how to enable plex remote access

by Harry Lehner Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Full Answer

How do you setup Plex?

Setting Up and Installing the Plex Media Server

Choosing a Server—the Server Requirements. Plex Media Server can run on Windows, Mac, or Linux computers—some people use their every-day computer, others have a dedicated computer.
Plex Media Server Performance Considerations. ...
Downloading the Plex Media Server. ...
Installing and Running the Plex Media Server. ...

Do I need a VPN for Plex remote access?

· 4y You shouldn't need a VPN to share via Plex, assuming you are sending the content over SSL which is the vast majority of use cases. Just to speak generally, if you were to send data to someone over the VPN it would be the people on the other end receiving the data in an unencrypted format.

How to access Your Plex library from a remote computer?

Set a static IP address on your Plex server
Enable remote access in the Plex web console
Take note of the IP address and port (32400) that the Plex server uses
Enable forwarding on your router to the appropriate IP address and port
Access your Plex server through the correct public IP address and port number

How do you enable remote desktop access?

To enable remote connections on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open Control Panel.
Click on System and Security.
Under the “System” section, click the Allow remote access option ...
Click the Remote tab.
Under the “Remote Desktop” section, check the Allow remote connections to this computer option.

How do I enable remote access Plex?

Enable access to your Plex Media Server from outside your local network so that you can reach it when away from home or for sharing content with family or close, personal friends. You can do this under Settings > Server > Remote Access in Plex Web App.

How do I add remote users to Plex?

Creating Managed AccountsSelect the Add User option.Enter the admin's account PIN (if it has one)Choose a name and rating profile.Select which libraries to share, if you have a Plex Media Server.Admins that have a Plex Pass can select Download and Live TV & DVR options.

How do I grant access to my Plex server?

Granting AccessUsername or Email. Enter the username or email address for the Plex account you wish to grant access and click continue. ... Select the Server. Plex Media Servers associated with your Plex account will be available. ... Set Restrictions and Inviting to Home (Plex Pass required) ... Pending Access.

How do I access Plex from another computer?

To open the Plex Web App from a different device than the server computer while still on the same network: Open a browser window. Type http://server.local.ip.address:32400/web into the address bar (e.g “http://192.168.1.5:32400/web”) The browser will connect to the server and load Plex Web App.

Do you need Plex Pass for remote access?

It's not true. All users can stream remotely providing you've configured your Plex Server correctly. Head to Settings > Remote Access > Enable Remote Access to set it up. In this regard, the Plex Pass is only useful if you're going to be in a place with no internet—it lets you save content directly onto your device.

How many users can access Plex at the same time?

Up to 15 members can be in a Plex Home. For Plex Pass users that includes a combination of both Managed Users as well as regular Plex accounts that are invited.

Can you have multiple users on Plex?

Plex Home Features. Enabling or joining a Plex Home gives you several features. Free Plex accounts may have up to 14 managed users total in your Home (15 total users including the Home Admin account).

How do I use a guest account on Plex?

0:472:43How to Add Plex Guest User Account - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clip4 click the grey enable guest button toward the top part of the screen if you don't have a pinMore4 click the grey enable guest button toward the top part of the screen if you don't have a pin associated with your account you'll be prompted to create one enter a four-digit pin.

Can you share Plex live TV?

You can share "Live TV" with members of your Plex Home, including managed users.

How do I access my media server remotely?

0:3911:14PLEX Part 5: Accessing Your Media Remotely - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd what you want to do is check this area here that says remote access and if you've got this greenMoreAnd what you want to do is check this area here that says remote access and if you've got this green checkmark you're fully accessible outside your network you're in great shape. Ok.

Is Plex remote access safe?

Plex has teamed up with Let's Encrypt to provide our users with high-quality secure certificates for your media servers, at no cost to you. There's no need to set up VPNs and no need to create and install your own certs. You can safely and securely connect to your media no matter where you are.

Why can't I access my Plex server remotely?

Open Plex Web App and make sure you're signed in to your Plex account on the server under Settings > Server > General. Go to Settings > Server > Remote Access. If needed, toggle the Show Advanced button to ensure the appropriate options are visible. Enable the Manually specify public port checkbox.

How does guest work on Plex?

Tip!: The “Guest” account is kind of a specialized Managed User. It can be useful if you want to let someone who comes over use Plex without affecting your regular account(s). A friend who stops by, the babysitter, or similar.

How do I accept a Plex invite?

Click on the “Friends” tab in the left hand menu and then click the green checkmark next to the invitation to accept it.

What happens when you double up a NAT system?

When a NAT system is doubled up with another NAT system, however, it can create issues for apps (like the Plex Media Server) that rely on UPnP to create automatic port forwarding rules. This occurs commonly when you have a router/modem combo supplied by your ISP and your own router plugged into that unit.

How to check if Plex is remote?

While logged into your Plex Media Server’s web control panel, select the Settings icon from the upper right toolbar. Within the Settings menu select, the “Server” tab. Then, from the left hand navigation pane, select “Remote ...

Does Plex automatically handle connection data?

The Plex system automatically handles all the connection data as long as you are logged into the same Plex account on your media server and all your client devices. If you’re having issues, however, don’t worry–in the next section we’ll look at the most common issues and how to solve them.

Can you use Plex Media Server on a TV?

If you primarily use Plex Media Server for watching content on your local network (like streaming your favorite shows to your HDTV or smartphone), you may not have given much though to the benefits of remote access. RELATED: How to Set Up Plex (and Watch Your Movies on Any Device)

Does Plex Media Server work?

Plex Media Server generally works, by the magic of UPnP, right out of the box. But in those rare instances it doesn’t, it’s just a matter of applying a few simple tweaks to get your media server back online. READ NEXT.

Who is Jason Fitzpatrick?

Jason Fitzpatrick is the Editor in Chief of LifeSavvy, How-To Geek's sister site focused life hacks, tips, and tricks. He has over a decade of experience in publishing and has authored thousands of articles at Review Geek, How-To Geek, and Lifehacker.

How to set up a 32400 port?

Click "Server" in the upper right corner of the Settings screen. Click "Remote Access" on the left side of the screen. Click the orange "Enable Remote Access" button on the right side of the screen. Click to place a check mark to the left of Manually Specify Public Port, and then enter "32400.". Click the orange " Retry" button to the right ...

How to set up remote access on Plex?

Now that you've locked in your Plex server's IP address and set up port forwarding, you can configure your remote access settings on your Plex server using the following instructions: Click "Settings" in the Manage section. The Settings screen appears. Click "Server" in the upper right corner of the Settings screen.

How to reserve IP address for Plex?

Here are the instructions for how to reserve an IP address for your Plex server in a Netgear router: Open your Web browser and navigate to routerlogin.com. This is the portal for your Netgear router. Click the "Advanced" tab on the home page, and then click "Setup" beneath WPS Wizard on the left side of the screen.

Can you remotely access Plex Media Server?

Remote access is disabled by default, and if the feature doesn't turn on when you initially enable it, you'll need to configure some settings on your router before you can access content on your Plex Media Server from outside of your home network.

Can you use Plex Media Server from home?

What is Plex

When we talk about Plex we refer to an application that we can install on our devices. Its mission is to allow us to centralize multimedia files in one place. For example movies and series and be able to watch them from another device.

How to configure Plex to enter from the Internet

This function will allow us to connect to our Plex server from anywhere , simply by having access to the Internet. We will not have to pay anything additional and it is an option that undoubtedly expands the possibilities of only limiting ourselves to having access from the local network.

Why access Plex remotely

We have explained how we can access Plex remotely and view all the content. However, you may be wondering what this feature is really for or how it improves to, for example, storing videos directly in a memory.

What is an advanced firewall?

Like mentioned before in the causes, advanced firewalls are notorious for blocking connection streams which are sent by Plex media server and are necessary in order for it to work properly. These advanced firewalls include pfsense or similar products.

What is plex media?

Plex is a client-server media stream and software suite. It has a Plex Media Server desktop application which is available on Windows, Ubuntu, and macOS. This applications allows you to organize different media files in your computer and allows players over the internet to access them if given the correct credentials.

What is NAT used for?

NAT is usually used for sharing an internet connection with more than one computers. It is used in small and large scale alike. If you are manually forwarding port, you might have a conflict of Double-NAT, for example, you have a router plugged into a modem provided to you by your service provider. Here both, the modem and the router are providing NAT services.

What happens if you don't have a stable internet connection?

The same scenario also applies to the requesting computer; if you do not have a stable internet connection, you will not be able to request and stream media efficiently. First, you should check the number of devices running on your network (both the server and requesting computer).

Does Plex update itself?

Normally, Plex’s web application updates itself over time as you use it. The case is different in case of Ubuntu or other platforms where Plex is running. Below is the method on how to update Plex on an Ubuntu machine. You can easily google other methods for updating if you have it running on another platform.

Can you reserve an IP address in a router?

If you prefer to make changes in the router instead of the computer, you can manually reserve an IP in your router. This means that the IP will stay static and there will be no shuffling. Follow the method below to reserve an IP address:

Introduction

I have been running Plex Media Server for quite a few years and enjoy self hosting all of my family’s media files. With self hosting, you do not need to rely on the Internet and cloud services. Being in control of your own data increases privacy.

Plex Authorization

So I began Googling about the issue and after a while I found the solution. When you set up a Plex account, it makes it easy to login to your server locally and remotely. The login experience is seamless regardless of the network you are logging in from. However, there is a tradeoff – it requires an Internet connection.

The Solution

Fortunately, Plex has a setting to allows the network addresses you specify to access Plex without authorization on the “Settings > Network” page. You could enter your entire local network range or just specific network (s) separated by commas in the “List of IP addresses and networks that are allowed without auth” box.