Plex Automatic Throttler
This workflow achieves intelligent control of download speed in qBittorrent by automatically monitoring the playback status of the Plex media player. When a user is watching a video, the system automatically reduces the download speed to ensure smooth playback; it restores the normal download speed when the video is paused or stopped. This intelligent bandwidth management addresses bandwidth conflict issues in home networks and enhances the online viewing experience, making it especially suitable for users who need to download and watch media simultaneously.
Workflow Name
Plex Automatic Throttler
Key Features and Highlights
This workflow implements automatic download speed throttling based on the playback status of Plex media. By monitoring Plex player events such as play, pause, and stop, it intelligently switches the bandwidth throttling state of qBittorrent. When media is playing, download speeds are limited to ensure smooth playback; when playback is paused or stopped, download speeds are restored to normal, preventing download tasks from impacting the viewing experience.
Core Problem Addressed
In multitasking home media environments, download tasks often consume significant bandwidth, causing streaming interruptions. This workflow automatically adjusts download speeds to ensure smooth Plex media playback, effectively resolving bandwidth contention issues.
Use Cases
- Home media server users who watch videos via Plex while simultaneously downloading files with qBittorrent
- Scenarios requiring automatic management of download bandwidth to avoid affecting streaming quality
- Environments with multiple devices sharing network resources within a local area network that need intelligent bandwidth allocation
Main Workflow Steps
- Listen for Plex playback status webhooks (media.resume, media.play, media.pause, media.stop)
- Determine if the playback event originates from outside the local network, filtering out local access
- Branch processing based on playback status via a Switch node:
- Trigger throttling when playback starts or resumes
- Restore download speed when playback is paused or stopped
- Authenticate with the qBittorrent API via HTTP request to obtain the authentication cookie
- Query the current qBittorrent throttling status and send API requests to enable or disable throttling accordingly
- Control qBittorrent’s bandwidth throttling toggle to automatically switch download speeds
Involved Systems or Services
- Plex Media Server (receives playback events via webhook)
- qBittorrent download client (controls throttling via API)
- n8n automation platform (nodes include Webhook, HTTP Request, Conditional Logic, Switch, etc.)
Target Users and Value
- Plex users, especially those running private media servers in home or small office environments
- Users needing automatic download bandwidth management to enhance video playback experience
- Tech enthusiasts and system administrators who want to reduce manual bandwidth adjustments and improve network resource utilization through automation
By seamlessly linking Plex playback status with qBittorrent download throttling, this workflow enables intelligent bandwidth management, significantly enhancing media playback smoothness and overall user experience.