Help

Troubleshooting

Fixes for the most common problems with setup, connecting, scanning and playback.

First, look at the server's log: docker logs wrentv on Docker, journalctl -u wrentv on Linux. Start the server with -v (or set WRENTV_DEBUG=1) for more detail.

#Setup

#"Wrong claim code"

The code is printed in the server's log when it starts unclaimed, as claim_code=K7QX-3MPA. Look for the latest one:

bashdocker logs wrentv 2>&1 | grep claim_code | tail -1

It's also saved in wrentv.yaml under auth.supabase.claim_code until the server is claimed.

#"Server is already claimed by another account"

Only the account that claimed the server can claim it again. See claiming with a different account.

#"auth.mode is supabase but auth.supabase.url / publishable_key are not set"

Set both values as shown in First run, then restart.

#Connecting

#My server doesn't appear at watch.wrentv.com

• It must use Wren TV accounts and be claimed with the account you're signed in with (or shared with it).
• It must be running and able to reach the internet. The server list shows Offline with the time it was last seen if heartbeats stopped.

#"This server needs an HTTPS address"

Turn on remote access, or set a public_url. Read why.

#It works at home but not away from home

Open Manage → Settings → Remote access and read the status message:

• "Your router didn't accept an automatic port forward": forward a port by hand and enter it there. See forwarding a port by hand.
• "Port … isn't reachable from the internet": the forward isn't working. Check that it points at the server's current LAN address, and that no firewall on the server blocks it.
• "…shares one public IP between customers (CGNAT)": see CGNAT.

#At home it uses the internet address instead of the local one

• Your router may block DNS answers that point to private addresses. Allow wrentv.net in its DNS rebinding protection. See DNS rebinding protection.
• In Docker with bridge networking, the server advertises the container's internal address. Use network_mode: host, or set WRENTV_LOCAL_URLS.

#Libraries

#Nothing appears after adding a library

• With Docker, use the path inside the container (for example /media/Movies), and check the volume is mounted.
• Check that the server can read the folder. On Linux, the user running Wren TV needs read access to every folder on the way.
• Check the files have a supported extension and aren't in a skipped folder like Extras.

#Titles have no posters

Add a TMDB API key. The status page shows whether one is set.

#A title matched the wrong movie or show

Use Fix match on its page, or add the year or a {tmdb-…} tag to the folder name. See naming your files.

#New files take a while to appear

On network shares and FUSE mounts, filesystem notifications often don't arrive, so the server relies on polling every 30 seconds. Lower scanner.poll_sec, or choose Scan on the library.

#Playback

#It transcodes when I expected direct play

Look at Now playing on the status page while it plays. Common reasons:

• The browser can't decode the video (HEVC or AV1 in a browser without support). Try another browser or an app.
• The screen isn't HDR, so HDR video is tone-mapped.
• The quality setting in the player is lower than the file's bitrate. Set it to Original quality.

#Transcoding is slow or stutters

Check the status page shows a hardware encoder, not libx264. If it shows software, see hardware acceleration and pass the GPU through to Docker.

#Subtitles don't show

Browsers can't show picture-based subtitles (PGS, VobSub). Use an app, or a file with text subtitles. Embedded text subtitles on a slow network drive can take a moment to appear: they're read as the file plays.

#No "Skip Intro" button

The intro is found from chapter names or by comparing episodes in a season. It needs at least two episodes of the season, and the background job may not have reached it yet. See Intro and credits detection.

#A streamed title says "No cached release" or keeps saying "Finding a stream…"

Your debrid service doesn't have a cached release of it yet. Check the key under Settings → Streaming → Check, and try again later. If a title that used to play stops, an admin can choose Find new streams on it. See when a stream stops working.

#Search doesn't show titles that aren't on the server

Streaming is off, has no debrid key, or your account isn't allowed to stream. The owner can check under Settings → Streaming and Users.