Choose Your Platform

Choose Your Platform

Select your operating system below to access platform-specific installation guides, optimization tips, and troubleshooting resources.

🪟 Windows

Best for: Home users, beginners, gaming PCs

Windows offers the easiest setup experience with a familiar GUI installer. Great for those who want a simple, point-and-click setup.

Highlights:

• Simple GUI installer
• Intel Quick Sync support
• NVIDIA GPU transcoding
• Task Scheduler automation

Get started with Windows →

🍎 macOS

Best for: Mac users, Apple Silicon performance

Native macOS support with excellent Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) performance. VideoToolbox provides efficient hardware transcoding.

Highlights:

• Drag-and-drop installation
• VideoToolbox transcoding
• Homebrew package management
• launchd auto-start

Get started with macOS →

🐧 Linux

Best for: Power users, servers, NAS devices

The most flexible option with Docker support, systemd integration, and headless operation. Ideal for dedicated servers.

Highlights:

• Docker deployment
• Systemd services
• Headless operation
• ZFS/RAID support

Get started with Linux →

Platform Comparison

Feature	Windows	macOS	Linux
Setup Difficulty	Easy	Easy	Moderate
GUI Installer	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No
Docker Support	Via WSL	Via Desktop	✅ Native
Hardware Transcoding	Quick Sync, NVIDIA	VideoToolbox	Quick Sync, NVIDIA, AMD
Headless Operation	Limited	Limited	✅ Full
Auto-Updates	✅ Built-in	✅ Built-in	Manual/Apt
Best For	Home Users	Mac Users	Servers

Not Sure Which to Choose?

Recommendation

• First-time users: Start with Windows for the easiest experience
• Mac owners: Use macOS for seamless integration
• Running 24/7: Choose Linux for stability and lower resource usage
• Using a NAS: Most NAS devices run Linux variants

Hardware Considerations

Windows

• Best with Intel CPUs (6th gen+) for Quick Sync
• NVIDIA GPUs (GTX 1050+) work great
• Good for dual-purpose gaming/media server PCs

macOS

• Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) excellent for transcoding
• Intel Macs support Quick Sync
• Energy efficient for always-on operation

Linux

• Works on almost any hardware
• Docker enables easy deployment and updates
• Best for dedicated server hardware
• Excellent for headless/remote operation

Docker vs Native

Native Installation

Pros:

• Simpler initial setup
• Direct hardware access
• Better for beginners

Cons:

• Manual updates
• OS-specific configuration

Docker Installation

Pros:

• Easy updates and rollbacks
• Isolated environment
• Reproducible setup
• Works on any Docker host

Cons:

• Docker learning curve
• Slight overhead

Next Steps

Choose your platform above to begin, or if you want to get started quickly:

Quick Start Guide Get Plex running in 10 minutes regardless of platform.