Decide which introductory media you expect
Emby Cinema Intros can use different kinds of introductory media, including local trailers and custom clips. Begin by identifying the route you intend to use. A missing custom pre-roll and a missing internet trailer can have different prerequisites, so keep one representative movie or episode as the test.
Check that the selected clip is your own or that you have permission to use it. Open the clip independently through an appropriate supported route before making it part of an automated sequence. A broken intro can make the start of the main feature confusing even when the film itself is playable.
Inspect the server’s Cinema Intros configuration
Emby documents Cinema Intros as disabled by default and configured through its dashboard menu. The chosen library content type helps determine whether media is treated as a movie or episode for this feature. Confirm the test item belongs to the intended type rather than assuming every video library triggers the same behavior.
For internet trailers, Emby lists an active Premiere subscription and the Trailer plug-in as requirements. Check the current feature and entitlement information before promising that installing the client alone will supply that route. For local or custom clips, use the documented source and keep the exact folder accessible to the server.
Test a custom route with one known clip
If using custom intro media, enter the real folder path through the supported configuration and run the documented library scan after adding the files. Keep the test set small and the clip names recognizable. Do not add a large collection of unrelated videos before establishing which selection rule applies.
For a codec-related intro, compare the filename rule with the main feature’s actual media information as documented by Emby. A decorative filename does not alter the movie’s codec or guarantee a match. Keep the rule and selected feature together in your notes so an unexpected clip can be traced to the configured input.
Check the receiving app before repeating server changes
Emby apps also have a Cinema Intros control in their playback settings. Inspect it in the client used for the test. A configured server and an app that declines the feature can produce an apparently missing intro without proving the server folder is wrong.
Play the same known item and observe the intro and transition to the main feature as separate results. If no trailer is selected, review filters and watched-state behavior through the current documentation before assuming every source is unavailable. The expected result is an understood pre-roll selection for this client and library, not a guarantee that every trailer service or device is interchangeable.
Questions answered
Can the client prevent intros even when the server is configured?
Yes. Emby documents a client playback setting for Cinema Intros. Inspect it on the app actually used in the test.
Does the internet-trailer route have additional requirements?
Emby lists active Premiere access and the Trailer plug-in for that route. Check the current requirements before configuring it.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.