advancedsettings.xml and seeking

On large files, whether you get full seeking depends on one Kodi setting: the in-memory cache size. This page explains why, and how to set it.

Why it matters

NZB-DAV's default serving mode for large non-MP4 files is direct pass-through, which offers native HTTP range seeking. But on 32-bit Kodi builds — which includes many CoreELEC/Amlogic devices — Kodi's file-cache layer has a signed 32-bit offset bug. When a file's advertised size is large (roughly above 4 GB), seeking through that cache miscalculates offsets and playback fails.

There are two ways around this:

• Turn off Kodi's memory cache by setting <cache><memorysize>0</memorysize></cache>. Pass-through then streams with full seeking at any size.
• Leave the cache on and rely on a remux mode, where NZB-DAV hides the true file size behind an unsized stream. This works, but seeking is bounded (a seek respawns the encoder at an approximate keyframe).

Setting the cache to 0 is the better experience for large files, which is why NZB-DAV recommends it.

How to set it

NZB-DAV never edits advancedsettings.xml for you — merging into an existing file could clobber your other settings. You add the entry yourself.

1. Create or edit this file:

   • Standard path: special://profile/advancedsettings.xml
   • On CoreELEC: /storage/.kodi/userdata/advancedsettings.xml

2. Add the following, merging with any existing <advancedsettings> block:

   <advancedsettings>
     <cache>
       <memorysize>0</memorysize>
     </cache>
   </advancedsettings>
   

3. Restart Kodi for the change to take effect.

Merge — don't overwrite

If you already have an <advancedsettings> file, add the <cache> element inside the existing <advancedsettings> root rather than replacing the file.

The in-app prompt

The first time NZB-DAV actually needs a remux tier for a large file — the moment this setting would make a difference — it shows a dialog explaining that the file could stream in full-seek pass-through if the cache were set to 0. The dialog offers three choices:

Choice	Effect
Show instructions	Opens a viewer with the exact XML snippet and file path above.
Not now	Dismisses for this session; you may see it again next session.
Never ask	Permanently stops the prompt.

The prompt appears only when a remux was actually selected, the cache isn't already 0, and you haven't dismissed it permanently — so it won't nag you.

Verifying

After restarting Kodi, play a large title again. If it streams in pass-through with a working seek bar, the change took effect. NZB-DAV detects the setting by reading (never writing) your advancedsettings.xml.