If you're able to access the Plex server using a client on the same network but are unable to connect outside, the most likely cause of the problem is the router. Universal Plug and Play (uPnP) can be enabled to allow Plex to "talk" with the router and have ports and routes opened up for access from the outside world.
Full Answer
What is the default remote streaming quality for Plex?
By default, Plex sets the remote streaming quality to 720p, 2Mbps regardless of the original source media file. What this means is that for any media that is higher quality than the default quality will require the Plex server to transcode the movie file before sending it to the client.
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 to enable remote access on Plex Media Server?
If you want to enable remote access on Plex, a specific port needs to be opened on your router to allow the traffic to flow correctly. Most people will not run into issues trying to enable Remote Access with their Plex Media Server.
What is Plex Media Server and why should you use it?
One of the greatest things about the Plex Media Server platform, however, is the ease with which you can access your media from anywhere.
Why is my Plex server so slow?
When your Plex playback keeps buffering and lagging, the first thing is to check if you're on Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Plex will detect the bandwidth automatically. If the internet is not strong enough for the media to work with, and the client has been set up to play maximum, then it will try to cram through whatever huge.
Why can't I access my Plex server remotely?
NAT/UPnP Compatibility: Either NAT or UPnP (depending on your router model) need to be enabled in order for port forwarding to work properly. If these are not enabled or have different configurations set than required, Plex Remote Access will not work.
Does Plex require UPnP?
Plex Media Server generally works, by the magic of UPnP, right out of the box.
How do I speed up my Plex Media Server?
Go back to Settings > Settings > Remote Access and scroll down until you get to Internet upload speed. You can set your internet's maximum speed by populating the next box. Underneath, you can set how much of the maximum capacity Plex is allowed to use. Expand the drop-down menu to make your choice.
How do I improve my Plex remote?
Set the Plex Media Server to use the Port To do so: 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.
How do I fix Plex server connection?
General TroubleshootingEnsure you have the current version of Plex Media Server installed.Ensure that Plex Media Server is actually actively running.Verify that your Server is listed on your Devices page.Disable any VPN on your computer or router.Disable any proxies being used on your computer or router.More items...•
Should I enable DLNA on Plex?
DLNA server timeline reporting Allow playback via DLNA to report timeline activity. This means that the Plex Media Server will track the current progress through the item. This should typically be enabled.
What port should I use for Plex?
TCP: 32400The most important port to make sure your firewall allows is the main TCP port the Plex Media Server uses for communication: TCP: 32400 (access to the Plex Media Server) [required]
Do you need a static IP for Plex server?
A Public Static IP is not needed, largely because the AT&T "dynamic" address changes so infrequently that Plex will have no trouble tracking you down.
Is there something better than Plex?
The best alternative is Emby, which is free. Other great apps like Plex are Jellyfin, Stremio, Universal Media Server and Serviio. Plex alternatives are mainly Media Servers but may also be Media Centers or Music Streaming Services.
Does Plex use a lot of bandwidth?
Plex uses 0.9-1.8 GB of data per hour for low-resolution video streaming and almost 9 GB/hr for a 4k or REMUX file. The amount of data used by plex is affected by the content type and size. Plex does not use any data for local sharing.
How do I check my Plex server speed?
Using the computer/device that runs your Plex Media Server, perform a speed test to measure the network bandwidth. The speedtest.net service is very popular for this and will give you an upload speed value. (It's sometimes useful to test a few times and average results.)
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 do I connect to someone else's Plex server?
2:4510:09How to share your Plex Media Server with family and friends - step by stepYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you want to share with another person that has Plex so you can't share your media with.MoreIf you want to share with another person that has Plex so you can't share your media with.
Can anyone access my Plex server?
Plex Media Servers associated with your Plex account will be available. For each server, you can choose whether or not to share content with the friend. Select the server name to grant access to all libraries or you can unselect it to choose only individual libraries to share.
What is Plex Media Server?
Installing the server software on a PC or NAS can turn your home or office into a connected hub that can stream all kinds of media. Unfortunately, things can go wrong, so I rounded up some common issues and solutions that can help you get back on track.
Can't access Plex server on LAN?
Cannot access server on LAN. Should you be unable to access the Plex server on the network as well as outside the home or office, you may have a misconfiguration of your NAS, which may include discrepancies between the router or access point and the unit.
What is a Plex plug and play?
Universal Plug and Play (uPnP) can be enabled to allow Plex to "talk" with the router and have ports and routes opened up for access from the outside world. Or you can go down the manual route by opening up a port yourself.
Can you ignore Plex updates?
One thing many people seem to sometimes ignore is updates, be it on the smartphone, PC or on a server. The Plex server is something you're likely to set up and forget, but you really do need to remain on top of things, especially if you encounter a problem that has already been fixed in a newer release. The first step to carry out is a version check. Follow this process:
Is it hard to put together a Plex server?
Putting together a Plex server isn't difficult, especially with some killer NAS units that can do all the hard work for you. When it comes to storage, you should always look at picking up one of these hard drives.
Why is Plex server error?
This usually occurs because Plex is a heavy application with numerous parameters going on simultaneously. If any one of these gets into an error state or load a bad configuration, it might be unusable.
Why does Plex Media Server buffer?
This scenario usually occurs when your internet connection is not sound which forces the server to use less bandwidth in order to provide access to the media.
Why is Plex not working?
There are many instances where several bugs are induced into the Plex application which causes it not to work as expected. Software all around us get updates every once in a while and sometimes these updates are not compatible with Plex. Hence its engineers roll out an update targeting this issue solely.
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 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 a plex router need NAT?
If these are not enabled or have different configurations set than required, Plex Remote Access will not work.
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.
Why does the Amazon fire interface suck?
I have both Roku and Fire Stick and while I'm finding that Roku seems to be improving, the Fire Stick interface is getting worse. Libraries sometimes won't load, deleting always puts you to a screen that says this media isn't available. Roku would just bring you back out of that item.
Plex Media Server: Server hangs or deadlocks every morning for the past few weeks
UPDATE 9/14/21: Following /u/rmac2006 suggesting of repairing my database, I found the documentation here: https://support.plex.tv/articles/repair-a-corrupted-database/. I followed the instructions and so far so good. It has been 2 days since my last deadlock.
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.
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.
What happens if you don't set up a static IP address?
If you don’t do this every time your router assigns a new internal address to the media server it will break your port forwarding rule. If you need more information on setting up a static IP address you can search for documentation for your specific router and read up on static IP addresses here.
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 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).
What does it mean when a server says "Not available outside network"?
If your server is currently not configured for remote access, it will say “Not available outside your network” as seen above. Click the large orange button that reads “Enable Remote Access”.
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.
