Remote-access Guide

fix plex media server remote access issues

by Hosea Schimmel II Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
image

  • 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
  • Enter the WAN/External Port you previously set up into the box
  • Use the Retry or Apply button

Full Answer

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 Outdated Plex Version: Plex Media Server releases frequent updates every now and then to fix bugs or introduce new features into the application.

How to fix “not available outside your network” on Plex?

Therefore, if you see the error message "not available outside your network" on Plex, the first thing you should try is to update the software to the latest version. Then check whether you can use the Remote Access feature. If this doesn’t work, you can try the next fix. Fix 2: Disable Third-party Firewalls Temporarily

How do I connect my Plex server to my router?

Set the Plex Media Server to use the Port. Once you’ve set up the port forward in your router, you’ll need to tell your Plex Media Server to use it. 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.

What is the best port number for Plex remote access?

The big secret here is proper port forwarding for plex remote access! Keep in mind that internal port should always be 32400 and External port is set to the top of the range at 50000. Also when setting a static IP to your Plex Media Server it is always recommended to restart your device...

image

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.

Does Plex require UPnP?

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

How do I get Plex to work remotely?

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.

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.

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 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.

Can Plex work without port forwarding?

Plex offers a remote access feature that relies on port forwarding, but the configuration may not always work or there may be other common issues like Double-NAT, resulting in an error like the screenshot below.

Do I need a VPN when using Plex?

Since Plex can be installed on a plethora of platforms, you'll want a VPN service that supports multiple operating systems.

Is Plex remote access secure?

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.

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 Nat PMP port forwarding?

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) and NAT Port Mapping Protocol (NAT-PMP) are network services which allow software and devices to configure each other when attaching to a network. This includes automatically creating dynamic NAT port forwards and associated firewall rules.

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.

How to find my router's IPv4 address?

Find and note down your router’s External IPv4 address/WAN. You can easily find this in the status page present in your router settings.

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.

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.

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.

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'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 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.

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 Remote Access not working?

In some cases, these firewalls could also block connection to Plex server and cause Plex Remote Access not working.

How to set up a Plex server?

Step 1: Open Plex from your browser and sign in with your account. Then navigate to Settings > Server > Remote Access. Step 2: Select Show Advanced option and check Manually Specify Public Port. Then enter the WAN/External Port which you set up. Step 3: Click APPLY to save the settings.

How to check if plex is enabled?

Step 1: Launch your browser and input the IP address related to your router in the address bar, such as 192.168.8.1. Step 2: Go to your router settings.

What is plex application?

Plex is an application with numerous parameters being used at the same time. If any one of them gets into an error state or is misconfigured, you might encounter problems when you use the program. You can try performing a power cycling for both the server and target computer.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9