Remote-access Guide

is remote access safe for plex

by Allison Schultz Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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While remote access is generally headache free, sometimes you run into a hiccup or two. If you enable remote access to your Plex Media Server and see an error message like “Not available outside your network”, then you have a little trouble shooting to do.

Full Answer

How do I remote access my Plex server?

Remote Access. 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.

Why is my Plex server not available outside my network?

If you enable remote access to your Plex Media Server and see an error message like “Not available outside your network”, then you have a little trouble shooting to do. It’s important to note that the Plex Media Server can still reach the internet (the server is signed in), but the Plex system can’t access your Plex server from the outside.

How secure is Plex?

IMO, you are already pretty secure what plex natively provides. You can set the "secure connections" to "required" but then you will not be able to access the server with an IP address in your own network.

Should I give Plex read-only access to my media?

If you give Plex read-only access to your media, the only things you lose are DVR capabilities, the ability to delete media from within Plex, and I think the ability to upload Photos from mobile devices depending on where the Photo storage library resides.

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Is it safe to enable Plex remote access?

It provides all-round security to ensure that your media library, Plex account/server details, and Plex-connected devices for streaming are all kept safe from data leaks, privacy infringement, and hacking attempts.

What does Plex remote access do?

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.

Is Plex a security risk?

UPDATED Security researchers uncovered vulnerabilities in Plex that created a means for attackers to compromise devices or access private video or picture files on a vulnerable server.

Can Plex server be hacked?

"Plex's startup processes unintentionally expose a Plex UPnP-enabled service registration responder to the general Internet, where it can be abused to generate reflection/amplification DDoS attacks," Netscout researchers said in a Thursday alert.

Is Plex remote access free?

All of our non-mobile, public apps are free (with the exception of Plex Labs apps). These include Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Plex HTPC, Roku, Smart TVs, Windows & macOS computers and game consoles (PlayStation and Xbox).

What port should I use for Plex remote access?

WAN/External Port: Port 32400 (TCP) is default, but you can generally use any available port in the 20,000 to 50,000 range. LAN/Internal Port: This will always be 32400. IP Address: The local IP Address of the computer running the Plex Media Server.

Should I use a VPN when using Plex?

If you're experiencing slow speeds when trying to stream your Plex videos, you could be a victim of ISP throttling. This can be avoided with a VPN for Plex as it safeguards all the data you send across the Internet using AES 256-bit encryption.

Is Plex server private?

Because what's on Plex servers is populated by people, most of the commercial content you'd find there is probably pirated. And this is the main tension of using Plex: while the software itself is explicitly legal, the media that populates its customer-run servers is not — at least the stuff protected by copyright law.

How do I secure my connection to the server?

Secure Server ConnectivityEstablish and Use a Secure Connection. ... Use SSH Keys Authentication. ... Secure File Transfer Protocol. ... Secure Sockets Layer Certificates. ... Use Private Networks and VPNs. ... Monitor Login Attempts. ... Manage Users. ... Establish Password Requirements.More items...•

How do I get the most out of Plex?

12 Plex Tricks and Tips You Really Need to KnowConsider Enabling the DLNA Server. ... Bilingual Movie Libraries. ... Watch Live TV for Free. ... Use the Plex File-Naming Scheme. ... Create Multiple Plex Servers. ... Focus on CPU for the Best Plex Experience. ... Cut the Cord, Buy the Plex Pass. ... Pre-Encode All Of Your Media.More items...•

How do I access someone else's 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 server 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.

Can I share my Plex library?

Enter the username or email address of the person you want to share your library with, and click on the user when it pops up. In the next window, choose which libraries you share with others. To share all of them, select your server and click Save. Or select only the libraries you want to share, then click Save.

What does Plex premium give you?

For example, Plex Pass subscribers get Premium Photos and Music options, including auto-tagging and automatic lyrics, support for Live TV via an antenna and tuner, and offline mobile syncing. Plex Pass also features multiuser support, a Timeline organizational view, and early access to new Plex features.

What to do if remote access is disabled?

If Remote Access is currently disabled, then use the Enable Remote Access button to trigger your server to try to configure a connection. The server will attempt to automatically configure a connection through your router using UPnP or NAT-PMP first.

What port do you forward plex media server to?

If you are manually forwarding a port, set that forward up beforehand and make sure you know the external port number which you are forwarding (remember that you need to forward the external port you choose to internal port 32400 for the internal IP address of the device running Plex Media Server)

Does Plex Media Server allow remote access?

The information displayed by default will depend on the current state of the Plex Media Server. Unless disabled, your Plex Media Server will attempt to set up Remote Access for you.

Does Plex Media Server require a Plex Pass?

Tip!: This feature requires an active Plex Pass subscription for the Plex Media Server admin Plex account.

Why use a VPN for Plex?

A VPN is a useful way to protect your online security and safety. If you already use a VPN for streaming, or wish to use one alongside Plex, it can add an extra layer of privacy to your Plex server and account. It might also help prevent possible problems encountered while streaming, such as bandwidth throttling (which can cause buffering).

What is plex server?

Plex has become a popular server and software choice for anyone who wants to easily organize, stream, and share their media libraries - including their favorite movies and music. Plex Media Server can be installed on your main desktop, enabling you to manage all your media in one place and then stream it on as many platforms ...

Why is there a green lock on Plex?

Furthermore, on the Plex app interface, the green lock icon is easily visible to signify that your server, media library and currently used device all have secure connections.

Does Plex have SSL certificates?

Since 2015, Plex has provided all its users with free SSL certificates for their Plex media servers.

Is Plex a security system?

For Plex, security really does appear to be a top priority. It provides all-round security to ensure that your media library, Plex account/server details, and Plex-connected devices for streaming are all kept safe from data leaks, privacy infringement, and hacking attempts. It also provides security measures to ensure you can share your media ...

Can you share media on Plex?

Plex enables you to share media with friends and family. With your permission, other people can browse and stream the media on your Plex server.

Is Plex streaming secure and safe to use?

For Plex, security really does appear to be a top priority. It provides all-round security to ensure that your media library, Plex account/server details, and Plex-connected devices for streaming are all kept safe from data leaks, privacy infringement, and hacking attempts. It also provides security measures to ensure you can share your media library safely with friends and family.

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.

Can I use a default port on a plex server?

Yes, I used the default port, and I've had it set up with forwarding for several years. I have a dedicated plex server VM that is set up with read only access and no access to any other files on the network, no other major security measures. I assigned that metadata SSD as a file store directly to the VM within ESXi - the Windows VM sees it as as a second drive.

Can you log into Plex to track licenses?

Since most people don't have static IPs on their internet conection and can't be bothered to set up DDNS, and Plex wants the ability to track how their product used and to track licences, you log into your Plex account on their server when you use Plex.

How to check if Plex is disabled?

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.

What does the control panel indicate on Plex?

In addition to telling you that the server is accessible, the control panel will also indicate the internal IP address and port number of the Plex Media Server on your local network as well as external, or public, IP address and port number.

How to set up static IP address on Plex?

You’ll need to identify your Plex Media Server computer on the network and then look for an option in your router to create a “static IP”, “static lease”, or “DHCP reservation” to permanently associate the Plex Media Center with a given IP address. Below you can see an example of what adding a static IP address looks like, via our DD-WRT router.

How to port forward on Plex?

First, let’s turn on the manual port mode in Plex. To do so navigate to Settings > Server > Remote Access (as we did in the previous section of the tutorial).

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)

Can you watch Plex on your phone?

One of the greatest things about the Plex Media Server platform, however, is the ease with which you can access your media from anywhere. With remote access enabled and properly configured, you can watch your favorite TV shows anywhere you have internet access: on your phone while you’re sitting in a waiting room, on your laptop while you’re vacationing, or even on a smart TV at a friend’s house.

Can you disable remote access on Plex?

During the initial setup of the Plex Media Server, the setup wizard prompts you to enable or disable remote access. While the default state is enabled, you may have opted at the time to disable remote access, or perhaps you inadvertently disabled it while messing around with the system settings later on. Regardless, it’s easy enough to check the status of remote access and enable it if it is currently disabled.

Why use a VPN for Plex?

A VPN is a useful way to protect your online security and safety. If you already use a VPN for streaming, or wish to use one alongside Plex, it can add an extra layer of privacy to your Plex server and account. It might also help prevent possible problems encountered while streaming, such as bandwidth throttling (which can cause buffering).

What is plex server?

Plex has become a popular server and software choice for anyone who wants to easily organize, stream, and share their media libraries - including their favorite movies and music. Plex Media Server can be installed on your main desktop, enabling you to manage all your media in one place and then stream it on as many platforms ...

Why is there a green lock on Plex?

Furthermore, on the Plex app interface, the green lock icon is easily visible to signify that your server, media library and currently used device all have secure connections.

Is Plex a security system?

For Plex, security really does appear to be a top priority. It provides all-round security to ensure that your media library, Plex account/server details, and Plex-connected devices for streaming are all kept safe from data leaks, privacy infringement, and hacking attempts. It also provides security measures to ensure you can share your media ...

Is Plex streaming secure and safe to use?

For Plex, security really does appear to be a top priority. It provides all-round security to ensure that your media library, Plex account/server details, and Plex-connected devices for streaming are all kept safe from data leaks, privacy infringement, and hacking attempts. It also provides security measures to ensure you can share your media library safely with friends and family.

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