How to set up plex (and watch your movies on any device)

The streaming app for everyone

Plex Inc.

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Description

Stream movies and TV shows, plus 200+ channels of live TV, instantly, without a subscription. Watch live TV and movies anywhere, from any device, with Plex.

Streaming movies has never been easier with Plex. Watch your favorite movies from Crackle, Warner Brothers, MGM, Lionsgate and more! Enjoy hundreds of free, full length movies from every genre: anime movies, children’s movies, documentaries, and much more.

Watch TV series you know and love or discover brand new shows with Plex’s streaming services. Enjoy on demand TV channels and shows, all in one place. Watch TV anywhere, on any device, together with your friends!

Watch 200+ channels of free live programming—instantly. Stream any of your favorite TV shows and channels. From food to news, sports to kids, and international content, there’s something for the whole family!

Watch news from over 190 global publishing partners, including CBS, Financial Times, Euronews, and top local news sources for over 80% of markets in the U.S.

Plex also offers a media server that organizes your personal data, lets you listen to your favorite podcasts, find new recommendations, and stream new music.

Watch now: stream TV, movies and more with Plex.

Live TV Streaming:
– Stream live TV with access to 200+ channels of free live programming
– Enjoy many live channels for everyone in the family: watch kid shows, news, sports, and more
– Watch the news with CBS, Financial Times, Euronews, local news channels and more

Watch Movies Anywhere:
– Watch movies online or offline, anytime
– Stream movie favorites from your favorite studios, all for free
– Full movies of all categories: children movies, anime movies, new movies and more

TV On-Demand:
– Stream on demand TV shows instantly
– Watch TV series favorites or find something new for the whole family
– Watch TV shows anywhere, on any device

Plex Media:
– Organize your personal data, search your favorite podcasts, discover new ones, and stream music
– Store all your personal media such as photos, music, movies and shows, and stream them any device

Download today and start video streaming, with Plex.

Note: If you’ve already purchased the app on the App Store or you have a Plex Pass, you do NOT need to purchase again! Your previous purchase will be automatically detected.

Note: Playing media from your Plex library on mobile devices is limited (one minute for music and video, watermark on photos) until the app is unlocked. For full functionality, get a Plex Pass -OR- make a small, one-time, in-app purchase for app access. Streaming personal media requires Plex Media Server version 1.18.3 and higher installed and running to stream to other devices. DRM-protected content, ISO disc images, and video_ts folders not supported. Some features of this app are supported by interest-based advertising, to learn more about this and your choices regarding it visit the Plex Privacy Policy.

The app offers (but does not require) a Plex Pass In-App Purchase. Plex Pass is available for the equivalent of US$4.99 charged monthly to your iTunes Account, charged yearly for the equivalent of US$39.99, or as a one-off lifetime payment for the equivalent of US$149.99. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off in your iTunes Account at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, charged at the same rate for renewals. Subscriptions may be managed and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to your iTunes Account Settings after purchase.

Find out if Plex is right for you

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Plex provides a way to easily access your entire digital library from any compatible computer, smartphone, or streaming device, without the need to transfer files manually.

What Is Plex?

Plex Media Server is a digital media player and organizational tool that allows you to access the music, pictures, and videos stored on one computer with any other computer or compatible mobile device. You can install the Plex Media Server software on a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer, or a compatible network-attached storage (NAS) device, then play it back on any other internet-connected device capable of running the Plex app.

Use any compatible device to watch movies, listen to music, and view pictures stored on a computer that runs Plex Media Server. Access media files stored on your Plex Media Server computer remotely over the internet. Allow friends and family to access your movies, music, and pictures over the internet.

Plex Media Server runs on all major operating systems, but other devices are also capable of running it, including the following:

• Computers with Windows, macOS, or Linux.
• NVIDIA SHIELD.
• Netgear Nighthawk X10 routers.
• Compatible NAS devices.

To access music, videos, and pictures stored on a Plex server, you can use any of the following devices:

• Any major web browser, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, and Safari.
• Most smartphones, including Android, iOS, and Windows Phone.
• Android, iOS, and Windows tablets.
• Smart TVs from most manufacturers, including LG, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba.
• Most television streaming devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Sonos, and TiVo.
• Video game consoles like the Xbox One.

The instructions in this article apply to the desktop version of Plex.

How to Set Up Plex Media Server on Your Computer

To use Plex, install the Plex Media Server on the computer or network-attached server (NAS) device where you store your music, videos, and other media files. Install the Plex app on your other computers, smartphones, tablets, televisions, streaming devices, and game consoles. Then, launch the app and use it to stream your media files from Plex Media Server.

Before you can use Plex to stream your music and videos, sign up for an account with the service, then install the server software.

Select Sign Up.

Select either Continue With Google, Continue With Facebook, or Continue with Apple. However, you can skip those options and enter your email address if you want to sign up that way.

Enter your Google or Facebook login information, or enter your email address and choose a password, then select Create An Account.

If the Plex Pass advertisement pop-up appears, select the X to get rid of it.

Download and Install Plex

After you successfully sign up for a Plex account, you’re ready to download and install the Plex Media Server software. With this software installed, you can stream all your media files from one central computer to your other devices.

Select the operating system or platform you use.

Select Download.

Launch the Plex Media Server file you just downloaded and select Install.

If the User Account Control window appears, select OK or Yes.

Select Launch when the installation is complete.

When you launch the Plex Media Server software, it automatically runs in the background. If you want to make any setting changes, navigate to .

Required Plex Apps

There are two different apps you need if you want to use Plex:

• The server application that runs on the computer where you store your media files.
• A separate Plex app that runs on your other computers, phones, tablets, and streaming devices.

The Plex Media Server app is the software you need to install on the computer where you store your media files. For Windows, macOS, and Linux, get it from the Plex Media Server Downloads page.

The Plex media player app is the software you need to install on your other devices. Here’s where to get it:

• Windows: Plex on the Microsoft Store
• Android: Plex on Google Play
• iOS: Plex on the App Store
• Amazon Fire: Plex on Amazon
• Roku: Plex on the Roku Channel Store
• Xbox One: Plex for Xbox One on the Microsoft Store
• All other platforms: Plex Media Player

In addition to the standalone Plex media player app, you can also access your Plex account and your media through the web app using your favorite web browser to navigate to

Is Plex Free?

Plex is free to download and use, but you don’t get access to all the features unless you pay a subscription fee. You can still do a lot with the free version of Plex, but certain features like mobile sync and live television are locked behind the Plex Pass service.

Plex Pass Features

Plex Pass is the fully-featured premium service, which has monthly, yearly, and lifetime subscription options. Subscribers also gain access to new Plex features earlier than non-subscribers. Some of the most important Plex Pass features include the ability to sync and access media files on mobile for use offline, the ability to connect an antenna and tuner to watch live television, and greater user control, including parental controls.

The features you get with Plex Pass that aren’t available with the free subscription include:

October 29, 2019

The Plex Media Server is one of the user-friendly and best application to store all your movies, TV Shows and other media files in one place. It allows you to access all your files anywhere and anytime. Plex Media Server automatically scans and organizes all your media files thus allowing you to stream it all the devices. It is the central most important piece of Plex. The Media Server acts as a medium to sync media from all your devices. Here we will see on How to Set up Plex Media Server:

How to Setup Plex Media Server

Here in this guide, we offer you the tutorials to set up Plex Media Server on your device:

Step 1: Download Plex Media Server from the official website ().

Step 2: Once it gets downloaded, install the application and Sign up to access the server. Once signing up, you can log in and start setting up the server.

Step 3: Once the server setup is completed, it will take you to its contents.

Step 4: In the contents page, you can easily optimize the library according to your preferences and start enjoying the interesting things on your devices. After setting things up, you can easily re-create them whenever you need it.

Step 5: Once set up of your account on the server is completed, you can continuously download all sort of contents from various devices where you have signed in.

Step 6: You can add all sort of media contents into the application. Apart from your own contents, you can also stream online for a variety of contents as well. It is very easy to add media contents as media server acts as the medium to store and organize your contents.

Step 7: The Plex app supports all format media files such as MP4, DVIX, AVI, MKV, MOV in Video, MP3, WMA, MP4A for Audio, and JPG, RAW, PNG, TBN for Photos.

Step 8: As it is multiplatform application it is compatible with all sort of platforms like Windows, NVIDIA SHIELD, OS X, Netgear Nighthawk X10 router, LINUX.

Streaming music and movies from your home PC or Mac to your Android or iPhone is easy by simply installing Plex. Here’s our step-by-step video guide.

Wouldn’t being able to access all your computer’s music, video and photos from another computer or mobile device — without having to transfer it across first — be incredibly useful? Plex Media Server allows you to do just that, and we’ve made a fully comprehensive video tutorial on how to use it.

We’ll show you how to set it up and stream content to your iOS or Android-powered mobile device, even when you’re away from home. You’ll also discover how Plex can be used to tap into a wide range of Internet-based media via a series of free plug-ins. Hit play on the video above, or read on for all the information you’ll need.

1. Installing Plex Media Server

2. Configuring Plex

The simplest way to configure Plex is via its taskbar’s notification area icon: right-click this and choose ‘Media Manager’. There’s no standalone utility for configuring your server in Windows — instead, everything is done through your web browser.

If you’re using Internet Explorer (IE), turn on Intranet settings when prompted and click the bar at the top of the screen to install Google Chrome Frame. A pop-up will appear. Click ‘Activate Google Chrome Frame’ followed by ‘Accept and activate’ to make IE compatible with Plex Media Server.

3. Creating libraries of music, movies and photos

Before you start adding media to your library, familiarise yourself with Plex’s naming guides. These describe how you can organise and name your media files — specifically movies and TV episodes — to make them easier to manage and locate.

Once done, return to your browser to start organising your media into separate libraries. Plex offers four quick options for creating Movies, TV Shows, Home Movies and Music sections, or you can create your own libraries from scratch. Just click the + button underneath the Libraries pane on the left.

4. Adding your libraries

A pop-up window will appear for setting up each library. Change the ‘Section type’ if required from Movies to TV Shows, Music or Photos. Give your library a suitably descriptive name and explore the other options via their dropdown menus; these vary depending on the media type you’ve picked.

Next add the folders containing your media to your library by clicking the + button. Click ‘Add section’ when done and repeat for any other libraries you need. You can create as many libraries as you like, allowing you to organise your photos and movies into categories such as holidays and family history.

5. Making your music, movies and photos easier to search

6. Setting up mobile access

Next, open Plex Media Server’s Media Manager and click ‘Preferences’ in the top-right corner of the management window. Select the myPlex tab, click ‘Sign in’ and sign in with the account details you created in the previous step. Tick ‘Publish server to myPlex’ and wait — if you’re lucky, it’ll successfully make contact. Jump to step eight if this is the case.

7. Manually configuring port forwarding

If a ‘Failed to map ports’ error is displayed, tick ‘Manually specify port’ to open up a port on your router to allow your mobile devices to connect with your PC or Mac. Next, you need to assign the computer running Plex Media Server a static IP address following one of these helpful guides. Once done, consult your router’s documentation or visit Port Forward for guides to specific routers.

Once logged into your router’s configuration utility — typically through your browser — locate the Port Forwarding section, then enter 32400 into the ‘Port from’ and ‘to’ boxes, plus the static IP address you just created for the computer running Plex Media Server.

Once done, return to the myPlex tab in Media Manager and untick and retick ‘Publish server to myPlex’; wait and it should successfully make contact.

8. Accessing music, movies or photos on another PC or Mac

If you want to access your media content on another PC or Mac connected to your network (or even the computer you installed the server on), you should download and install the Plex Media Center software for Windows or Mac. By default it only works with keyboard or remote control. Enable your mouse by going into Preferences > System > Input Devices. Other settings — including running Plex Media Center from a window rather than full-screen — can also be configured under System.

Mobile access costs £2.99 for the iOS app or £3.19 for the Android version of Plex.

9. Connecting to your server

If you simply want to access your media through your home network, launch Plex; it should automatically find your media server, allowing you to connect to it quickly and easily.

When away from home, you can connect through your mobile broadband connection: launch Plex and choose to sign in with a different server. Log into your myPlex account; once done, you should be able to connect to your home server over the Internet.

Plex’s versatility is yet another appealing feature. Plex Media Server is available for Mac, Windows, Linux-based systems such as Manjaro, and various network-attached storage devices. This write-up will teach you how to install and set up Plex on the Manjaro system. So, let’s start!

How to install Plex on Manjaro using yaourt

The “yaourt” stands for “Yet Another User Repository Tool” which is a command-line packages installation tool for the Manjaro system. It is considered as a wrapper for the “Pacman“, the primary package manager having exceptional support for the user repository of Arch Linux. It is also utilized for searching, upgrading, and installing packages from AUR.

Before moving towards the installation process of Plex, make sure the existing packages of your Manjaro system are updated. For this purpose, you can execute the below-given command:

After updating packages, you can utilize “yaourt” to install Plex on your Manjaro system:

The above-given error-free output signifies that Plex is installed successfully.

How to install Plex on Manjaro using SnapStore

You can also use the Snap store to install Plex if you are a Manjaro user. All popular Linux distributions, including Manjaro, are supported by the Snap Store, which comprises pre-packaged apps with their dependencies.

Now, firstly, open up your Manjaro terminal to install “snapd,” which assists in the management of apps downloaded through the Snap store:

In this step, we will execute the following command for enabling the snap communication socket:

Lastly, execute the following “snap” command for installing Plex on the Manjaro system:

Wait for a few minutes as the installation of Plex will take some time:

How to set up Plex on Manjaro

Whether you have installed Plex using “yaourt” or “Snap store”, to set it up, firstly, you have to start the “plexmediaserver.service”:

Now, we will enable the “plexmediaserver.service” on our system startup:

After enabling the service for the Plex media server, head over to the Plex web interface for its configuration:

You will be asked to sign in to your Plex account using Google, Facebook, Apple, or the Email account:

For instance, we have selected our Google account to sign in to Plex:

Select your account, type out its password, and click on the “Next” button:

Now, specify the name for your Plex Media Server and hit the “NEXT” button:

In the next step, we will add a media library to our Plex server:

Choose your library type, write out its name, and then click “NEXT”:

Now, browse for the folder on your system where you have stored the media files. For instance, on our system, we have saved all of the music files in the “media” folder:

After selecting the media folder for the Plex Media Server, click on the “ADD” button:

Lastly, pressing the “ADD LIBRARY” button will add your selected folder to the Plex media server library:

After performing all of the given steps, click on the “Next” button and finish the setup:

Now, your Plex Media server is all ready to use on your Manjaro system:

Conclusion

Plex is a digital media server that permits you to stream and manage videos and music. It also assists in saving, sharing, and playing all of the added media in its library. Plex is compatible with Linux-based operating systems, macOS, and Windows. This write-up covered how to install Plex on Manjaro using yaourt and Snap store. Moreover, the procedure of setting it up is also provided to you. Try it out on your system to get benefits from this global streaming service.

About the author

Sharqa Hameed

I am a Linux enthusiast, I love to read Every Linux blog on the internet. I hold masters degree in computer science and am passionate about learning and teaching.

– Jul. 10th 2021 4:37 pm PT

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With the power of current Apple Silicon based Macs, and the next generation Apple Silicon computers that could be coming later this year, plenty of Intel-based computers will be left without a purpose. So why not convert your old computer into your own Netflix-like streaming service using Plex?

While making your own streaming service may seem like a challenging process, it’s made easy with the use of Plex. There are two types of software for Plex, the server and the client. The server software is installed on a machine that stores copies of any Movies, Music, or TV Shows that you want to share. You can then access them from almost any internet-connected device.

Why use Plex?

Plex was started back in 2007 based on the popular XBMC (now known as Kodi). It makes it easy to stream media files from a server device to a wide variety of client devices. If you have a large collection of Blu-ray or DVDs, it’s possible to rip them with a tool like HandBrake. You can then stream the files, using Plex, to your smart TV, phones, computers, or gaming consoles. That way you don’t have to fuss around with the physical disks or re-purchasing movies you have already paid for.

Plex is also a very cost-effective solution. Since you rely on your own hardware, the base version of the software is entirely free to use. The paid upgrade “Plex Pass” unlocks features like music lyric support, mobile apps, and live TV recording. Currently, the Plex Pass costs $4.99 a month or $119.99 for a lifetime pass.

In addition to watching your own content, Plex also hosts free ad-supported content. Various TV shows and movies are available to watch, and they plan on expanding. Earlier this year, Plex raised $50 million to expand and invest in development.

On a personal note, I used Plex for over a year before I decided to upgrade to the Plex Pass. When I did, I opted for the lifetime pass. On the one occasion where I reached out to Plex for support, I found that they were very quick to assist with my issue and went above and beyond to remedy it.

Plex Media Server hardware

Plex Media Server can run on a wide variety of devices; including macOS, Windows, and Linux. It can even run directly on network-attached storage devices. If using a Mac Pro or Windows desktop for your server, I would highly recommend getting a separate internal Hard Drive specifically for your Plex media. While laptops aren’t an ideal server, I never had an issue when I was running Plex off of my laptop with an external hard drive. While you can use the built-in storage device, I find separate disks make it far easier to keep everything in one place.

Regardless of the device you use, you want to make sure the server is plugged into your router over ethernet. Wifi hasn’t yet reached the speed or reliability of a hard-wired connection.

How to organize your media for Plex

Plex makes organizing movies and TV shows easy. It searches online to find descriptions, extra features, and ratings, but it needs a bit of a helping hand to figure out what the movie is.

Start by making a folder each for movies, TV shows, and music.

Whenever you add a movie to the movie folder, just title the file ‘ movie-title (release year) ‘. You can also adjust the title for more complex situations such as external subtitles or multiple files for one movie.

For TV Shows, you make a subfolder for each TV show, and then a subfolder for each season. For the episode, use the format ‘ S01E05 ‘ to denote the season and episode number.

Music is really simple to organize. Make a subfolder under music for each artist, and a subfolder under that for each album. Ensure each track starts with the track number then the name, separated by a hyphen.

Installing Plex Media Server

The installation of Plex is simple. On the downloads page download and run the Plex Media Server app for your device. You will see the Plex icon show up in your menu bar. Select the icon and click Open Plex.

After logging in, or creating a Plex account, the app will guide you through the setup. Under media, you will want to point it to each of the separate folders for movies, TV shows, and music you created earlier.

After finishing this setup, Plex will automatically search online to find the poster, description, actors, and more information about each of the files. As long as this server computer is on, and Plex is running, you can access your files at Plex.tv. This should automatically work from anywhere in the world.

If you would like to go a bit more in-depth, to improve speed and reliability outside of your home network, there are two network changes worth making.

Adjusting network settings

In order for the best experience, you will want your server to have a constant IP address. This can be done on either your server or router. Exactly how you set this will depend on your router but can be as simple as setting a Reserved address under the DHCP settings. Take note of the IP address you set your server to have.

While still on your router, you should forward network port 32400 to the IP address of your server.

In the Plex server settings, look under “remote access”. Check the box for “manually specified public port”, ensure that 32400 is the port, and save changes. After this, your media should be available outside of your network.

If you have any issues with this, Plex has an in-depth guide for Remote access issues and excellent support articles and guides.

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How To

A collection of tutorials, tips, and tricks from the 9to5Mac team helping you fix and get the most out of your favorite gear.

Plex is an awesome media server app for streaming content on your phone, computer, Smart TV, and any device. There are also hundreds of TV and movie plugins/addons, official and unofficial channels available for Plex, offering a great high-quality streaming experience for movies and series on Plex. In this post, we’ll explain how to add movies to the Plex library and how to get new movies on the Plex server.

• Part 1: How to Add Movies to Plex Library
• Part 2: Ways to Get New Movie Titles for Plex

1. How to add movies to Plex Library

If you don’t get a movie folder, you need to create a library, use steps below to do so.

Step 1: Run the Plex Media Server on your computer, or compatible NAS device, or others.
Step 2: Click the Settings icon to get more settings options.
Step 3: Select Libraries under the Manage section.
Step 4: Click Add Library, select the library type and name the library.
Step 5: Put your movie files in a folder and back to Plex.
Step 6: Select the Add folder. Click the “BROWSE FOR MEDIA FOLDER” button and select the movie folder with movie files you want to add. Click the ADD button and finish the steps Plex shows.

Add Movies to Plex Library

If you have local movies stored on your devices, it’s easy to upload movies to the Plex Media Server library. Continue to read the guide below when you wish to get more new movie resources to Plex.

How to get new movies to Plex server

You have several ways to enrich your Plex movie library. You can make full use of your DVD movies/TV series or install third-party movie plugin/addons to get more new films for the Plex server.

A. Rip DVD movies to Plex

If you have movies on DVDs, you can decrypt these DVDs and copy them to your Plex library for streaming. All you need is a reliable program called DVD decrypter, such as WinX DVD Ripper Platinum, to decrypt your DVD collections and copy them to MP4, AVI, MOV, etc. video formats. Free download WinX DVD Ripper Platinum and follow the guide to ripping DVDs for Plex to enlarge your Plex movie library.

B. Download movies to Plex

Torrenting is a popular way to free download movies to your Plex server. There are also many free movie downloading sites. However, it’s illegal and unsafe, putting you at risk of being attacked by viruses and malware. We don’t recommend an illegal movie download. Plex offers Plex Pass priced at $4.99/month, a subscription service that gives users a better Plex streaming experience. The service allows users to watch and record live TV over the air-broadcast at your location.

C. Use third-party Plex plugin/addons

You have many official and unofficial Plex channels and movie plugins to choose from, such as CBS, Old Movies Time, FMovies Plus, Filmson, BBC iPlayer, etc. With these channels and plugins installed on your Plex server, you have more choices in streaming high-quality TV series, movies, and sports videos. Check more plugins/addons for the Plex server to get more out of Plex.

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Is Plex Legal and Safe to Use?

Is it legal to stream movies, discs, music, etc. through Plex? Is Plex 100% secure to use? Does Plex store and protect the personal information they collect safely?

Plex Media Server FLAC Music File Streaming and Transcoding

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Learn how to download and set up Plex Media Server on Windows 10. If you have problems trying to install, uninstall, update, or use Plex on Windows 10, check our workaround.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kaley Torres

Kaley Torres is a self-motivated, creative editor with eight years of marketing and SEO experience, specializing in writing on DVD, video, audio, images, new digital contents etc. With a partiality DVD collection, Kaley also enjoys digitizing DVD and is keen to share her DVD video conversion solutions as well as video sharing tips on social media.

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Plex Makes Over-The-Air and CableCARD HDTV Accessible From An Easy-to-Use Interface on Any Mobile or Home Streaming Device

September 01, 2016 09:05 ET | Source: Plex Plex

Los Gatos, California, UNITED STATES

Los Gatos, California, Sept. 01, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plex, the all-in-one personal media solution for mobile and home streaming devices, today announced it has expanded its footprint in streaming media by adding advanced, global DVR capabilities. Now Plex users can watch their favorite network television programs in high definition from anywhere in the world on virtually any device, including iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, Roku, Chromecast, Amazon Fire, NVIDIA SHIELD and other Android TV devices, Apple TV, Xbox, PlayStation, and most Smart TVs.

Paired with any digital antenna and an HDHomeRun (HDHR) digital tuner, Plex DVR enables free over-the air (OTA) access to 86 of the 100 most watched shows in the U.S. in 2016, according to Nielsen Media Research. These include all programs from major networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW, PBS, CBC, BBC, ITV, Telemundo, and Univision, as well as local programming, news, and sports. In addition, broadcast TV delivered via antenna is available immediately–no waiting an extra day (or months) to watch, as is the case with many streaming services. For those who are not ready to completely cut their cable, Plex also supports non-DRM CableCARD channels on the HDHomeRun PRIME network attached digital tuner.

“We’ve put a lot of time into this release, and the result is a really elegant DVR, which takes advantage of all the power and intelligence of Plex,” said Scott Olechowski, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Plex. “Plex rounds out the cord cutting experience with a beautifully organized, easy-to-navigate interface that makes all your content available wherever you go. Now you can view TV in a living room or on your phone, using a streaming stick in a hotel, or even on a plane when you’re offline. The addition of DVR allows our customers to make Plex the heart of their media experience. No other solution comes close.”

Plex DVR features include:

Play from Any Device: A true media hub, Plex allows you to play any recorded content on virtually any device, consolidating and organizing your DVR recordings with all your other media (music, photos, and videos). Recordings may be watched on dozens of platforms, while media can be viewed, organized, and played from a consistent, clean interface no matter which device you’re on.

Rich, Easy-to-Navigate Interface: Plex makes information on your TV shows, movies, or sports look beautiful by automatically adding movie posters, plot summaries, cover art, and descriptions. The Plex experience also includes enhanced extras for recorded TV content, including show descriptions, episode synopses, and season information. Plex organizes everything you record, making it easy to find what you want to watch.

Discover More of What You Love: Plex DVR provides a rich a program guide for all your favorite channels, including ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW, PBS, CBC, BBC, ITV, Telemundo, Univision, and many more. The programming guide also highlights content for you, like “News,” “Sports,” “Premieres,” and “Upcoming Favorites.” Plex even recommends upcoming broadcast TV based on your viewing habits and content you already have in your Plex libraries.

Easy, Intuitive Setup: Unlike the typically complex and fragmented software that cord cutters need today, Plex replaces the bland electronic program guide, and eliminates the need for DVR recording software, automatically identifying and integrating with tuners and antennas.

The company has partnered with SiliconDust, creators of the popular HDHomeRun (HDHR) line of tuners. Users simply connect an OTA HDHR tuner (or a CableCARD version) to their network and any digital antenna, and can immediately start recording.

Access Content Whether On and Offline: With Mobile Sync and Cloud Sync, you can sync recordings to your mobile device for access when you are offline, or to your favorite cloud storage account, including Google Drive, Amazon Drive, and Dropbox, for access when your computer at home is offline.

Customize a DVR that Suits You: Plex allows you to custom build your DVR. Add more tuners to record as many shows at one time as you like, or add more storage and record as much content as you can handle.

Stunning Picture Quality: Signals received through HD antennas far surpass the picture quality of cable and satellite for stunning, uncompressed, high definition broadcast.

Priced Right: Plex’s DVR allows greater functionality and freedom all at a significantly better price than traditional cable or satellite TV. In addition to a tuner and antenna, users only need a Plex Pass, which costs $4.99 per month, $39.99 per year, or $149.99 for a lifetime subscription.

Plex DVR is available now in Beta for Plex Pass subscribers. Starting at $4.99 per month, Plex Pass is a subscription-only service that enables users to enjoy the very best Plex has to offer, including Mobile and Cloud Sync, Premium Music, full access to all Plex Apps, parental controls, and much more.

Plex has a little bit of everything packed into one free streaming service.

If you combined Tubi, Pluto TV, and your own content library, you would have Plex. Tubi is a free, commercial-supported version of Netflix. Pluto TV is a cable imitator with live TV.

Plex is a free TV streaming service that offers live TV, on-demand movies and shows, and a library of your own media content.

Your media library

So how do you use Plex? Let’s go ahead and take a tour of the interface. We’ll start by explaining how to add your own movies, music, and photos to Plex.

You’ll need to set up a drive on your PC with the movies, shows, and music you want to add. You’ll then connect Plex to that specific folder. Then Plex will scan that folder and pull the files into your library.

When you go into your Plex app, you’ll be able to pull those assets and watch them on-demand just like you would on any other streaming service. We think it’s pretty cool that you can also upload your own photos and music.

I love this feature not only because I can upload my Blu-rays, but I don’t have to worry about the constant overturn of content that we experience with streaming services like Netflix. I always know what’s in my library.

You can also share your media folders across other users as well. Your PC will need to be turned on for others to access it, but they can do it.

Now you do run into some legal issues here, so be careful that you don’t upload content you didn’t buy. But if you have photos, home videos, or stuff that you want to share from one person to another, Plex is a good way to do that.

Live TV and on-demand streaming

Plex’s Live TV has 162 channels that you can scroll through. We’re not saying that these are all channels that you’re going to want to watch. We really liked the live TV guide because it helped us find several shows I was interested in. That’s a great sign that it does have stuff on here that’s worth watching.

You’ll also be able to stream on-demand movies and TV shows. This is a bit like a commercial-supported Netflix.

There are tons of titles to choose from, and I do like that it is sorted in a few different ways. You can go to the browse page and look at stuff that Plex recommends for you. You can also browse by studio/provider or by genre.

Web shows, podcasts, and music

Plex has a web shows feature that pulls online content for you. There’s a lot of YouTube-style content here. Add this to your personal queue and you’ll get a list of web shows if you want.

The podcast section is pretty self explanatory. You may or may not be able to find the podcast that you prefer, but it does seem to have a lot of the bigger stuff on here.

Now, the music tab is a little bit frustrating for somebody like me simply because I don’t use TIDAL. I use Spotify, and I wasn’t interested in signing up for TIDAL, so the music tab wasn’t very effective for me. But if you are a TIDAL user, then you will find it very attractive.

What we like about Plex

One of the things I love is that Plex puts your content front and center on the home page. Even though it carries some good titles itself, it puts your stuff first, which is exactly what you would want.

Additionally, when you go to the home page, the first thing you’re greeted with is the Continue Watching tab. Some services tend to bury that under their own suggestions sometimes, which gets really frustrating. Plex doesn’t do that.

I also mentioned how many live TV channels there are and how much good on-demand content there is. This is not the same as going to Netflix or HBO Max with their sweet, sweet $15-per-month library, but this is good for something that you’re not paying for.

And honestly, the only thing that might steer me away from Plex is that you won’t find premium content here, unless you’re loading it into your own server.

This is not a replacement for Netflix, Disney+, or HBO Max. It’s not going to have some of those super compelling titles, but other than that, there’s not really a ton to complain about, especially because it’s free.

Plex Pass

That brings me to another thing that we should talk about. There is a premium version of Plex. Should you get it? Is it worth it? The Plex Pass gets you offline downloads on mobile, so you can watch your stuff on the go when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi.

It also gets you data-usage statistics. If you have a lot of people using your server, then you can see who is using the most data and what they’re doing.

You get a live TV DVR. So if you have an antenna that you have up in your window and you’re getting live TV stations through that, you can actually DVR that on your Plex server. That’s not a bad deal.

Data effective 06/08/21. Prices and availability subject to change.

Next, the Plex Pass has something called Webhooks. This is an automation system. You can use Webhooks to integrate with your Amazon Alexa device or your Google device.

You can set up some cool automations between Plex and your smart devices. For example, when I start playback on Plex, it’ll dim the lights in my room. You’d have to have a pretty advanced setup to do that, but if you have that, it’s pretty sweet.

The last thing that Plex Pass lists here is some extra music improvements such as sound leveling and cross fading. Again, if you’re a TIDAL user, that’s going to be attractive. If you’re not, then maybe not so much.

So when it comes to the premium stuff, I’d say go give Plex a shot first. If you find yourself using it a ton after a few months, then go for the premium version. Five bucks a month for all those features is pretty good, but the free version is already pretty sweet.

Recap: Is Plex good?

The final word here is, yeah, I kind of love Plex. The only word of caution that I would provide here is that it does come with a bit of a learning curve if you want to use the advanced features, like the personal library. If you are very technologically savvy, you probably won’t have any problems with it.

Once you do have it set up and you get the hang of it, it is awesome. So, I fully recommend it. I really really like Plex and I think you will too.

Plex server m1. Thunderbolt won’t be an issue unless you are using a 100 Gb fiber optic connection to your current server. Steps to reproduce. So for me it it Plex – Webhook – MiniWOL – Client device. I’ll do my best to accommodate as I have time (pesky job gets in the way of the fun sometimes). Linux: Edit the Preferences. The Core 2 Duo has been repurposed as Plex server / client in a new home. There’s not much Plex users can do After editing and saving the file, start your Plex Media Server again and log into your server from your browser to reauthenticate yourself. Yes, this M1 does get to beachball. CPU load spends quite a lot of its time at around 40% with spikes to 100% when workload is particularly high. One of the main reasons why I purchased the Xiaomi 34″ Ultrawide monitor was because of the screen real estate. metadata_item_id=m1. An amazing and tiny machine that punches way above its weight. 0. Plexamp is a beautiful, dedicated Plex music player with tons of goodies for audiophile purists, music curators, and hipsters looking for their next aural fix. iPad. PleX) 0 points – submitted 19 minutes ago by j4nds4 Synology 918+, 32TB to r/PleX. Watch now: stream TV, movies and more with Plex. Another useful Plex feature is the ability to watch live TV and, now, that includes Chromecast support and a redesigned UI on Android TV and Apple TV. Hey, Fishing for some advice – I’m a late convert to Plex, absolutely love it – but it’s running on my main desktop, nearly always on(it won’t go to sleep with Plex running) which is kinda frustrating / … Starting with the 256GB M1 Mac mini, you can get this version for $599. Demoed features require a Plex Pass – Use a Macbook Air (Tested with Early 2014 13’3 inch version and later 2020 with Apple M1). Plex Media Server Setup Guide for 2021 – A Beginners Guide. so, until new apps optimized for M1 appear it doesn’t seem like the new Mac Mini is a good choice for HTPC. Seamlessly connect your Plex clients with your local media. 3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor). Buy for $829 at Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from The M1 mini is running a server with both high IOPS and high bandwidth tasks, acts as a maths cruncher, transcoder, data ingress device, UniFi Controller, Plex Server and a brace of other things. The portable My Passport Wireless Pro has a built-in Plex server. Then log in to Plex website and set up the new Shield server as a normal Plex installation. The first public release of Plex Media Server happened two years later in 2010, and it has been growing Streaming 1080p to four Plex clients on the LAN with transcoding; Streaming through the internet at 720p, transcoding from a

20GB 1080p Blu-ray rip; Downloading multiple torrents at full speed, Unpacking a

Plex doesn’t exactly hide the fact that it’s a killer app for pirated video. Just look at the marketing materials for the media server software, and you’ll see how easy it is to stream your collection of movies and TV shows to all your devices. The open secret is that you probably can’t acquire that kind of video collection without downloading from BitTorrent or ripping your DVDs or Blu-ray discs (circumventing copy protection is either against the law or fair use of discs you purchased, depending on your perspective).

Hey, I’m not here to judge. But I was interested to see if Plex could be a valuable tool for law-abiding cord cutters as well. After playing around with the software and asking some kind folks on Reddit, I’ve found some legal uses for Plex that are worth checking out. Now that Plex has revamped its Roku app, it’s a fine time to take another look.

Plex basics

Plex is actually two programs in one. On one end, there’s the media server software for desktop computers, which serves up your videos, music, and photos to other devices on your local network. (There’s also a separate version for network-attached storage drives, which typically run on some flavor of Linux.) Install the app, tell it which folders you want to share, and Plex automatically makes those files available to other devices.

That’s where Plex’s client apps come in. Download the Plex app for your phone, tablet, or set-top box, and you’ll easily be able to view your computer’s media over a local Wi-Fi network.

Plex’s media server software is free, but the company charges $5 for most of its client apps. Plex also has a $5-per-month subscription service, called Plex Pass, which offers features such as cloud streaming, managed user accounts, and offline viewing on phones and tablets. Fortunately, a subscription isn’t necessary for the uses we’ll discuss here.

Tapping into web video

One of the best ways to use Plex legally is as a source for online video. Plex offers several “Channels” from sources like Comedy Central and The Food Network. So even if your Roku or Fire TV Stick doesn’t have apps for those channels, Plex has you covered.

Setting up Plex Channels is fairly easy. Just right-click on Plex in the system tray on your PC, and then open Media Manager. Head to the Channels section from the left sidebar, and click Install Channels.

Plex Channels serve up web video that might otherwise be hard to get on your TV.

Here some channels that I recommend:

• CBS
• Comedy Central
• Food Network
• HGTV
• History Channel
• Nick Jr.
• PBS
• SoundCloud
• South Park
• The CW
• Team Coco
• The Daily Show
• Twit.TV

You don’t have to limit yourself to video from Channels, however. Using another tool called Plex It, you can bookmark videos from around the web, letting you watch them later on your TV. This is especially useful for video sites that don’t have a TV app available, though it doesn’t work on some big ones like Hulu.

To set up Plex It, you will need a Plex account. Create one, sign in through the Media Manager on your computer, and you should see a “Queue” option added to the main menu. Click the “?” button, and you’ll head to a web page where you can drag the Plex It button onto your browser’s bookmarks bar. Now, you can just click the Plex It bookmark button when you’re on a page with video, and Plex will add it to your queue.

I wish Plex It supported more sites, but the current list of working sites has a handful of gems. Try using it at Adult Swim, NBC, Discovery Channel, and Disney Channel to stock up on videos you might want to watch in the living room.

Whole-home DVR, for hardcore cord cutters

Another interesting use for Plex is as a server for videos from an over-the-air DVR.

I recently purchased a cheap USB TV tuner for my desktop computer, and set it up to view and record broadcast TV through Windows Media Center. (More on that in a future column.) Every recording goes into a “Recorded TV” folder on my desktop, and I’ve told Plex media server to serve up any video that appears in that folder. So now when I use the Plex app on my Roku or Fire TV, any show I’ve recorded on my PC is automatically available for viewing.

Point Plex to Windows Media Center’s recording folder, and presto! Whole-home DVR for you.

The one problem I ran into was getting Plex to recognize the files, which Windows Media Center saves in Microsoft’s proprietary .WTV format. Plex only recognizes these files if you add the library as a “Home Videos” folder, rather than a “TV Shows” folder in the media manager. Converting the files is an option, but I like that the recording and viewing process is automated. It’s a nice way to grab interesting shows from over the airwaves and save them for later viewing.

Extra goodies: Stream your photos and music

Beyond video, Plex is also a handy way to bring your music collection and personal photos to other devices around the house.

For photos, just open the Media Manager, hit the “+” icon in the left sidebar, choose Photos, and then add the folder you want to share. Plex’s apps have a built-in slideshow mode, so it’s a great background option if you’re honoring someone’s graduation or anniversary.

Adding music is a similar process: Open the Media Manager, hit the “+” button, choose Music, and then add the folder where your music files are stored. You can then import playlists from other programs like iTunes, or create new playlists through the Media Manager software.

Sure, Plex is at its most powerful when you have a huge library of movies and TV shows to tap into—regardless of how you acquired them—but its streaming capabilities can still be a valuable tool in the cord-cutting arsenal. Be sure to check out my earlier columns for even more cord-cutting tips.

Jellyfin is the volunteer-built media solution that puts you in control of your media. Stream to any device from your own server, with no strings attached. Your media, your server, your way.

What is Jellyfin?

Jellyfin enables you to collect, manage, and stream your media. Run the Jellyfin server on your system and gain access to the leading free-software entertainment system, bells and whistles included.

Movies

Hold your entire movie collection, with a beautiful collection of posters.

TV Shows

Collect your TV Shows, and have them automatically organized by season.

Music

Enjoy your music collection. Make playlists, and listen on the go.

Live TV & DVR

Watch Live TV and set automatic recordings to expand your library.

Your media, wherever you are.

Jellyfin lets you watch your media from a web browser on your computer, apps on your Roku, Android, iOS (including AirPlay), Android TV, or Fire TV device, or via your Chromecast or existing Kodi installation. See all our clients.

It’s your data.

Jellyfin has no tracking, phone-home, or central servers collecting your data. We believe in keeping our software open and transparent, and anything we might collect (crash logs, etc.) is opt-in only. We’re also not in the media business, so the only media you see is your own.

Yes, it really costs nothing.

The Jellyfin server and clients are free to download, now and always. There are no costs, hidden or otherwise, to use Jellyfin, either for yourself, for your friends, or for your company. All our incidental costs are paid through donations from users like you.

Software freedom is important.

Jellyfin is Free Software, licensed under the GNU GPL. You can use it, study it, modify it, build it, and distribute it for free, as long as your changes are licensed the same way.

The project is community-built, relying entirely on contributions from volunteers. Want to help out? There’s lots of ways to do so, and you don’t even have to code! See our contribution guide for more details.

See it in Action

Click a screenshot for a high resolution image or check out our demo for the full experience.

You know Plex is awesome for managing your local media collection. But did you know it now offers free movies and TV? Here’s how to watch the free content.

We told you about Plex offering free movies and TV. This Video on Demand (VOD) content is in addition to your already assembled local media collection. It offers movies and TV shows from major studios like Warner Bros, Lionsgate, and others. All without the need for a Plex Pass subscription. And watching free content couldn’t be easier. Here’s how.

Note: For this article, I’m using an Apple TV, but the process is virtually the same on other platforms and on the web.

Watch Free Movies and TV with Plex

If you have your Plex server up and running you can start viewing the free content. On whichever device you have the Plex app installed. We have an article on how to set up Plex. It’s a few years old but the steps will give you an idea of how to get started.

Launch the Plex app on your device (in this case it’s Apple TV) and scroll to the “Movies & TV on Plex” entry on the sidebar. Then you can scroll through and view all of the free content available. Find something you like and select it.

Then you will get a description of the movie or show and at the bottom, it includes similar content. It also includes the stars of the show or movie. Selecting the actor will give you a list of other movies or shows they are in that is available on Plex.

The free content is ad-supported so you will need to get limited commercials throughout the show or movie your watching. Usually, it starts with a 15-30 ad before starting the movie. Then ads are intermittently dispersed throughout the show.

Watch Free Movies and TV with Plex Online

If you don’t have a Plex server enabled or want to watch free content while on-the-go you can. Simply head to and click the Watch Now button. Sign in or create an account and the interface is virtually the same as other platforms.

Summing Up on Free Plex Content

The content will stream at up to 1080p quality and Plex will sync the progress of what you’re watching so you can pick up where you left off on other devices. Note that the Plex app is cross-platform and available on virtually every device you can throw at it. That includes desktop, mobile, and online.

Popular Content

Here is the list of the top 10 most streamed VOD content from the platform as of February 2020:

1. Lord of War
2. WarGames
3. Convoy
4. A Christmas Carol
5. Django
6. Teen Wolf
7. Reasonable Doubt
8. Road House
9. Colors
10. Rain Man

Now, it’s important to note that these movies are free for all Plex users. A Plex Pass subscription is not required. However, once you get going with Plex you might want to subscribe. It’s only five bucks per month. With a Plex Pass, you get more options like the ability to record over-the-air TV, movie and TV extras, premium photos, get access to premium music via TIDAL, and a lot more.

Trying to watch Plex on your smart TV but getting a message saying the server is currently unavailable? Your TV might be to blame. As it turns out, some manufacturers have stopped updating older smart TV models, leading to this issue. The good news is there’s a workaround to get you up and running again.

Plex has shared an important announcement via its forums and sent out emails detailing how some older smart TVs will no longer be able to use secure connections to Plex servers. Manufacturers of the affected TV models are no longer supporting them via updates, and thus they no longer have an updated certificate.

The issue affects TVs from Samsung, LG, Vizio, Hisense, and others on certain operating systems. A non-exhaustive list shared by Plex is shown below.

What went wrong

The issue appears to be a security certificate expiration. The culprit is likely the Let’s Encrypt’s DST Root CA X3 cross-signed certificate, which expired on September 30th. As noted by TechCrunch, Let’s Encrypt’s free certificates have been widely used across the internet since 2014, when the nonprofit began issuing free certificates for people to use. A whopping 380 million certificates had been issued as of 2018 across 129 million unique domains.

When Let’s Encrypt first started, they used the existing “DST Root CA X3” cross-signature on all their certificates. This ensured that older and current devices at the time immediately trusted those certs. Let’s Encrypt now relies on their own “ISRG Root X1” signature for all certificates.

The problem arises on older devices that still rely on only the CA X3 signature. Because that signature is now expired, devices like older smart TVs, older phones, and more will no longer establish secure connections.

How to fix it

Plex states that if your server is located on the same network as your TV, you won’t have any issues. 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. This setting may appear under the “Main” section on a few older TVs.

The Plex server itself will need to have its “Secure connections” setting set to “Preferred.” Most default installs are already set to this. However, if you have manually changed this setting to “Required” you’ll need to change it back. This can be done by going to Settings, finding the “Network” page, and changing the setting from the drop-down menu as shown below.

For those concerned about privacy, this is a pretty big issue. Connections between these TVs and the streaming server will be unencrypted over the internet. Plex recommends users get a newer device, like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, or Roku, to continue using an encrypted connection.

Image of desktop computer-turned media server

As an office technology company, we specialize in setting up technology like copiers, servers, networks, mailing equipment, video surveillence and such in our clients’ businesses. But for many here who work to implement such technology in others’ businesses, innovative use of technology is not just for the workplace, but for the comfort of home as well.

Take for example Robert Taylor who works in our IT department and, among other things, routinely sets up businesses with managed network and cloud-based services, back-up and disaster recovery systems and so on. But go to his house and you’ll find him reclined in a chair on his back patio, watching movies or a favorite show on his iPad or maybe just chilling to some tunes. When those fall breezes turn too brisk, he’ll wander into his room and watch the remainder of the movie on his HD flat screen.

How does he do that? No, not through Netflix, AmazonPrime, Hulu or whatever, but rather through a media server. He has a computer which hosts his movies, music library and all of his other media, and that he streams it to his device, be that laptop, desktop PC, tablet or phone. That connectivity is not limited to inside the walls of his house, but is also available from the comfort of a hotel room when he is back East on holiday. All he needs is web-access.

Though he is a techy, he says you don’t have to be one to set up a similar system at your home.

Here are his instructions on how to do how to turn a computer into a home media-sharing machine:

o you have an old computer sitting around and don’t know what to do with it? How about building your own media-streaming server for your house (or wherever you are, with a little extra setup)?

Here is all you need:

• An old computer (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 Ghz or better, 2 GB of RAM)
• A network connection
• Some version of Windows (for this guide)
• Something on which to play your media after connecting to the server. Plex supports mobile devices, tablets, TVs, Mac’s and computers, but there is a small $5 fee for the mobile apps (But remember, you are supporting development with these purchases).

Let’s get our Plex Media Server set up.

Step 1 — Download and install. Let’s download the Plex Media Server installer, which can be found at Just click the link under Plex Media Server that says “Computer.” You will get a pop up screen. Make sure you have the Windows tabs selected then click download English. Once the download completes (It’s around 60MB and should take only a few minutes on most connections), go ahead and start the installer, then click install on the first menu (Hint: If you hit “Options,” it asks you where you want to install. The default location is C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server) and hit “Launch” when it finishes.

Step 2 — Add Libraries. After you hit “Launch,“ a web browser will pop up to the media management page (which can be accessed by opening any browser on the machine that is running Plex. Navigate to ) and click “Agree” on the Plex Terms of Service. You will then receive a page to name your Plex server. Let’s just call it Home-MediaServer (the Friendly name field) and click “Next.” After that, it will want you to add libraries which will be where our media (movies, music, TV shows) will reside. Just click “Add Library” then choose the type of media that will be in the library (I’m going to choose movies for this example), then click “Next,” select “Add folder,” and select the folder where you store your movies. Then rinse and repeat for your other media types. Once you have added all your libraries, hit “Next” to continue. On the next page you can install channels that stream from online sources. Then hit “Next” and “Done.”

Step 3 — Connect your TV, tablet or computer. Link your Plex Media Server to your mobile, tablet, TV or computer by installing the Plex mobile app, Plex for TV or Plex Home Theater. Once this is installed, it should automatically detect, connect to and be able to stream media from your Plex Media server. If you sign up for a MyPlex account via and sign into it on your Plex media server and Plex playback devices, while making sure uPnP is enabled on your router (enabled by default on most home routers), your Plex playback devices should be able to find your Plex media server and stream from it even when you are not home, wherever you are.

Step 4 — Enjoy! Relax on your back porch on those pallet-turned-benches, a warm, buttered slice of pumpkin-bread in hand, and your favorite sci-fi playing on your tablet in the other.

Remember, Plex has lots of other features like using your Plex mobile app as a remote for your Plex app on your TV.

To learn more about this and other capabilities, be sure to browse the site at plex.tv and the user forums at

If you are interested in what we do as a business, feel free to browse the website or you can click the button below to be contacted by one of our reps! Also, be sure to keep watching our social media channels on Facebook and Twitter.

Plex is a server that allows you to host and stream digital content. The platform is particularly popular among media creators and digital media hoarders alike.

If you like Plex for its hosting abilities, you’ll probably want to opt for its paid tier, which gives you more sovereignty over your server. However, casual media consumers can also get a lot of mileage out of Plex on its free tier alone.

Quick tip: You can start watching Plex as a guest — no account needed — or sign up for a free or paid tier at Plex.TV.

Here’s what the differences are between the free and paid tiers and how to sign up.

What is in the free version of Plex

Plex also hosts a streaming service, including a partnership with Crackle, allowing you to watch ad-sponsored TV and movies. With a free Plex account, you’ll have access to more than 100 free channels, which you can stream online at any time, and 20,000 on-demand TV and movie titles.

You can also connect your media to Plex and play it back for free on the Plex web platform. That includes photos and music, which Plex will automatically and intuitively sort and organize in a digital library collection upon upload. You can then access and share this media across devices.

For full access to mobile media playback, the Plex mobile app must be unlocked first with an in-app purchase. Mobile access also comes included with a Plex Pass subscription. Otherwise, you’re limited to one-minute previews on mobile.

You can use your Facebook, Gmail, or Apple account to sign up for a free account if you’d rather not register directly with an email and password.

What to know about the premium tier Plex Pass

If you’re running your own Plex server, rather than just invited to access another user’s, the $4.99 a month Plex Pass might be the better option. With it, you can invite other Plex accounts to become a part of your Plex Home, allowing you to easily switch between accounts, as well as restrict what content you share from your server.

For a high-frequency media consumer, the Plex Pass also grants more flexibility than a free Plex account, including the ability to record and replay available live broadcasts with a compatible tuner and digital antenna. You also have offline access to media on your Plex server via Plex Pass for when you don’t have internet access, like on a plane.

Quick tip: You can save money and go for a lifetime membership on the Plex platform at $119.99, or an annual membership for $39.99.

Once signed up and logged in, you can navigate to “Go Premium” under your account settings.

How Plex premium differs from free Plex accounts

If you’re a media obsessive, Plex premium offers a toolbox of advanced features for growing and maintaining your media library.

• Media. You can sync your media — photos, and files — to a mobile device. There are also additional sharing controls, bandwidth, and per-stream caps, and video decoder and encoders for converting and streaming videos in HD and 4K to more devices more smoothly.
• TV & Movies. Skip intros to shows, watch movies in 4K on supported devices, and download titles to watch offline on the mobile app with the Plex Pass.
• Music. A Plex Pass will get you access to visualizers and loudness leveling for songs and podcasts, timed lyrics during audio play, and a discount on your Tidal subscription.

Do you have files on your computer you wish you could view on your TV? Maybe you have some backed-up DVDs, pictures, or home movies you would much rather watch on your TV than on the PC tucked away in the corner of your office, bedroom or family area.

If so, you need to take a look at Plex Media Server, a free, simple-to-use service that allows you to take the content from your PC and make it available on your home network or, wherever you are, via the Internet. You can use Plex Media Player to view your videos, music, photos, etc. on your TV with devices like Google’s Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox, Playstation, Nvidia Shield and many smart TVs.

Not only can you use Plex Media Server to access the content you have on your computer, but you can also use it to access a ton of great and legal content from around the web. Plex Media Server Channels give you opportunities for excellent free content like TED Talks, TWIT, and even movies and TV shows from Crackle.

You may be asking, “Why would I want something like the Plex Media Server when I can just hook my laptop up to my TV with an HDMI cable or grab a Chromecast?” The benefit of using the Plex Media Server is its ability to make your content available on any TV without having to move your laptop or desktop from room to room… indeed, without having to touch the computer at all. Just run the Plex Media Server app on your computer and stream movies, shows or images on your connected TV or set-top box.

You can, of course, still use your computer for other tasks while it pushes content to devices in the next room.

The 10-foot user interface

All of this is presented in a beautiful, intuitive interface made for your living room TV. No need to try to navigate the PC interface on your big screen TV. Just grab your remote and click away like you would with any smart TV app.

You can even use the Plex Media Server to stream movies, photos and even music from your PC when you are away from home through the use of Plex’s mobile apps installed on your phone, tablet or laptop.

I use Plex as a great way to stream movies I digitized a few years back. Now, instead of crowding around a small phone or tablet, I can put my childhood home videos on the big screen TV for everyone to enjoy (are you sure you don’t mean for everyone to endure? – Ed.) Even if I am visiting my parents in another state, I can use the Plex Media Server to connect with my PC back home and show the old family movies on their TV.

Installing and setting up Plex Media Server

Installing and setting up Plex Media Server to get all your PC stuff on your TV isn’t difficult, but it does require some setup and configuration to get going. Fear not, bold cord cutter. We’ll walk you through the basics and have you streaming movies and such in no time.

Step 1 – Download and install

The first step is to head over to Plex to download and install the Plex Media Server on the computer that has all of the files you want to access.

You’ll be directed to the correct version of Plex Media Server for your machine, whether you’re on Windows, Mac, or Linux.

Step 2 – Setup

After you download and install the Plex Media Server, you will be asked to create a free account. This account will gain you access to PC files using other devices like streaming boxes, mobile phones, and tablets.

After you create an account, the Plex Media Server will ask which files you want Plex to add to your library. This works in much the same way iTunes does when it scours your computer looking for stuff to add to an iDevice. Just follow the step-by-step guide as they walk you through it.

Step 3 – Connecting Your Devices

Once you have installed and set up the Plex Media Server on the computer that holds your home movies, photos and music, the next step is to add the Plex Media Server to the devices you want to view your content on. Head back over to the Plex download section, select the type of device you want to view your files on and you’ll be directed to the right place.

After you install the Plex Media Server on your preferred viewing device just open up the app and login. From there you will be able to access all of your backed up DVDs, home movies, music, and photos. Begin streaming!

The whole process should be pretty simple but when all else fails, there’s always the help site.

Plex is packed with features designed to make your media experience easy and enjoyable.

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• Plex for Windows
• Plex for macOS 64-bit
• Plex Server for Windows
• Plex Server for macOS
• Plex for Android
• Plex for iOS
• Plex for Windows Home Theater
• Plex for macOS Home Theater

Plex gives you one place to find and access all the media that matters to you. From personal media on your own server, to free and on-demand Movies & Shows, live TV, podcasts, and web shows, to streaming music, you can enjoy it all in one app, on any device.

And, it’s really simple to start using:

First, if you are streaming only third-party content (Movies & Shows, live TV, podcasts, web shows, TIDAL music), then you are good to go as soon as you have an account, just install an app on your phone, Smart TV, computer, or simply open up our web app on your browser!

If you are looking to set up your own personal media server to house your own stuff, there are a few more (simple!) steps to get up and running.

How it works:

• Install and run the Plex Media Server on a computer (or compatible NAS device or Nvidia Shield) where all your media is stored and managed in movie, TV show, home video, music, and photo libraries.
• Add media libraries by type of content and let Plex do the rest—cataloging, adding artwork and info—it’s all automatic.
• Install and open the Plex app on virtually any device—smartphone, tablet, smart TV, streaming device, game console, personal computer, or any browser.
• Wherever you are, press play, sit back, and enjoy your media as it streams from the Plex Media Server to your device.

Once you are up and running, you can:

• Share home movies from your Chicago Mac with Grandma on her Roku in France.
• Stream music from your PC in London to your iPad while abroad in Tenerife.
• See photos on a SoHo LG Smart TV while they are stored in your Brooklyn brownstone.
• Set up your own DVR and record your favorite shows and games from over-the-air signal and watch anywhere!
• Link your TIDAL account and integrate your own personal library with TIDAL’s 60 million tracks.

What Media and Devices Work?

Plex supports these media file types

• Plex Media Server supports all common media files:
• Movies, TV Shows, and Home Video: MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, DIVX, and more
• Music: MP3, M4A, FLAC, WMA, and more
• Photos: JPG, PNG, RAW, TBN, and more

Plex Media Server compatibility

Plex Media Server is supported on computers running all the major operating systems as well as NAS devices:

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux
• Nvidia Shield
• Netgear Nighthawk X10 router
• Many popular NAS devices such as QNAP, Synology, Netgear, Drobo, and more

Use Plex on these devices

Plex apps work with the all the market leading devices and brands:

• Browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari
• Mobile Apps: Android, iOS
• Tablets: Android and iOS
• Desktop/Laptop computers: macOS, Windows
• Smart TVs: LG, Samsung, Hisense, VIZIO, and Roku TV
• Streaming Devices:
• Amazon Alexa
• Amazon Fire TV
• Android TV
• Apple TV
• Chromecast
• Portal from Facebook
• Roku
• Sonos
• Gaming Consoles: PlayStation and Xbox

In addition to running the Plex web app in a browser, desktop computer users can also run dedicated player apps. This is aimed at users wanting to use Plex in their HTPCs or to have a “home theater” type experience. It provides advanced audio and video playback capabilities to give you the best experience possible.

Enjoy your videos, movies, TV shows, music and photos anytime, anywhere.

Run Plex Media Server on your Windows, Mac or Linux computer and stream to your iOS or Android device. Have multiple TVs in your house? No problem, Plex also works on Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Android TV, Xbox, PlayStation, VIZIO, and many late-model smart TVs. Plex is even available on most network-attached storage devices.

Make your media beautiful

Plex gives you one simple interface to organize all of your media: your movie and TV collection, your music library, and all of your photos and home videos. Plex enriches your media library by adding descriptions, plot summaries, posters, and album covers. Enjoy your media on every TV in the house or on any mobile device on the go.

Plex keeps track of your media

Recently added content is presented front and center so you can instantly see what’s new. Plex also knows which movies and shows you’re watching, so you can easily pick up where you left off or play the next episode.

High quality SSL certificates for all media servers

We’ve teamed up with DigiCert to provide high quality SSL certificates for your media servers, at no cost to you. Your media server will be able to securely communicate with your devices with top-grade encryption, it’s like having your own secret service escort protecting your data end-to-end, preventing hacks, attacks, and snooping.

Plex Home Theater

For those of you with a dedicated computer for your TV, Plex Home Theater celebrates your personal videos, music and photos and gives them the stage they deserve. Simply download Plex Home Theater on your dedicated computer and the free Plex Media Server on your home computer then sit back and enjoy.

Your music’s new home

Music on Plex is accessible everywhere and beautifully presented. With support for nearly all audio formats, all of your music gets airtime. Once setup, you can hear (and even watch!) your music anywhere, on anything, and even share access to your music libraries with your friends. Recent improvements include Vevo music videos and Gracenote functionality that improves the metadata of your music library.

Playlists, for endless entertainment

Create customized music or video playlists to fit any occasion, based on mood, genre, collection, and more. You can even import existing iTunes playlists, ratings, track counts, and other details! Playlists are currently available on most platforms, but we’re working hard to bring them to all as quickly as possible.

Share your media with friends and family

Effortlessly share media among friends, so you can all discover and enjoy even more content together. Exchange precious memories with distant family members by sharing your vacation photos and home videos. Now, you can also see what your friends are streaming from your collection as everyone gets their own view into your library.

• Plex Server updated to 1.25.3
• Plex Player updated to 1.38.0
• Plex for Android updated to 8.17.1
• Plex Home Theater updated to 2.58.0.1076

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SmartShare Plex

Plex Media Server is a powerful software to share content from your PC and an alternative for users of Mac and Unix, as there are versions of the application available on these systems. Install Plex on your computer and can share media with devices connected to the same local network (same router Internet). In this guide we show you the steps to install Plex and share multimedia content.

Installing PLEX Media Server

1. Download software from the following link:

2. Run the installation file and click Install.

3. After installation, restart the computer before running Plex.

Configuring PLEX Media Server

1. The first time you run Plex, a window will open in the browser to set the initial configuration of the program.

2. Plex Media Server organizes content libraries. Create your first library by clicking on the button Add Library.

You can sign up Plex for Login but not required, you can skip this step with an option that appears at the bottom right.

3. Now, choose the media type the library will contain:

4. With the library created, you can add items to it.

Press the button and select from your computer a folder with multimedia elements (photos, videos, music, movies . ). Plex search each folder media types that match the default for the library and add them . You can add as many folders as you want to the library. Plex will always be monitoring them and add new media or remove deleted.

5. After the creation of the library, you’ll see on the main screen means that Plex has found in folders.

6. Plex runs as a background service, you can access it by clicking the right mouse button on its icon in the taskbar.

Play shared content

Plex is a media server for DLNA, believe in your local network service that can see the TVs to reproduce its contents. Therefore, it is necessary that the computer where you run Plex and the TV where you want to access the contents, are on the same network, connected to the same Internet router, either cable or Wi-Fi. Now we show you some examples of how to access multimedia content Plex in the system webOS:

webOS 3.0 (2016)

1. Access the Smart menu ( Launcher ) and opens the application photo and video.

2. The TV will show you down all the different sources of contents that it detects in the network. Click on Plex.

webOS 2.0 (2015)

1. Access the Smart menu ( Launcher ) and opens the application SmartShare.

2. From the flyout Devices , looking Plex and see shared content from your computer.

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How many times have you found yourself flicking through the channels, and can’t find anything to satisfy you. Or do you have a load of movies saved, but are tired of having to connect up the laptop to the TV and having to control the pausing and playing of the movie from the laptop?

A few years ago I was looking for a set-top box for watching Netflix. I eventually got a Roku set-top box, which had many apps, including Netflix, Youtube and Plex. Plex is a great app for playing movies you have saved to a local computer or NAS device straight to your TV. No more messing with cables and having to plug in your laptop, or worry about it powering down half-way through the movie. As I already had a hard drive full of movies, Plex gave me a very easy way of watching them on my TV, and turned what was a hobby home server, into a serious and purposeful home entertainment project that the whole family could enjoy.

Installing the Plex server involves downloading and installing the correct installer file for Ubuntu, opening the appropriate port on your firewall, and then setting up a library with your movie folder. The server will be an Ubuntu 18.04 LTS server.

Plex Server

Playing movies with Plex requires two elements: the client and the server. The server is where your movie files are stored and served from; the client is the unit from which you watch the movies. In my case, the client was an app on the Roku. Plex also have apps for smart TVs, mobile devices, computers, etc, so you can watch your stored videos using a variety of devices. They have a wide range of supported platforms listed on their site. The Plex server is what we are going to install on our linux server and which will serve movies to the app.

The first step is to go to plex.tv and sign up for an account. Once you have an account, go to Your Media, and click the link to download the media server.

From the drop down menu, choose Linux as your platform. Rather than downloading the installer, we are going to copy the link and then use our own server to download it.

Click Choose Distribution, and hover your mouse over the option for Ubuntu 64-bit (14.04 or newer). Right click and copy the link. If you are running a 32-bit server then copy the link for that. 32 bit applications will run on 64 bit systems, but not vice versa.

Note: If you look at the links provided for the different linux versions, you will notice that Ubuntu servers get a .deb file, while Fedora and CentOS servers get a .rpm file. These are similar to .msi installer files on Windows. Ubuntu is based on the Debian operating system, and uses the Debian Package Manager (dpkg) to install .deb files. Fedora and CentOS are based off of Red Hat and use the Red Hat Package Manager (rpm) to install .rpm files. By default, Ubuntu cannot install .rpm files, so it is important to choose the correct installer file.

Installation

Log into your server over SSH and use wget to download the installer. To paste text into PuTTY, Ctrl + v wont work. Instead use Shift + Insert, or pressing the right click button on your mouse works also.

wget is most often installed by default on Ubuntu servers, but if it is not, run sudo apt-get install wget to download it.

Once downloaded, use dpkg, the Debian Package Manager, to install it.

Opening a Firewall Port

Plex uses port 32400 for when you want to set up and administer your server, and for clients connecting to it. You will need to open this port in your firewall with the following command:

Logging In

Once installed, log in to the web portal to begin setting up your movie collection. If your servers IP address is 192.168.1.100, visit

Using the username and password you created earlier, log in to the server. In order to connect the server and the client device (Smart TV, set top box, mobile app, etc), the client device may display a PIN to be entered on the server web interface.

Setup a Playlist

Plex has a nice, user friendly interface when you log in, with links clearly labelled throughout the page. As you explore the various Settings and links, there is a Home link at the top which will always bring you back to the home screen. It is from here that you can set up a playlist for watching your library of movies.

Under ‘Playlists’, click to Add a Library. You will be asked to select your library type. For movies, choose Movies. If you want to watch videos you have made yourself, of family holidays for example, you would choose Other Videos. For any videos in the Movies library, Plex will go out to internet databases to get cover arts and details of the movies. It won’t do this for the Other Videos library.

Click Next, and Plex will prompt you to browse your server for your media folders. Here it helps to have your TV shows, home videos and moves in separate folders, so they don’t end up in the wrong libraries. Click the ‘/’ icon on the left, and then browse to your media folder through the folders on the right.

When I was first setting up my movie libraries, I was unable to see my movie folder listed on the right hand side. This turned out to be a permissions issue. Plex runs under its own user and group (plex:plex), so you have to ensure that your media folder(s) have allowed permission for this user to browse and read the files (chmod –R 777 /path/to/movies).

Once done, click Add, and then Add Library. Plex should begin scanning the folder(s) you have selected and you should begin to see the cover art for the movies, etc, appearing on the home screen.

Final Settings

One particular setting I would recommend is under Settings >Library > Scan my library automatically. This will scan your library whenever it notices that you have added a new movie to the server folder where the movies are saved, making it available to watch immediately.

Media centers are the perfect place to store collections of images, music, and videos that people create on their computers, smartphones, or other devices. Their primary function is to store this media, such as your latest vacation photos or your favorite film. However, you may find your patience being tested if you start searching for a particular file, only to realize that nothing is organized properly.

1. What should a good alternative to Plex be able to do?
2. What are the best alternatives to Plex?
3. Mezzmo
4. MediaPortal
5. Kodi
6. Stremio
7. Universal Media Server
8. Emby
9. TVersity
10. A tabular comparison of the best Plex alternatives

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If you’re looking for a suitable management platform for your media files, you will no doubt come across Plex eventually. Launched as a freeware project in 2007, Plex has an impressive range of features and is undoubtedly one of the best media centers of all time. Thanks to various streaming portals and services like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, or Vevo, Plex users can play online content directly through their media center interface. However, Plex does have some formidable alternatives.

What should a good alternative to Plex be able to do?

The primary function of a media center is to organize all media files (audio, video, and image) on the selected computer system in a clearly arranged format. The user interface should make it easy for you to find and play back the content you want.

Plex alternatives (as well as Plex itself) should not just allow playback on the original device, but should also be able to play through external devices. Streaming your own media content on a TV should be a standard feature, which is why most media center interfaces are also designed to be used with smart TVs.

The best Plex alternatives should also be able to stream video and information services. Of course, your personal interests are most important here: Netflix and YouTube are more widely supported than other services because of their popularity. However, if you are not interested in these mainstream platforms, streaming links will be irrelevant to you as a user. It is therefore advisable to check the additional features in advance (often available as optional add-ons) that can be used as a respectable alternative to Plex. It is also important that the selected media management option allows multiple devices to access the library at the same time. If you want to enjoy a film while a roommate or a family member is streaming music, your chosen Plex alternative must always be usable by several people at the same time.

What are the best alternatives to Plex?

In addition to the range of functions, cost and compatibility play an important role when it comes to choosing the best media center. The latter does not just deal with which systems the media center should be created on, it is also about what platforms you can access the media center from. You should also consider how up to date the Plex alternative is when making your decision: since many media centers are interconnected with web services, timely updates to close security holes are particularly important.

To make finding a suitable Plex alternative easier, here are some interesting examples of the best media centers and a guide to their advantages and disadvantages.

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We’ve all been there before — stuck on a long car ride or a camping trip with nothing to do. And you can’t even stream anything online because you don’t have connectivity. That’s where your Plex downloads come in handy. As highlighted in our Plex review, Plex lets you download content from your Plex Media Server and save it to your device. So you can watch Plex offline no matter where you are.

That means you can effortlessly watch your favorite movies and shows on your next road trip or even on a long plane ride. The best part is you won’t have to deal with annoying buffering issues due to bad connectivity.

In this guide, we help you figure out how to download Plex content for offline viewing. We also show you how to access and manage your Plex downloads.

How to watch Plex offline

One thing to note about this feature is that it’ll save the content only to the device you’re currently using instead of in the cloud. That means you won’t be able to access it offline on another device unless you manually download it there too. But keep in mind that you’ll need the Plex Pass upgrade to get the offline download feature on mobile devices.

How to download Plex shows

Step 1: find the content you want to download

Choose the content you want to download. This could be anything from movies and TV shows to music and podcasts. For TV series, Plex even allows you to download entire shows and seasons in addition to individual episodes for offline viewing.

Step 2: initiate the download

To start the download process, select the “Download” option from the context menu of each item you want to save for offline viewing. You’ll find this menu when you hover over a poster or on the top right-hand section of pre-play screens. For individual items in list view, say a music track that’s part of an album, you’ll see this menu on the right side of each row.

If you plan on downloading an entire TV series or podcast, Plex will give you the option to limit the number of unplayed episodes to download. You can even choose whether to remove the episode from your “Downloads” library after you’ve watched/listened to it.

If you want to cancel a download that isn’t complete yet, you’ll have the option to do so from the same context menu. Or you can also select the red “X” mark next to an item in your “Downloads” library.

How to access and manage Plex downloads

All the content you’ve downloaded will show up in the Plex Downloads library. To watch a downloaded video offline or listen to podcasts and music tracks, you just need to find them in this library. The same library will also display downloads that are in progress, so you can even choose to cancel the task from here.

Here’s how to access and manage your Plex Downloads library and play your downloaded content:

Step 1: go to your Downloads library

Choose “Downloads” on the left sidebar of your Plex home screen to access your Downloads library. This will open up all the content that’s currently or has finished downloading.

Step 2: sort your downloaded titles

Plex gives you the option to sort these downloaded titles, so it’s easier to find what you want to watch. Click on the second button on the top of your screen, next to “All Downloads,” and this will display a drop-down menu of sorting options. You’ll have the option to sort these downloaded files by the date of download, size on disk and title.

Sorting your downloads by title will organize your files in alphabetical order. This makes it easier to find what you’re looking for if you know the title of the show you want to watch. Sorting them by date of download helps you find your most recent or oldest downloads, so you can quickly watch them and get rid of them to free up space.

And if you sort them by size on disk, you should be able to easily find the largest files in case you want to delete them and free up space for newer downloads.

Step 3: select the content you want to watch offline

To start playing your downloaded content, click on the poster or artwork of any title you want to watch. This will instantly initiate playback so you can sit back and relax while enjoying your favorite movies and shows or listening to a captivating podcast. If you’d like to see more information about the content or access other items under it, such as episodes, seasons and tracks, click on the title of the download.

So, for instance, let’s say you’ve downloaded one season of Fear the Walking Dead. If you click on the show artwork, Plex will immediately start playing the season from the first episode. But if you click on the name of the show, i.e., Fear the Walking Dead, it’ll open up the list of episodes, and you can select one that you want to start playing.

Step 4: delete watched titles from your library

If you want to delete the content you’ve watched to free up space in your Downloads library, select the red “X” button on the right side of each title that you want to remove. This will delete downloaded files from your Plex Downloads library. For downloads that haven’t finished, this action will stop the process.

Our hot take

The process of downloading content to play offline on Plex is pretty straightforward. Just follow the steps given above to start watching your favorite movies and shows even when there’s limited or no connectivity.

Do I need a VPN to watch Plex offline?

You don’t need a VPN to watch Plex offline.

How do I download the Plex app?

You can download the Plex app from your respective device’s app or channel store. Select the app and click on “Add,” “Download” or “Install,” depending on which device you’re using. This will instantly finish the download and installation. Don’t forget that you can also access the Plex web app using your computer browser.

How to download Plex shows on Android

To enable the download functionality on your Android mobile or tablet, you need an active Plex Pass subscription, which costs $4.99/mo. This plan comes with a Mobile Sync feature, which allows you to sync the downloaded media on your Plex Media Server from the web app to your mobile or tablet device.

Choose the content you want to download to your Android device. Then select the “Sync” icon at the bottom of the left menu bar. Choose the destination where you want to sync it (in this case, your Android mobile or tablet). Then adjust the sync settings to your liking, such as the number of items, size and whether to exclude watched episodes.

Click on “Sync” to begin the process of transcoding your chosen content. Once this process finishes, tap on the “Sync” icon on your Android device to download Plex content for offline viewing.

Jacqueline Zote

Jacqueline Zote is a digital marketing and entertainment writer who makes regular contributions to Sprout Social and Recreation Insider. Her interests range from pop culture and mythology to social activism. When she’s not writing, she goes on food adventures and binges on crime drama. Her short fiction has been published by HarperCollins Publishers and Zubaan Books.

Rev › Blog › Resources › Other Resources › How-to Guides › How to Add Captions and Subtitles to Plex Movies, TV Shows, and Videos

Plex is a media streaming platform that allows you to watch movies, tv shows, and personal videos from any device. If you have media files with embedded subtitles or a separate sidecar caption file, you can view the closed captions and foreign subtitles on your device during playback.

This article will explain how to add closed captions and subtitles to your local media files on Plex to display when you open them on your devices.

Preparing Your Plex Library

In order to use local subtitles (embedded subtitles or external subtitle files), you’ll need to configure the Local Media Assets source.

To do this, open Plex. Go to SETTINGS. Select your media server. Choose AGENTS. Select the library type and agent to change. Check the ‘Local Media Assets’ and put it at the top of the list.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll need to refresh the entire library. Find “Refresh All Metadata” and perform this action.

Subtitle Formats Supported in Plex

The following subtitle formats are supported by Plex and are compatible during playback for both external subtitle files and embedded tracks:

• .SRT, .SMI, .SSA, .ASS, .VTT

You can get closed captions and foreign subtitles for your Plex videos from Rev.

Embedded Subtitles

Media files that have subtitle tracks embedded in them are a way to package up closed captions and subtitles for your media files. It will require you to use software and take some time, and there’s no particular reason to do this method over the sidecar caption method below.

You can embed captions and subtitles into your media files with tools like Handbrake, as well as from your video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro.

External Subtitle Files

If you’re uploading sidecar caption and subtitle files separate of the media file to Plex, you’ll want to be sure they are named properly.

Media File Naming

Your Movie files should be named like this.

• Movie_Name (Release Date)

Subtitle Naming

And your subtitle files should then be named:

• Movie_Name (Release Date).[Language_Code].ext
• Movies/Movie_Name (Release Date).[Language_Code].ext

TV Show subtitles should be named like this:

• TV Shows/Show_Name/Season XX/Show_Name SxxEyy.[Language_Code].ext

If you are including a “forced subtitle” track for sequences of a language foreign to the viewer, you’ll want to format the names as such:

• Movie_Name (Release Date).[Language_Code].forced.ext
• Movies/Movie_Name (Release Date).[Language_Code].forced.ext

Getting Captions For Plex Media Files

If you need closed captions and foreign subtitles for your TV shows, movies, and videos in Plex, use Rev.com. With Rev, you get closed caption files supported by Plex (.SRT, .VTT) as well as several foreign language subtitles to translate your English content.

You even have the option to burn-in captions onto your media files, so you don’t have to worry about uploading external caption files or embedding them; when burned in they are always on and can’t be turned off.