Windows Overview

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Plex on Windows

Windows is the most popular platform for Plex Media Server, offering an easy setup experience with excellent hardware transcoding support.

Why Windows?

GUI installer with automatic updates. No command line required for basic operation. Native Intel Quick Sync and NVIDIA GPU transcoding support. Use Task Scheduler, services, and other familiar Windows tools. Perfect for gaming PCs that double as media servers.

System Requirements

Minimum

Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
Intel Core i3 or AMD equivalent
4 GB RAM
100 MB free disk space (for Plex)

Hardware Transcoding

Windows supports multiple hardware transcoding options:

Hardware	Plex Pass Required	Performance
Intel Quick Sync	Yes	Excellent
NVIDIA NVENC	Yes	Excellent
AMD VCE	Yes	Good
Software	No	CPU-dependent

Windows-Specific Features

Run as Service

Configure Plex to run as a Windows service for:

Start on boot without login
Run in background without visible window
More stable operation

Task Scheduler

Automate maintenance tasks:

Scheduled library scans
Database backups
Log cleanup

Firewall Integration

Windows Defender Firewall integration allows easy port management for remote access.

1. [Installation](/windows/installation/) - Download and install Plex 2. [Configuration](/windows/configuration/) - Initial setup and settings 3. [Libraries](/windows/libraries/) - Add and organize media 4. [Optimization](/windows/optimization/) - Hardware transcoding and performance 5. [Remote Access](/windows/remote-access/) - Stream from anywhere 6. [Troubleshooting](/windows/troubleshooting/) - Common issues and fixes

Common Paths

Item	Default Location
Installation	`C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\`
Data/Config	`%LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server\`
Database	`%LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server\Plug-in Support\Databases\`
Logs	`%LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server\Logs\`
Transcoder Temp	`%LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server\Cache\Transcode\`

Next Steps

Ready to install? Continue to the Installation Guide.