Remote-access Guide

plex remote access is dicey

by Dr. Cristina Cassin I Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years 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.

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.

Is Plex safe to use?

: PleX is it Safe to Enable Remote Access ? or it is Not recommended ? to Share with Friends outside Network ? Dire Aids. If you take the proper precautions, it's just as safe as Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit is.

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Is it safe to remote access Plex?

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.

Why is remote access not working Plex?

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 do I access Plex without port forwarding?

Click on the “CIDR Address” box, choose a Label name for the Resource, enter the private IP address of Plex (it's listed under Plex Settings > Remote Access and is likely 10. x.x.x or 192.168. x.x ), choose 32400 for the Port Restriction, and click “Add Resource”. Congrats!

How do I get Plex direct connection?

Enable Remote Access That direct connection will allow the apps to stream at higher qualities and the connection will be more efficient. You can find the Remote Access area under Settings > Server > Remote Access in the Plex Web App. In many cases, everything will work automatically.

Does Plex need a static IP?

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 Plex server UPnP?

Plex Media Server generally works, by the magic of UPnP, right out of the box.

Which 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]

What is 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.

Can't connect to local Plex server?

Ensure 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.

What is Plex direct?

Plex is designed to let many Apps play media from a central Server. You can playback media on your local network, stream it over the internet, or physically sync media to a mobile device.

Is there a better alternative to 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.

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).

How do I get my Plex to work with VPN?

It's a simple process. Once you've successfully configured your Plex server, go to Settings, click Remote Access, and then hit the Enable Remote Access button. The server will use NAT-PMP or UPnP to automatically configure a connection via your router.

How do I turn off secure connection in Plex?

However, if the server you're connecting to is remote, you'll need to change the Plex settings on your TV to allow for insecure connections. To do this, go to settings and find the “Advanced” section. Set “Allow Insecure Connections” to “Always” as seen below.

Does Plex use UDP or TCP?

The 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]

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 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.

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.

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.

How to make Plex Media Server secure?

What precautions? Make a strong password for your Plex account. Make sure the computer you are running the Plex Media server is up to date on security patches and anti-virus. Make sure it's behind a firewall of some type, and only the ports needed to be open are open. Make sure the computer user account the Plex Media Server service runs under cannot log into the desktop. Disable any remote desktop software (Windows Remote Desktop, Linux SSH, VNC, etc. (or at least any remote access from the Internet - I keep SSH on my Linux server available, but VPN into my network to use it).

What is plex media server?

The Plex Media Server is smart software that makes playing Movies, TV Shows and other media on your computer simple.

What happens if someone takes over your Plex account?

An d if for some reason someone does happen to take over your Plex account, the worse thing they could do is delete you media and mess up your server. Nothing critical. It's not like they are getting your password for your bank account.

Does Plex take forever to load?

At least for me, for some reason on regular Plex apps such as the Windows 10 app, the iPhone app, or the web app, it always takes forever for search results and library pages to load but actually streaming a show doesn't take much time to load at all .

Is plex server safe?

If you take the proper precautions , it's just as safe as Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit is. The only thing it's really missing is MFA , but otherwise, it's safe. And if someone does happen to get control of your Plex server, that's really all that they have control over. I have not heard of any vulnerabilities in Plex that allows someone to take control of the entire server.

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.

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.

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 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.

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