensuring that the development team has all the necessary information to diagnose and fix the problem. So, follow these steps closely to help the developers squash this bug!

Expected Behavior

What should happen? Videos should play smoothly using external players, just like they did before the update. The goal is to get back to that seamless playback experience.

The expected behavior is the benchmark against which the actual behavior is compared when debugging software. In this scenario, the user anticipates that videos should play without issues using their preferred external players, similar to the pre-update experience. This expectation stems from the established functionality of previous versions, where the app correctly interfaced with external players to stream video content. When defining expected behavior, it's important to consider all aspects of the interaction, including the initiation of playback, the smooth transition to the external player, and the absence of error messages or crashes. The external player should launch seamlessly, load the video stream, and allow the user to control playback without any disruptions. Any deviation from this expected flow, such as a failure to launch the player, error messages related to file access or codec incompatibility, or unexpected crashes, indicates a problem. Understanding the expected behavior also helps in diagnosing the root cause. For example, if the app correctly hands off the video URL to the external player but playback fails, the issue might lie with the player's compatibility with the video format or an internal error within the player itself. Thus, clearly articulating the expected behavior serves as a critical guide for developers in their troubleshooting efforts, ensuring they have a clear target to aim for when resolving the bug.

Analyzing the Logs

The provided logs give us some clues. Let's break them down:

2025-07-27 17:56:35 |INF| debridstream > Stream started

2025-07-27 17:56:35 |TRC| realdebrid > Retrieving stream link fileId=1 torrentId=XUHTKSNY4UYE4

2025-07-27 17:56:35 |TRC| method=POST status=200 uri=/api/v1/debrid/stream/start latency_human=3.1016815s

2025-07-27 17:56:41 |DBG| debridstream > Stream is ready

2025-07-27 17:56:41 |TRC| ws > Sending message payload="{https://sgp1-4.download.real-debrid.com/d/PBHRU66Y7HJIG71/%5BSubsPlease%5D%20Witch%20Watch%20-%2016%20(1080p)%20%5B23BBB53F%5D.mkv 180367 17}" to=72a90017-d7ae-47e5-954b-f7f769bc1823 type=external-player-open-url

2025-07-27 17:56:41 |TRC| playback manager > Starting manual progress tracking

2025-07-27 17:56:41 |TRC| playback manager > Starting manual progress tracking currentProgress=16 episode_number=17 mediaId=180367 totalEpisodes=25

2025-07-27 17:56:41 |TRC| method=POST status=200 uri=/api/v1/playback-manager/manual-tracking/start

The logs show that the stream starts and the link is retrieved from Real-Debrid.
The app attempts to send a message to open the URL in an external player (type=external-player-open-url).
There are no obvious error messages in the log snippet, but the fact that the external player isn't working suggests the issue might be in how the app is communicating with the player or how the player is handling the URL.

Analyzing logs is a crucial step in debugging any software issue, as logs provide a detailed record of the application's activities and any errors encountered. The logs included in the bug report offer valuable insights into the sequence of events leading up to the failure of the external player. For instance, the log snippet shows that the stream initiates successfully, and a link is retrieved from Real-Debrid, indicating that the app can access the video source. The key moment in the log is the message sent to open the URL in an external player (type=external-player-open-url), which suggests that the application is attempting to hand off the video playback to an external player as expected. However, the absence of subsequent logs indicating a successful launch of the external player or any error messages from the player itself points to a potential communication breakdown between the app and the external player. This breakdown could be due to a number of reasons, including changes in the URL format, modifications to the intent structure used to launch the player, or compatibility issues with the specific external players mentioned (dev.anilbeesetti.nextplayer and com.brouken.player). Further analysis might involve looking at logs from the external player itself, if available, or using debugging tools to monitor the communication between the app and the external player. Thus, log analysis is a vital detective tool, helping to narrow down the possible causes and guiding the development team toward a solution.

Possible Solutions and Workarounds

Revert to a previous version: The user asked if it’s possible to revert to a previous version. This might be a temporary solution, but it’s not ideal in the long run. You'd also have to consider the configs.
Check player compatibility: Ensure the external player is compatible with the app version. Sometimes updates can cause compatibility issues.
Reinstall the external player: Try reinstalling the external player to ensure it's properly configured.
Wait for a fix: The developers are likely aware of the issue and working on a fix. Keep an eye out for updates.

When a bug surfaces, finding possible solutions and workarounds is crucial to minimize disruption for users. Reverting to a previous version is a common first thought, especially if the previous version was stable and free from the issue. However, it's important to weigh the trade-offs, as reverting might mean losing newer features or security updates. Checking player compatibility is another vital step. Software updates can sometimes introduce changes that break compatibility with other applications. In this case, ensuring that the external players (dev.anilbeesetti.nextplayer and com.brouken.player) are up-to-date and compatible with the 2.9.3 version of the app is key. Reinstalling the external player can also resolve issues caused by corrupted installations or misconfigurations. This ensures that all necessary files are correctly placed and that the player is properly registered with the system. In some cases, the issue might be complex and require a code-level fix. In such instances, waiting for an official update from the developers is the most reliable long-term solution. While waiting, users can stay informed by monitoring the app's issue tracker, forums, or social media channels for updates on the bug fix progress. Thus, a combination of temporary workarounds and proactive steps ensures that users can continue to enjoy their content while the developers work on a permanent solution.

Is it possible to revert back to a previous version without redoing all my configs?

This is a great question! Reverting to a previous version might solve the immediate issue, but the hassle of redoing all your configurations is a pain. Unfortunately, it often depends on the app's architecture and how it stores configurations. Some apps make it easy to backup and restore settings, while others don't. If you're considering this, check if the app has a backup feature or if there are guides online for your specific app.

Reverting to a previous version is often a tempting solution when encountering a bug, especially if the new version introduces issues that significantly impact usability. However, one of the primary concerns is the potential loss of configurations and settings, which can be a considerable hassle for users. Whether it's possible to revert without losing these settings depends heavily on how the application manages its data. Some applications have built-in features for backing up and restoring configurations, making the reversion process relatively seamless. These features typically allow users to save their settings to a file or cloud service, which can then be restored after reverting to the older version. On the other hand, applications that store configurations in a less accessible manner, such as directly in the file system or in a proprietary format, may not offer such easy options. In these cases, users might need to manually back up and restore configuration files, which requires technical knowledge and can be prone to errors. It's also worth noting that some applications might change the format of their configuration files between versions, making it impossible to directly use settings from a newer version in an older version. Before reverting, it's advisable to check the application's documentation or support resources for guidance on backing up and restoring configurations. Online forums and community discussions can also provide valuable tips and workarounds specific to the application. Thus, while reverting to a previous version can address immediate issues, it's crucial to weigh the potential hassle of configuration loss and explore all available options for a smooth transition.

Staying Updated

Keep an eye on the app's updates and patch notes. The developers are usually quick to address such issues. Also, reporting bugs and providing detailed information (like the user did with logs and steps to reproduce) helps the community and the developers fix problems faster.

Staying informed is key to resolving software issues efficiently. Keeping an eye on app updates and patch notes is crucial, as developers often release updates specifically to address bugs and improve performance. Patch notes typically detail the changes made in an update, including bug fixes, new features, and known issues. By reviewing these notes, users can quickly determine if the update addresses their specific problem. Developers often prioritize bug fixes based on the severity and the number of users affected. Therefore, actively reporting bugs and providing detailed information is invaluable. When reporting a bug, it's essential to include steps to reproduce the issue, the expected behavior, the actual behavior observed, and any relevant error messages or log snippets. The more detailed the report, the easier it is for developers to understand and fix the problem. Furthermore, engaging with the app's community, such as forums or social media channels, can provide additional insights and workarounds from other users who may have encountered the same issue. Community discussions can also help clarify whether the issue is widespread or specific to certain configurations or devices. Thus, proactive engagement, including monitoring updates, reporting bugs with detailed information, and participating in community discussions, plays a vital role in ensuring a smooth and efficient resolution to software issues.

Conclusion

External player issues after updates can be a pain, but with clear steps to reproduce, log analysis, and a bit of patience, we can usually find a solution. Keep an eye out for updates and don't hesitate to report any bugs you encounter!

Bug, External Player, 2.9.3 Update, Android, Video Playback, Error, Fix, Seanime, 5rahim