Remote-access Guide

plex remote access only stays on for a few seconds

by Dr. Lenore Langosh III Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Why isn’t Plex remote access working?

There are situations where a ‘double’ NAT occurs which causes a lot of issues and causes Plex Remote Access not to work. Outdated Plex Version: Plex Media Server releases frequent updates every now and then to fix bugs or introduce new features into the application.

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.

How do I change the server settings on my Plex Media Server?

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 manually open a port on a router using Plex?

Click “Apply”. If you don’t see the manual port option in your settings, you need to click on the “Show Advanced” button in the upper right navigation bar. Once you’ve turned on the option in Plex, it’s time to access your router’s admin page.

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Why does my Plex remote access keep disconnecting?

In some cases, you may have a firewall or something else on your computer/network that may be blocking a network connection that's required for Plex and your server to test whether Remote Access is working correctly for you.

Does Plex require UPnP?

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

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!

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.

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]

Why is my Plex server unreachable?

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. Make sure you aren't requiring secure connections on the server while using an app that doesn't support them (see below)

Is remote access Plex 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.

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 it safe to open port for Plex?

Yes, port forwarding Plex is safe. Just make sure your internet connection is secured with AES 256-bit encryption for optimal online privacy and security.

Does UPnP work with port forwarding?

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) is a network protocol that allows compliant devices to automatically set port forwarding rules for themselves. These devices can be personal computers, printers, security cameras, game consoles or mobile devices that communicate with each other and share data over your network.

Is UPnP safe?

UPnP, therefore, is not inherently dangerous if your router is up to date and has all the latest firmware updates, and your connected devices are free of malware. UPnP becomes an issue if a connected device is infected with malware, as it can spread to your local devices.

How do I add UPnP to my router?

To enable or disable Universal Plug and Play:Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to your router's network.Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. ... Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > UPnP. The UPnP page displays.Select or clear the Turn UPnP On check box.

What is UPnP service?

UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) is a networking protocol that enables devices to discover each other and connect without the need for manual configuration or user intervention. The protocol automates all the steps necessary for recognition and communication between devices on the same network.

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 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.

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 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 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.

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)

spikes2020

Edit: I solved it by turning on UPnP...... but it now cuts out after 30 second to 1 min unless i am watching a video then it seems to last longer... is there a time out thing i need to disable and how?

mfwade

I at one time had the same issue. Found multiple instances on other forums that stated it was a bug. Even when it was red, it still worked.

spikes2020

I at one time had the same issue. Found multiple instances on other forums that stated it was a bug. Even when it was red, it still worked.

mfwade

By chance, do you have geolocation filtering on? If so, allow Ireland through. Plex remote/proxy servers are located there and for whatever reason it needs to be able to communicate with them.

spikes2020

By chance, do you have geolocation filtering on? If so, allow Ireland through. Plex remote/proxy servers are located there and for whatever reason it needs to be able to communicate with them.

spikes2020

By chance, do you have geolocation filtering on? If so, allow Ireland through. Plex remote/proxy servers are located there and for whatever reason it needs to be able to communicate with them.

mfwade

Just following up on this thread. Were you able to get your issue sorted out? Turn off GEOIP FILTERING and see if the problem persisits. I had similar issues even though I was allowing US and Irelend.

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