[Bug] Crash when trying to play video

[SproutTheBrawler22]

Checklist

• I make sure that the issue is NOT a duplicate of pinned issues
• I make sure I am using the LATEST version - check here
• I understand that issues with limited impact, such as those occurring on specific devices or under specific network conditions, will not be fixed
• I have attached the error report in the issue

Describe the bug

When trying to open a video, the app crashes

Version

5.2.3

Frequency

Rarely (10-30% of the time)

Device

Samsung A55 5G - Android 16

Steps to reproduce the bug

1. Open any video
2. App crashes

Additional context

{"user_action":"ui error","request":"ACRA report","content_language":"en-US","content_country":"US","app_language":"en_US","service":"none","endpoint":"tv_downgraded","package":"InfinityLoop1309.NewPipeEnhanced","version":"5.2.3","os":"Linux samsung/a55xnsxx/a55x:16/BP4A.251205.006/A556EXXUEDZE4:user/release-keys 16 - 36","time":"2026-07-19 01:04","exceptions":["java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start service org.schabi.newpipe.player.PlayerService@aabafff with null\n\tat android.app.ActivityThread.handleServiceArgs(ActivityThread.java:6469)\n\tat android.app.ActivityThread.-$$Nest$mhandleServiceArgs(ActivityThread.java:0)\n\tat android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:3111)\n\tat android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:132)\n\tat android.os.Looper.dispatchMessage(Looper.java:358)\n\tat android.os.Looper.loopOnce(Looper.java:288)\n\tat android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:392)\n\tat android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:10346)\n\tat java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)\n\tat com.android.internal.os.RuntimeInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(RuntimeInit.java:638)\n\tat com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:972)\nCaused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'java.lang.String android.content.Intent.getAction()' on a null object reference\n\tat org.schabi.newpipe.player.PlayerService.onStartCommand(r8-map-id-939258e15a66f5b757d7c1ed12dbbb0ab6b5c8b84818fe7f60938e92dff4d77b:1)\n\tat android.app.ActivityThread.handleServiceArgs(ActivityThread.java:6453)\n\t... 10 more\n"],"user_comment":""}

[userse31]

Idk if it's worth anything, but on an old Samsung SM-A600A I have I'll sometimes notice artifacts and the phone will crash when playing videos via newpipe/pipepipe.

Infact it seems like it's causing a weird hardware bug as it'll cause audio playback on videos to fail outside of the app.