Mi Box S - Netflix app won't play a second episode of a show

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timmmay

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#265385 19-Jan-2020 19:44

When using the Mi Box S we're finding Netflix unreliable. We can always watch a show when we turn it on, but after an episode of a TV show finishes it usually gives us a generic message and won't play another one. I can't remember the error message, but there was noting useful like a diagnosis / error code. I got the impression it couldn't reach Netflix online. If we turn the Mi Box off, then on again, it plays another show no problem.

It used to work perfectly. It stopped working properly about 2-3 months ago. I don't recall any specific incident causing a problem, like an app or OS upgrade, but I might not know if something updated.

Disney+ works perfect. Other apps work fine. It's just Netflix having a problem.

The network it's on uses Pi Hole, with lots of block lists loaded. Netflix works fine on other devices.

Anyone else having a problem? Any suggestions for diagnosis?

ajw

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#2401846 19-Jan-2020 21:26

Have you rung Netflix about the problem.

timmmay

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#2401851 19-Jan-2020 21:34

ajw:
Have you rung Netflix about the problem.

No. Netflix works fine on other devices, so it's a problem with the Mi Box.

ajw

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#2401852 19-Jan-2020 21:37

timmmay:
ajw:

Have you rung Netflix about the problem.

No. Netflix works fine on other devices, so it's a problem with the Mi Box.

I believe that the Mi Box is a licensed device supported by Netflix.

nzkc

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#2401853 19-Jan-2020 21:49

Tried clearing app cache etc? Reinstalling the app?

Not running a VPN/DNS proxy or anything are you? I had the odd strange issue with my Mi Box with a DNS proxy.

Dochart

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#2401856 19-Jan-2020 22:07

Have you installed the latest Mi Box update. If you haven’t don’t the Android 9 update has made my box basically unusable. I’m waiting for a new update to fix the problem. Everything seems laggy

garbonzai

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#2401857 19-Jan-2020 22:13

Just tested Netflix auto play on my Mi box, worked fine.

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timmmay

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#2401908 20-Jan-2020 06:04

Dochart: Have you installed the latest Mi Box update. If you haven’t don’t the Android 9 update has made my box basically unusable. I’m waiting for a new update to fix the problem. Everything seems laggy

Yes, I have. I suspect the problem came up before the Android 9 update, as I remember thinking "ah hopefully that will fix the problem", and I updated the Netflix app at the same time.

Looks like the current update has caused all kinds of problems for people, article here, and a Reddit thread here. A factory reset has worked for some people, but for others it made things worse.

garbonzai: Just tested Netflix auto play on my Mi box, worked fine.

Thanks. What Android / Netflix app version are you using?

robjg63

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#2401970 20-Jan-2020 08:58

nzkc:
Tried clearing app cache etc? Reinstalling the app?

Not running a VPN/DNS proxy or anything are you? I had the odd strange issue with my Mi Box with a DNS proxy.

The above is a good place to start.
Can you try the mi box on a normal connection without the pi-hole intervention and see what happens?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

timmmay

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#2402426 20-Jan-2020 15:00

My router hands out the pi hole as DHCP, but I could disable blocking or temporarily use router DNS. What's odd is everything works except Netflix.

First thing I'll try it reinstalling the app and clearing the cache. I shouldn't done that myself already, duh. I don't really want to do a factory reset, given on that reddit thread people say it's really difficult to get things working again.

Thanks all, I'll post what happens.

robjg63

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#2402436 20-Jan-2020 15:27

Could be some different code in the Netflix app on the mi box that's looking for something you are currently blocking.
They don't seem to write apps that have error handling these days so it could just crash out or sit waiting forever and you would wonder what is going on.

If you look at sites like dns4me they sometimes say certain devices are supported with an unblocked site and another device might not always work. From my playing around, you sometimes find an app on a different platform seems to go looking for different sites/addresses sometimes.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Kiwifruta

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#2402537 20-Jan-2020 16:35

I have Mi Box S with Netflix and DNS4ME too, I'm a Mi Box S Android 9 beta tester. If I remember I'll give it a test tonight.

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garbonzai

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#2402633 20-Jan-2020 18:18

garbonzai: Just tested Netflix auto play on my Mi box, worked fine.

Thanks. What Android / Netflix app version are you using?

Here you go....

Netflix Version 7.1.0 build 3231 com.netflix.ninja

Android 8.1.0

Using Netflix dns

Kiwifruta

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#2402656 20-Jan-2020 19:41

Just tested it on Zumbo’s just desserts and the auto play of the next episode worked.

timmmay

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#2402678 20-Jan-2020 20:00

I've just cleared cache and data, uninstalled updates, installed updates, logged in, and it's working ok again. I have it on a different Ethernet port but that shouldn't make any difference, I have nothing fancy in that way. Maybe it just needed a kick in the butt? Otherwise everything's working ok again. I'll try it in the lounge again tomorrow evening and see how it goes.

Netflix 7.1.0 build 3231, com.netflix.ninja, Android 9 from 5-11-2019.

Thanks for the help all :)

timmmay

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#2437179 12-Mar-2020 21:06

I've run network diagnostics when I have this problem. Netflix can't reach any of the Netflix servers. If I exit Netflix and run Disney plus then Disney works fine, but if I exit Netflix then go back in Netflix doesn't work.

If I unplug my uGreen USB ethernet adapter (model details here) Netflix network diagnostics report it can connect, and it keeps working again.

My conclusion is that the problem is the uGreen USB ethernet adapter is not compatible. I'll try out the Anker again at some point and see if it works better. I'll also try WiFi some more.