Skip to content
Plex Docs

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Section titled “Frequently Asked Questions”

Answers to common Plex questions.

General

Section titled “General”

Do I need Plex Pass?

Section titled “Do I need Plex Pass?”

Plex Pass is optional but recommended for:

  • Hardware transcoding
  • Mobile sync/downloads
  • Plex Home (multiple users)
  • Live TV & DVR
  • Skip intros feature

Basic streaming and library management are free.

Section titled “Is Plex legal?”

Yes, Plex is legal software. It’s your responsibility to ensure the media you add is legally obtained.

Can I use Plex without internet?

Section titled “Can I use Plex without internet?”

Yes, for local playback. Initial setup and some features require internet. Enable “Settings → Network → Enable Local Network Discovery” for offline operation.

Performance

Section titled “Performance”

Why is my server buffering?

Section titled “Why is my server buffering?”

Common causes:

  1. Transcoding - Check if Direct Play is possible
  2. Network - Use wired Ethernet
  3. Storage - Ensure media drive isn’t slow
  4. Bandwidth - Check upload speed for remote

How many streams can I support?

Section titled “How many streams can I support?”

Depends on:

  • Direct Play: 10-20+ with minimal hardware
  • Transcoding: ~1-2 per CPU core, or 10+ with hardware transcoding

Should I use Direct Play or transcoding?

Section titled “Should I use Direct Play or transcoding?”

Prefer Direct Play when possible:

  • No server load
  • Best quality
  • Instant start

Transcoding needed when:

  • Client doesn’t support codec
  • Bandwidth is limited
  • Subtitle burn-in required

Libraries

Section titled “Libraries”

Why isn’t my media showing up?

Section titled “Why isn’t my media showing up?”

Check:

  1. Naming follows conventions
  2. Permissions allow Plex to read files
  3. Library type matches content
  4. Try “Scan Library Files” manually

How do I fix wrong matches?

Section titled “How do I fix wrong matches?”
  1. Click … on the item
  2. Select Fix Match
  3. Search for correct title
  4. Select correct result

Can I have multiple libraries?

Section titled “Can I have multiple libraries?”

Yes, create separate libraries for:

  • Different content types
  • Different languages
  • Adult vs family content
  • Different scan settings

Remote Access

Section titled “Remote Access”

Why can’t I access remotely?

Section titled “Why can’t I access remotely?”

Check:

  1. Port forwarding for 32400
  2. Firewall allows Plex
  3. No double NAT
  4. ISP not blocking port

What is double NAT?

Section titled “What is double NAT?”

Two routers between you and internet. Solutions:

  • Bridge mode on one device
  • Forward port on both devices
  • Use Plex Relay (limited bandwidth)

Is Plex traffic encrypted?

Section titled “Is Plex traffic encrypted?”

Yes, when “Secure connections” is enabled, all traffic uses HTTPS encryption.

Mobile & Apps

Section titled “Mobile & Apps”

Why are there ads in Plex apps?

Section titled “Why are there ads in Plex apps?”

Free tier shows ads for Plex’s free streaming content. Your personal library doesn’t have ads. Plex Pass removes all ads.

Can I download for offline?

Section titled “Can I download for offline?”

Yes, with Plex Pass. Use Sync feature in mobile apps.

Which app should I use?

Section titled “Which app should I use?”
  • Smart TVs: Native Plex app
  • Streaming devices: Plex app (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV)
  • Mobile: Official Plex app
  • Web: plex.tv or app.plex.tv

Technical

Section titled “Technical”

Where is my data stored?

Section titled “Where is my data stored?”
OSLocation
Windows%LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server\
macOS~/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/
Linux/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/

How do I backup Plex?

Section titled “How do I backup Plex?”

Essential files to backup:

  1. Database (in Plug-in Support/Databases/)
  2. Preferences.xml
  3. Metadata (optional, large)

Can I move my Plex installation?

Section titled “Can I move my Plex installation?”

Yes:

  1. Stop Plex
  2. Copy data directory
  3. Install on new system
  4. Copy data to new location
  5. Claim server with same account

Getting Help

Section titled “Getting Help”