Tired of juggling multiple streaming services and scattered media files? Plex offers a convenient solution, unifying your entertainment experience in one location. It seamlessly blends your personal media collection with popular streaming services, providing a unified platform for movies, TV series, podcasts, and more. But what exactly is Plex, and how does it work? Let’s dive in.
What is Plex?
Plex is powerful media software designed to centralize your entertainment. It integrates your personal media (photos, music, videos) with popular streaming services, creating a single hub for all your entertainment needs. The best part? The basic Plex experience is completely free. You can access third-party content simply by creating an account, downloading the app, and starting to stream. For those who want to organize and access their own media libraries, setting up a Plex Media Server is the key. This involves a few additional steps, but the benefits of having a personal media hub are well worth the effort.
What is a Plex Media Server?
The Plex Media Server, once installed and configured, automatically organizes your media files on your computer. It enhances your collection of movies, TV shows, and music by adding relevant information from the web, such as movie posters, album art, cast and crew details, episode descriptions, and original air dates. In minutes, your media collection transforms from a series of files and folders into a polished streaming service experience like Netflix, but with complete control in your hands.
Plex is remarkably versatile when it comes to media file formats. Unlike iTunes, it can read virtually every format imaginable. So, if you’ve been converting your media with tools like HandBrake, you can say goodbye to that extra step. The best part? Your Plex library can be shared with other Plex users, making it an ideal way to share your media with friends and family without relying on third-party cloud services like Google Drive or iCloud. While limitations exist, such as server power and internet bandwidth, Plex provides a convenient way to share your media with loved ones. The Watch Together feature allows you to watch movies and shows with friends, enhancing the viewing experience.
Plex also offers its own ad-supported, free streaming video service called Plex Free Movies and TV, which can be accessed alongside your personal media. Additionally, Plex Pass, a paid subscription, unlocks features like live TV and DVR capabilities. There’s also a dedicated music app called Plexamp, which we’ll explore later.
Plex Requirements
To set up a Plex Media Server, you need to choose a device for installation and operation. Plex Media Server runs on all major operating systems and NAS devices, including:
* PC, Mac, Linux, or FreeBSD computer
* NVIDIA SHIELD
* Netgear Nighthawk X10 router
* Popular NAS devices like QNAP, Synology, Netgear, Drobo, and many more
For optimal performance, a wired network connection for both your server machine and client device is recommended. A fast Wi-Fi network (routers and devices supporting 802.11ac are ideal) can work, but you’ll need strong signal strength for 4K HDR streaming. Since the Plex Media Server handles the bulk of organizing and playing back your media, a powerful device is crucial for the best experience. Refer to Plex’s support page for minimum requirements. If you only intend to watch one video at a time without sharing your library, an inexpensive NAS or Shield TV Pro might suffice. However, as your needs increase, a desktop or laptop is recommended for running the server. If unsure, the Plex user forums are a great resource for advice.
As for the Plex Client Player, it’s compatible with various devices, so chances are you already own one. From web browsers to Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, and smart TVs, the options are vast. If buying a new streaming device, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, Apple TV 4K, or Nvidia Shield TV offer the best Plex experience. Users with Dolby Atmos home theater systems should consult our Dolby Atmos sound guide for considerations related to Plex’s Dolby Atmos support.
Installing and Using Plex
Your Plex journey begins with installing the Plex Media Server software on your chosen machine. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1.
Download the appropriate installer and follow the instructions.
Once the server is installed, it opens a new browser window with the Plex web app.2.
The web app is your main tool for configuring the Plex server.
It also serves as a way to browse your library and play files on your computer. You’ll be asked to create a Plex account and will be guided through a setup wizard that assists in locating your media files.3.
Store your movies, music, and other files in any location, across multiple folders or hard drives.
Plex handles the organization. However, Plex has naming preferences for different file types. For movies, TV shows, music, and more, there’s a recommended naming style. While not mandatory, following these conventions helps Plex identify your files and retrieve additional data from the web, enhancing the experience. macOS and Windows 11 offer convenient file-renaming functions to streamline this process.4.
The Plex Media Server automatically scans the directories you specified during setup.
You can also adjust the scanning frequency for changes. If you frequently download new media, you can enable automatic library updates upon detecting new files.5.
Click the Home button in the web app interface to quickly check everything.
You should see your movies, music, and other media populating along with their respective posters or album art. If things don’t look right initially, give it a few minutes as Plex may need time to find all the necessary information.6.
To play a file, hover over the thumbnail and click the Play button.
Note that playing a movie this way may not reflect how it will appear on devices like Apple TV or Roku. It’s simply a way to verify the file playback.Playing Plex Files on Your TV and Other Devices
As mentioned, there’s a Plex client available for virtually every device. You can usually find the client for your specific device in the online download store for that platform (e.g., App Store for Apple TV, Roku Channel for Roku). Many devices, including smart TVs and Android TV boxes, come with the Plex client pre-loaded. Clients are typically free, but Plex may occasionally charge a small fee. Plex Pass subscribers enjoy free access to all clients.
1.
When starting the Plex client, it will prompt you for the same Plex account you created during server setup.
As long as your playback device and the Plex server are on the same network, the client should quickly display the same media catalog you saw in the web app.2.
An intuitive set of category links appears on the left side of the screen, organizing your media files.
Selecting the file you want to play brings up an info screen with descriptions, links, and the Play Now button.3.
Plex offers a universal search function that efficiently searches across your connected libraries, subscriptions, and services.
It finds matches within your movies, music, TV shows, free content from Plex Movies and TV, web shows, podcasts, and Tidal.Why Won’t Some Media Files Play?
Each client device has different capabilities, which translate into varying capabilities for each Plex client. When a Plex client connects to the server, it informs the server of its capabilities. For instance, an Apple TV 4K only plays video files encoded in H.264 or MPEG-4, using the .m4v, .mp4, and .mov formats. If the file you’re trying to play doesn’t match these formats, the Plex server needs to transcode it into a compatible format. This transcoding process can be demanding, depending on the file type and your client’s supported formats. If your server machine isn’t powerful enough to handle the conversion, you may see an error indicating that the movie cannot be played.
The obvious solution is to ensure your Plex server is running on a powerful computer. However, not everyone wants to keep a powerful PC running constantly. If you primarily intend to play files on a single TV at home, consider investing in a more powerful client device that can handle various file types without relying on server transcoding. The Nvidia Shield TV and Shield TV Pro can play practically every media file type, eliminating the need for server transcoding. We’ve successfully played 4K HDR files with Dolby Atmos on a Shield TV from a Plex server running on a WD My Cloud Mirror Gen 2, a NAS with less processing power than even the cheapest PC.
Access and Search All Your Streaming Services with Plex Discover
Plex Discover allows you to access all your streaming services in one place. When setting up the Plex server and app, you’ll be asked to choose from a list of streaming services, including popular ones like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, and more. The Discover section then appears on the left menu, under the home navigation. Once configured, you can see what’s streaming across all your services in a single location. These listings are neatly organized into helpful categories like Trending, New, Coming Soon, and more. Clicking a title reveals information about it, including available services, and allows you to add it to your watchlist.
Plex’s search function pulls in results from across your streaming services, even those you don’t subscribe to. It also incorporates results from your personal media library, Plex’s AVOD library, trailers, theatrical releases, and more. Searching is simple, using titles, actors, and directors. The universal watchlist is a helpful tool, eliminating the need for separate lists on each service. You can add titles to your watchlist as you browse and search, and as they become available on different services, you’ll always know where to watch them. If you want to see only available titles, filter your list using the Available to stream filter.
Enabling Remote Access and Library Sharing
Plex’s powerful remote access feature lets you access your media library from anywhere in the world. While setting this up requires adjusting your router’s firewall settings, once configured, you can use the Plex client on your phone or tablet to stream your personal media library, including live TV and recorded shows (if enabled). Here’s how to enable remote access across your Plex-powered hardware:
1.
Configure your modem to send remote access requests to your router if they are separate devices.
2.
Configure your router to send remote access requests to the machine on your network hosting your Plex Media Server.
3.
Configure your Plex Media Server to respond to these remote access requests.
To share your Plex library with friends and family, configure remote access first. Then, ask them to create free Plex accounts and tell you their email addresses.
4.
Within the settings for your Plex Media Server, locate the Users and Sharing section.
Here, you can add users for those who live with you and grant access to friends via the Shared Libraries option. For each invited Plex user, you can choose the server (if you have multiple) and libraries (movies, TV, etc.) they can access. Plex Pass subscribers can also allow these users to download and sync content to their devices and upload photos to your server. You can monitor what these users are watching in real time and view their viewing history within the server’s Activity Dashboard.Plex Free Movies and TV
Similar to free, ad-supported services like the Roku Channel, Plex Free Movies and TV is both an extension of your personal Plex experience and a standalone service. As a standalone service, you can stream Plex Free Movies and TV from the web using a free Plex account. However, if you’re a Plex Media Server user, you can access it through the same interface as your private content library – no separate app is required. This free, ad-supported service has a growing catalog of content from sources like Paramount, Warner Brothers, MGM, Legendary, Magnolia Pictures, Lionsgate Films, and Crackle. The selection is constantly changing, offering movies and shows to watch. While it may not be as extensive as paid services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, you’ll find great B-movies, Hollywood classics, and hidden gems.
Tidal Integration
If you have a Tidal subscription, you can add it to Plex to stream your Tidal music on any device supporting the Plex client. Plex integrates Tidal with your personal music library. As you browse music on your server, Plex automatically finds matches from Tidal, showcasing tracks, albums, artists, and genres you might be missing. However, as of October 28, 2024, Plex will no longer support Tidal integration. You’ll need to use the Tidal app instead.
Sonos Integration
If you own Sonos wireless whole-home speakers, you can add Plex as a music source, similar to Apple Music or Spotify. This integration offers two major advantages: first, Plex can automatically transcode music files that Sonos can’t play (like hi-res FLAC files), allowing you to enjoy your entire music library. Second, if you have two Sonos systems in different homes, Plex enables access to your personal music library in both locations, a feature Sonos doesn’t offer on its own. You can also set up multiple user profiles with separate playlists using a single Plex server. This is particularly convenient if you and your friends upload music to a shared Plex server. After all, not everyone shares your taste, and some collections might not be universally appealing.
What is Plex Pass and Why Should I Get It?
Many of Plex’s best features are available for free, but premium features require a Plex Pass subscription. Plex Pass can be purchased monthly ($5), annually ($40), or for a lifetime ($120), granting you access to the following features:
*
Live TV plus DVR:
With an HD antenna and a compatible OTA DVR, you can watch and record live TV within Plex. Your recording capacity is limited only by your server’s hard drive space, and all recordings are presented with the same user-friendly interface as the rest of your library.*
Mobile sync:
A must-have for commuters, this feature allows you to wirelessly keep copies of your favorite media on your phone for offline playback. It automatically adds and removes TV episodes as you watch them.*
Skip credits:
This premium feature uses advanced monitoring tools to detect credits. If you’re not in the mood to sit through opening titles or lengthy end credits, you have the option to skip them.*
Plex Dash:
A server-monitoring tool (from Plex Labs), Plex Dash tracks your Plex Media Server, displaying network, memory, and processor usage in user-friendly graphs, charts, and widgets. You can also monitor the growth of your content libraries and see who’s watching what on shared Plex servers.*
Webhooks:
Integrating Plex with the world of smart home automations, Webhooks allows you to trigger Plex Media Server actions when interacting with smart home devices. For instance, dimming your smart lights when playing a song from your Plex playlists. You can also map Plex Media Server actions to workflow tools and social media apps like Slack and Twitter.*
Premium music and photo libraries:
Get additional information added to your music (like lyrics for karaoke) or photos (location data) for an enhanced experience.*
Camera upload:
Wirelessly sync photos from your mobile device to Plex for easy viewing across your Plex clients.*
Hardware-accelerated streaming:
This feature significantly improves transcoding performance. Without a Plex Pass, all server transcoding is handled by the Plex software, but this option allows you to utilize your PC’s hardware power to assist in transcoding, resulting in smoother performance. You might be able to use a less powerful PC with this option enabled.*
Free access to Plex client apps:
Never pay for a client app again.*
Download:
Bring all your favorite movies or music with you. No internet is required.*
Plexamp:
A whole new way to enjoy your musicPlexamp: A Whole New Way to Enjoy Your Music
As part of the Plex experience, the company offers a fantastic music-listening and curation tool called Plexamp. Introduced a few years ago, Plexamp was previously a paid feature for Plex Pass users but is now completely free for anyone with a Plex account. With the look and feel of a premium music-streaming app like Spotify or Apple Music, Plexamp allows you to experience your entire Plex music library in new and exciting ways. It also provides access to Plex-curated artists, albums, and playlists. Plexamp enables you to listen to your favorite tunes from anywhere in the world, featuring gapless playback, loudness leveling, pre-caching, and compatibility with Chromecast and AirPlay. Tidal subscribers can link their accounts to Plexamp. Plex Pass subscribers enjoy special treatment within Plexamp, with perks that might entice you to upgrade your Plex subscription. These perks include artist and album mix building, track/artist/album curations based on your listening preferences, a ten-band equalizer, and more. You can download the Plexamp desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux machines, and the mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
Watch Together
Co-watching content online has gained immense popularity. Plex’s Watch Together feature allows users to watch movies and TV shows with friends. It’s supported on various devices, including:
* Amazon Fire TV
* Android mobile
* Android TV / Google TV
* Apple TV
* iOS
* PlayStation 5
* Plex HTPC
* Portal from Facebook
* Roku
* Smart TVs: LG, Samsung, VIZIO
* Web App
* Xbox
1.
To start a Watch Together session, select a movie or show in your Plex app and click the Three dots / more button, followed by Watch Together.
2.
Once the session is active, you can select the friends you want to join you.
You need to be friends with them on Plex, but you can send a friend request if you aren’t already. You might need to restart the app if you just accepted a friend request.3.
A Watch Together session appears at the top of your app’s home screen.
Selecting it takes you to the Lobby, where you can see the joined friends and their Ready status. You can also click Start to begin immediately.4.
Any user in the session can pause, start, fast forward, or rewind the content.
This adjusts the playback for all users in the session.Kodi versus Plex
Kodi and Plex share similarities but differ significantly. Kodi is a powerful media center software interface that offers many of the same functionalities as Plex. The key difference lies in their approach. Kodi doesn’t have server software; all functions are self-contained in an app you download and install on a compatible device. This limits Kodi’s compatibility to only a few device types. It doesn’t work on Roku, Amazon’s Fire TV, or Apple TV without significant effort to install and use it. Additionally, without a central server managing your media collection, each instance of Kodi is independent. Synchronizing settings across devices is not straightforward, requiring separate setup for each Kodi device. There’s also no dedicated customer support, meaning you’ll need to troubleshoot issues on your own. Because Kodi is open-source software, numerous third-party extras are available. However, this includes unofficial add-ons that can lead to problems, such as unknowingly accessing copyrighted material. Unofficial add-ons can also expose you to malware, hackers, and snoopers. If you’re considering Kodi, review our Kodi explainer to learn how to protect yourself from cyberattacks and potential issues related to third-party add-ons. The guide provides insights into the legal ramifications of using these add-ons. Despite these concerns, Kodi can be a viable Plex alternative for users who enjoy tweaking software settings. Many users have reported improved streaming services and speeds when pairing Kodi with a VPN. If you prefer a less centralized and interconnected media library, Kodi might be a suitable choice.
Conclusion
Plex offers numerous advantages with minimal restrictions, making it an excellent tool for managing and centralizing your media library. Its versatility includes free streaming content, cross-device syncing with a simple login, and relatively few limitations, such as the limited list of incompatible file types. We recommend Plex for users who want to organize and retrieve their media. You should now be familiar with how to use Plex effectively.
