Failed to perform the action `media_player.play_media`: `miniaudio.DecodeError: ('failed to init decoder', -1)`

[frankenstein443]

The problem

Hi since the last Update no HomePod is playing any Local audiofile?

Logger: homeassistant.components.automation.podcasts
Source: components/automation/__init__.py:868
integration: Automation ([documentation](https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/automation), [issues](https://github.com/home-assistant/core/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3A%22integration%3A+automation%22))
First occurred: 10:15:16 PM (2 occurrences)
Last logged: 10:36:31 PM

While executing automation automation.podcasts
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/components/automation/__init__.py", line 868, in async_trigger
    return await self.action_script.async_run(
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
        variables, trigger_context, started_action
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    )
    ^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 1865, in async_run
    return await asyncio.shield(create_eager_task(run.async_run()))
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 467, in async_run
    await self._async_step(log_exceptions=False)
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 533, in _async_step
    self._handle_exception(
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
        ex, continue_on_error, self._log_exceptions or log_exceptions
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    )
    ^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 563, in _handle_exception
    raise exception
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 531, in _async_step
    await getattr(self, handler)()
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 734, in _async_step_choose
    await self._async_run_script(script)
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 643, in _async_run_script
    result = await self._async_run_long_action(
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    ...<6 lines>...
    )
    ^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 631, in _async_run_long_action
    return await long_task
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 1865, in async_run
    return await asyncio.shield(create_eager_task(run.async_run()))
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 467, in async_run
    await self._async_step(log_exceptions=False)
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 533, in _async_step
    self._handle_exception(
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
        ex, continue_on_error, self._log_exceptions or log_exceptions
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    )
    ^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 563, in _handle_exception
    raise exception
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 531, in _async_step
    await getattr(self, handler)()
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 1018, in _async_step_call_service
    response_data = await self._async_run_long_action(
                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    ...<9 lines>...
    )
    ^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/script.py", line 631, in _async_run_long_action
    return await long_task
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/core.py", line 2817, in async_call
    response_data = await coro
                    ^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/core.py", line 2860, in _execute_service
    return await target(service_call)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/service.py", line 834, in entity_service_call
    single_response = await _handle_entity_call(
                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
        hass, entity, func, data, call.context
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    )
    ^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/service.py", line 906, in _handle_entity_call
    result = await task
             ^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/components/apple_tv/media_player.py", line 357, in async_play_media
    await self.atv.stream.stream_file(media_id)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.14/site-packages/pyatv/core/facade.py", line 390, in stream_file
    await self.relay("stream_file")(
    ...<4 lines>...
    )
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.14/site-packages/pyatv/protocols/raop/__init__.py", line 363, in stream_file
    audio_file = await open_source(
                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    ...<4 lines>...
    )
    ^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.14/site-packages/pyatv/protocols/raop/audio_source.py", line 730, in open_source
    return await InternetSource.open(source, sample_rate, channels, sample_size)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.14/site-packages/pyatv/protocols/raop/audio_source.py", line 598, in open
    stream_generator = await loop.run_in_executor(
                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    ...<9 lines>...
    )
    ^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.14/concurrent/futures/thread.py", line 86, in run
    result = ctx.run(self.task)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.14/concurrent/futures/thread.py", line 73, in run
    return fn(*args, **kwargs)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.14/site-packages/miniaudio.py", line 1658, in stream_any
    raise DecodeError("failed to init decoder", result)
miniaudio.DecodeError: ('failed to init decoder', -1)

What version of Home Assistant Core has the issue?

2026.4.4

What was the last working version of Home Assistant Core?

2026.4.3

What type of installation are you running?

Home Assistant OS

Integration causing the issue

Apple TV (library pyatv)

Link to integration documentation on our website

https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/apple_tv/

Diagnostics information

No response

Example YAML snippet

Anything in the logs that might be useful for us?

Additional information

No response

[home-assistant]

Hey there @postlund, mind taking a look at this issue as it has been labeled with an integration (apple_tv) you are listed as a code owner for? Thanks!

Code owner commands

Code owners of apple_tv can trigger bot actions by commenting:

• @home-assistant close Closes the issue.
• @home-assistant rename Awesome new title Renames the issue.
• @home-assistant reopen Reopen the issue.
• @home-assistant unassign apple_tv Removes the current integration label and assignees on the issue, add the integration domain after the command.
• @home-assistant add-label needs-more-information Add a label (needs-more-information, problem in dependency, problem in custom component, problem in config, problem in device, feature-request) to the issue.
• @home-assistant remove-label needs-more-information Remove a label (needs-more-information, problem in dependency, problem in custom component, problem in config, problem in device, feature-request) on the issue.

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---

@frankenstein443 Thanks for reporting this issue!

Before we dive in, please make sure this isn't a duplicate by searching through existing issues. Also check recently closed issues, as your problem might already be fixed but not yet released.

https://github.com/home-assistant/core/issues?q=%20label%3A%22integration%3A%20apple_tv%22%20
_{^{(message by IssueContext)}}

---

apple_tv documentation
apple_tv source
_{^{(message by IssueLinks)}}

[glain42]

I can confirm the problem with the integration. Playing messages with TTS works, playing local media with shows the same symptom. Googeling showed a similar problem 2 years ago which was then closed due to inactivity: #123176

Maybe a regression ?

[frankenstein443]

I just try to downgrade to 2026.4.3 and it works perfectly!

Just fyi

[Jupiter0ne]

Can confirm same issue and restoring from backup (to 2026.4.3) restored functionality.

[nenadmilano]

Can confirm, same issue here.

[halk1982]

same to me.

[thezjo]

Same here, can't play MP3 and other formats to homepod (apple_tv) reinstalled apple TV, reset Homepod and changed MP3 file parameters did not solve the problem, error message is: Actie media_player/play_media kon niet worden uitgevoerd. ('failed to init decoder', -1)

[mayura-v]

Experiencing the same issue, interestingly some of my mp3 files do work but most don't.

I've tried isolating what's different about these mp3s but haven't been able to determine what makes one work and the others throw that error.

[zyi840449]

I encountered the same bug.

[Kroezer95]

Same here. Seems to be a character limit in tts.speak. But the older tts.say seems to work fine. EDIT: correction, TTS.say is also failing with the same 'failed to init decoder', -1. Works on short messages, but longer ones fail. Interesting that Dev tools > actions > TTS.speak and TTS.say work great, but not in an automation. Also, TTS.say will work with longer phrases in an automation with running that individual action, but TTS.speak will not. I'm screwed as I made a ton of changes to my 2026.4.4 before I realized this issue, so I can't restore 2026.4.3 :(

[sdtaheri]

Same here. Weirdly, some random mp3 or m4a (aac) files can be played but most won't. After a bunch of restarts, I got a similar error: Failed to perform the action media_player/play_media. ('failed to init decoder', -17)

It's now -17 instead of -1. The result is the same. Can't play to HomePod.

[Kroezer95]

Interesting development. The longer TTS Phrases that did fail now sporadically will play to the HomePod. About 50% of the time. No rhyme or reason why or why not.

[kwiksilver]

Also seeing this after updating to 2026.4.4

I was on 2026.4.1 previously and had no issues with this. Downgrading back to 2026.4.1 fixed it for me.

[jwaters23]

Same issue here