MyPlex
From Plex
Contents
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What is myPlex?
myPlex is a free service from Plex that lets you watch your media over the internet, share it with friends, or bookmark interesting videos for later viewing. The service makes configuring your network for these functions much simpler than before. Even people with little technical knowledge will be able to use the sophisticated media-sharing features. Here's a quick run-down of those services:
Publish your Plex Media Server for Personal Use
Use myPlex to publish your Plex Media Server over the internet. While you're away from your home network you can use a mobile or desktop Plex client to it into myPlex and your remote Sections will be available for you to watch. You can control the video quality being sent meaning slower internet connections can still be used.
Share your media with others by sending them an invitation to one or more of your library content Sections. Once invited, your friend can watch media from that Section either in their home or out and about on a mobile Plex client. Remember to respect the relevant copyright laws when sharing media with others!
Bookmark Videos for Later
Did you find a great video on a website and want to watch it later at home on your TV? Use the myPlex Bookmarklet to add video from a myPlex supported website myPlex Queue. You can also send an e-mail to your myPlex Queue with the video details. When you get home, the bookmarked videos are waiting to be watched in Plex.
Automatic Configuration
All these features are great, but the key to them is myPlex's automatic router configuration. Previously you needed to be technically proficient and set up a dynamic DNS tracker, configure port-forwards, etc. That's all terrific stuff if you know how to do it, but lots of us don't and might have no desire to learn. myPlex makes this technical configuration much easier for the average user. If you have a modern compatible router, configuration is fully automatic and other routers only require a port-forward.
Requirements
Sharing your content via myPlex requires:
- A Plex Media Server (v0.9.5.x or newer) with an internet connection. It is important to have a good upload connection speed
- A free myPlex account
- For automatic router configuration, a router that supports either UPnP or NAT-PMP
- Other routers require a manual port-forward
- "Double-NAT" network configurations are not supported
NAT (Network Address Translation) allows sharing a single internet connection with many computers. Router/modems that allow multiple computers to be connected - either over ethernet or Wi-Fi - will use NAT to do this sharing. "Double-NAT" is when you have 2 devices on the network, both handling NAT services in two levels. For example, you might have a WiFi router plugged into your main router.
Configuring myPlex
Before you can configure myPlex:
- Install and complete the configuration of your Plex Media Server
- Register a free myPlex account
- Ensure your network is not Double-NAT
- Ideally, know if your router supports uPnP or NAT-PMP
Install and Configure a Plex Media Server
The myPlex service needs a Plex Media Server on your home network that is configured and running. Information on configuring a Plex Media Server is available on the Wiki.
- Additional Reading: Installing a Plex Media Server
Get a myPlex Account
- Visit http://my.plexapp.com/
- Click the Join myPlex link and fill in the membership details
- Respond to the confirmation e-mail
- Return to http://my.plexapp.com/ and log into the new account
Note: If you have a plexapp.com forum account, you can use that username and password for myPlex. You must have logged into the forums once to activate the account.
Sign the Plex Media Server into myPlex
Once you have completed these tasks, it's time to sign into the myPlex service on your Plex Media Server. To do this:
- From the Web Media Manager, or Mac OS X Menu bar open the Plex Media Server Preferences
- Choose the myPlex tab then click Sign-in. Enter your details and click OK
- The Plex Media Server will attempt to sign into the myPlex service
- If the sign-in is successful, you'll see a green light next to the sign-in name
- If there is an error signing in, see later
Publishing the Plex Media Server
Signing your Plex Media Server into myPlex lets you publish it's contents via myPlex. If you don't want to access or share your Plex Media Server with myPlex, there is no need to sign the Plex Media Server into myPlex. You will still be able to use the myPlex bookmarklet service. To publish the Server:
- Open the Plex Media Server Preferences, choose the myPlex tab and sign-in to myPlex
- Check Publish server to myPlex
- The Plex Media Server will attempt to auto-configure the router
- If successful, you'll see a green light next to the publishing state and the server will be available via myPlex
Publishing Multiple Plex Media Servers
If your router supports auto-configuration, you can publish as many Plex Media Servers on the local network as you like. For each server:
- Open the Plex Media Server Preferences
- Choose the myPlex tab and sign into myPlex
- Once signed in, check Publish server to myPlex
- Ensure the server publishing state is 'green'
The additional Plex Media Server is available via myPlex
When Auto-Configuration Fails
myPlex works best with modern routers that support uPnP and NAT-PMP auto-configuration. These protocols allow a service like myPlex to automatically configure a port-forward on the router. Not all modems have these protocols, and some have implementations that don't work so well. There are a number of errors you may encounter - see later.
Troubleshooting Auto-Configuration Failures
If publishing the Plex Media Server fails, you should try the following:
- Find your router's user manual or on-line documentation
- Check whether your router supports uPnP or NAT-PMP
- If they do, you may need to switch the feature on in the router's software
- If the services are enabled, try toggling them off and then back on again and try to publish the server once more
- If your computer has a firewall, proxy, or anti-virus software installed, try temporarily disabling them and then attempt to publish the server again
Sometimes, older routers offer uPnP support that may not work with new applications. If you cannot get the router to automatically configure the port-forward, you can seek help from the manufacturer or other forums. There may be upgraded firmware that fixes the issue. If disabling the firewall allows successful publishing, you need to add the Plex Media Server to the firewall's allowed list - consult the firewall's user manual. If you exhaust all possibilities, it's a simple matter of setting up a manual port-forward.
Manually Configure the Router
If the Plex Media Server cannot configure the router automatically, it may simply be that the router doesn't support auto-configuration, or the support is flawed. In this case, a manual port-forward can be configured. This is not an inferior configuration, and is not hard to do. To configure the manual port-forward:
- On the computer hosting the Plex Media Server, set up the computer so that it uses a manual local IP address, or an IP reservation in the router's DHCP server (so that the computer will always have the same local IP)
- Choose an appropriate port number
- Port 32400 is the default, but you can choose one not being used by a service in your network above 1024
- Generally, ports in the 20,000 to 50,000 range work well
- Consult your router's manual for instructions on how to forward a port
- Map the chosen external port number so that it is forwarded to internal port 32400 for the local IP address of the computer running your Plex Media Server
While you can choose any valid external port number you desire, the internal port the mapping forwards to must always be 32400.
When NAT auto-configuration fails, it is only necessary to configure a port-forward. The myPlex service discovers and tracks the external IP address, so it is not necessary to setup a dynamic DNS tracker.
Multiple Plex Media Servers
If you have more than one Plex Media Server to publish via myPlex, you will need to choose a unique external port number for each one. To do this:
- Choose a different unique port number for each of your Plex Media Servers
- Remember, you must use a different external port for each myPlex connection you want to have here
- Following the previous example, you could use ports 32401, 32402, etc.
- Forward that unique external port number to internal port 32400 for the local IP address of the corresponding computer running that Plex Media Server - follow the previous instructions
Getting Help Setting Up a Port-Forward
If you're having trouble understanding how to set up and configure a port-forward on your router, there are various resources available on the internet:
- Use your favourite Search Engine and search for configure port forward [insert your router here]
- There are several useful sites that offer free guides. Search for configure port forward and you should find one
- If the sites you find offer payware applications, realise you don't have to purchase software to configure the port-forward!
myPlex Errors
There are a number of errors you may see when setting up myPlex in your Plex Media Server preferences. Here are some of the more common errors. A more complete list is available.
- Additional Reading: List of myPlex Errors
Sign-In Errors
| Error | Explanation |
| Failed to sign in as [username] | There was a problem signing into the myPlex service. |
| No Login Data | An error occurred while logging in. This is an internal error. |
| Invalid email, username of password | The email, username or password does not match the registered details. Try again with the correct credentials. |
Errors Publishing a Plex Media Server
When attempting to publish a Plex Media Server via myPlex, you may see a number of errors. These are the more common ones:
| Error | Explanation |
| Unable to authenticate | myPlex was unable to authenticate the connection. |
| myPlex was unable to connect to your server | Usually indicates there is no open port or an incorrectly configured port forward. |
| myPlex appears to be offline | The myPlex service or servers may be temporarily unavailable. |
| Failed to map port: not an IGD Device | No uPnP or NAT-PMP device found. Your router does not support auto-configuration or uPnP/NAT-PMP are not enabled. |
Using myPlex
myPlex lets you view content from your own Plex Media Server, share specific Sections with your friends and family, and bookmark interesting video material you find on myPlex supported sites.
Viewing content from your own Plex Media Server
When you sign a Plex Client into the myPlex service, all Sections from your own Plex Media Server (or multiple servers, if there's more than one) will be available for the Client to view. For information on how to sign a Client into myPlex, see next. The Sections appear at the top-level of the Desktop clients, as if they were local Sections. Sections that a friend has shared with you will appear in the Shared Content item in the Desktop clients.
Sharing Content via myPlex
myPlex lets you to share your media with friends and family. It is an optional feature, and you must explicitly enable it. You can share all of your media Sections or only specific Sections. Before sharing your media, you should:
- Get a myPlex account as previously described
- Sign into the myPlex service in your Plex Media Server as previously described
Be sure you respect the relevant copyright laws when sharing media!
Sharing Your Media
Once you have a myPlex account and the Plex Media Server has been successfully logged into myPlex, you can share a Section with someone who is also a member of myPlex as follows:
- Visit http://my.plexapp.com/
- Log into your account
- Click the Servers tab - you will see a list of my Media Servers
- Click the server name in the left-most list - the Server details are checked and loaded
- Click the Share this server with a friend link - the Section Sharing page loads
- Enter the myPlex e-mail address or username of the person with whom you want to share
- Choose whether to share All Sections or specific sections by checking or un-checking Share All Sections
- Click Share and an invitation e-mail will be sent to your friend
People you've invited to share your media will only have access to Sections you've explicitly shared with them.
You can control the sections you've shared with others using the myPlex website. To control the shared items:
- Visit http://my.plexapp.com/
- Log into your account
- Click the Servers tab - you will see a list of my Media Servers
Cancel a Pending Invitation
You can cancel an invitation that hasn't yet been accepted:
- Find the pending invitation to cancel
- Click Cancel to cancel the invitation
- The pending invitation is cancelled and a Share successfully revoked message is displayed
To change the Sections to which your guest has access:
- In the list of shared items, click Edit for the Share to edit
- Select the Sections to share as follows:
- Uncheck Share all Sections to choose specific Sections to share
- Check Share all Sections to share all Sections
- Click Save to save the changes
Revoking Access
- Find the shared section to revoke
- Click Revoke for the share to revoke
- The share is revoked and a Share successfully revoked message is displayed
If you have a myPlex account and someone has shared content with you, you may accept the invitation in 2 ways:
Accept an Email Invitation
When someone chooses to share content with you via myPlex, an email invitation will be sent to your registered email address.
- Open the email invitation
- Follow the Accept the invitation link included inside the email
The shared content will be added to your "Shared with me" list.
Accept an Invitation on the myPlex Website
After someone chooses to share content with you via myPlex, you can accept the invitation on the website:
- Log into your http://my.plexapp.com/ account
- Click the Servers tab
- Note that there is an open invitation under "Shared with me"
- Click Accept to accept the invitation or Refuse to refuse the invitation
If you accept the invitation, the shared content will be added to your Shared with me list.
You can leave a shared Section by:
- Clicking the Plex Media Server name in your Shared with me list
- Click Leave this shared server
- Confirm you want to leave the share
So long as the original person hasn't cancelled or revoked your invitation, you can rejoin a share at any time, without needing a new invitation. To rejoin a share:
- Log into your my.plexapp.com account
- Click the Servers tab
- Note that there is an open invitation under "Shared with me"
- Click Accept to accept the invitation or Refuse to refuse the invitation
If you accept the invitation, the shared content will be added to your Shared with me list.
myPlex Queue
The myPlex queue lets you visit a myPlex supported website, find a video you like, and bookmark it for viewing later on in a Plex Client. To use the Queue, you need:
- A supported Browser
- Install the myPlex Bookmarklet or know your personal myPlex Queue email address
Supported Browsers
To use the > Plex It! bookmarklet, it is important to be using the most recent version of the major browsers:
- Safari v5 or higher (Mac OS X or Windows)
- Firefox v7 or higher (Mac OS X or Windows)
- Google Chrome v14 or higher (Mac OS X or Windows)
- Other browsers may work but have not been tested
Install the > Plex It! Bookmarklet
- Make sure the Browser's Bookmark Toolbar is visible
- On the myPlex website, click the Queue tab
- Click the Plex It! Bookmarklet link at the bottom
- Locate the > Plex It! bookmarklet, drag and drop it to your browser's toolbar
Note: Your "> Plex It!" bookmarklet is specific to your account. If you share the bookmarklet with someone else, they'll be adding items to your myPlex Queue.
Using the myPlex Queue Bookmarklet
The myPlex Bookmarklet lets you visit myPlex supported websites, find a video you like and add it to the myPlex Queue for later viewing. For a list of myPlex supported sites, see next. To use the bookmarklet:
- Make sure you have the latest myPlex Queue bookmarklet installed
- Visit the website and find a video you want to bookmark
- With the video visible (it doesn't have to be playing), click Plex It!
- A slider slides out in the browser window and the video is bookmarked for later viewing
Using the myPlex Queue Email Interface
You can add items to your myPlex queue by sending an email. On the Get the Plex It! Bookmarklet page, scroll down. You'll find an e-mail address. To use this:
- Visit a myPlex supported website
- Find a video you like
- Copy the link from your browser's address bar
- Send that link in the body of an e-mail to the e-mail address you found on the Get Plex It! page
- Note: the e-mail address is personalised to your myPlex account. If you use someone else's e-mail link, you'll add content to their queue, not yours.
Signing a Plex Client into myPlex
Compatible Plex clients will let you log into myPlex via the client itself in order to consume myPlex content. For instance, the Plex 0.9.5 or newer desktop client, second generation iOS and Android clients, as well as the Roku client will all allow the user to sign into myPlex via their settings/preferences. Once you sign into myPlex, the client will automatically display available myPlex content such as the myPlex Queue and Shared Content.
Plex Desktop Client To sign the Plex 0.9.5+ desktop client into myPlex:
- Launch the client
- Choose Preferences > System > myPlex
- Enter your username and password
- Choose the Sign In menu item to complete the sign in
The client signs into myPlex. Once signed in, the Queue and Shared Content will appear in the Home screen list.
Plex iOS Client To sign the iOS client into myPlex:
- Launch the iOS client
- Go to Settings
- Choose Sign in to myPlex
- Enter your username and password
- Choose Sign In to complete the sign in
Plex for Android To sign the Android client into myPlex:
- Launch the Android client
- Go to Settings
- Choose Account Settings under "Connect with myPlex"
- Enter your username and password
- Choose Sign In to complete the sign in
Note: If you don't have anything in your myPlex Queue, or haven't accepted an invitation to share a remote Plex Media Server's content, the Queue or Shared Content items won't appear.
myPlex and Internet Bandwidth
Viewing media over the internet can be challenging for an internet connection, particularly if you're watching HD media. There are several variables that may form a bottle-neck to smooth playback:
- The upload speed at the source Plex Media Server
- The download bandwidth at the Client
- The current network conditions
- Note also that the power of a Plex Media Server computer can also have an influence on how smooth playback is in cases where the content is being transcoded.
Viewing the myPlex Queue
Viewing media that comes from an internet website (such as Vimeo or YouTube) requires a reasonable Internet connection - typically at least 512kbps for downloads. Slower connections will take longer to download content, which may result in Buffering messages in the client.
Content that originates from a Plex Media Server - either your own or a shared server - means you're sending media from the shared Plex Media Server to a remote Plex Client. There are several variables involved:
- The upload bandwidth available at the Plex Media Server end (the Source)
- The download bandwidth available at the Plex Client end (the Destination)
- The network conditions at the time you're trying to stream the video
- How powerful the computer hosting the Plex Media Server is for transcoding media
- As media is being transcoded by the Plex Media Server for myPlex, a low-powered computer may not be able to keep up - especially if HD media is involved. If you're experiencing buffering errors, this is something you should check.
There are 2 ends of Shared Content to consider: the Source and the Destination. The Source supplies the media, and the Destination views it. The requirements for smooth viewing are:
Media Source Bandwidth
To smoothly transmit the media Source, an upload bandwidth of the following is required:
240p - 320kbps 320p - 720kbps 480p - 1500kbps 720p - 2000kbps 720p - 3000kbps 1080p - 8000kbps 1080p - 10000kbps 1080p - 12000kbps 1080p - 200000kbps
A lower available upload bandwidth will mean the viewer will experience pauses as the new block arrives. If the upload internet connection becomes very slow, playback may fail at the destination.
Media Destination Bandwidth
The media destination requires at least the same bandwidth as the upload amounts quoted for the Source upload requirement, as well as some moderate upload bandwidth itself in order to communicate with the Plex Media Server. Slower connections can expect pauses as new blocks arrive.
Security and Privacy
The myPlex Service
Due to the nature of the myPlex service, many people have questions or concerns regarding the security and privacy of data and communication. Keep in mind that myPlex is a completely voluntary feature - you are not required to create a myPlex account or to use myPlex if you don't wish to do so.
- All communication between clients and the myPlex server is fully SSL encrypted.
- myPlex does not store any information about your media (files, hashes, etc.).
- myPlex stores five thumbnails from each section but no metadata about items in your library (beyond what you see).
- myPlex acts as a hub, providing connection information between Plex clients and Plex Media Servers. However, myPlex is not involved in any actual communication between a client and Plex Media Server.
- myPlex stores URLs and metadata for items you've added to your myPlex Queue as well as watched/progress statuses for the Queue items.
- When clients sign into myPlex, they send Operating System type and version, client type and version, and a unique identifier (random UUID on most platforms).
While not directly associated with myPlex, if you choose to submit anonymous information to Plex (an option under the "General" tab of Plex Media Server preferences), then media matches and media match fixes are sent to the Plex servers, with filenames, file hashes, and details about the match. This information is stripped of IP and used to improve content matching for all users. The information stored is completely anonymous (no IP, no myPlex association, etc.).
Security and the Web Media Manager
By default, when you access your web-based Media Manager, it should require security authentication. The security authentication will be bypassed and you'll be able to actually use the Media Manager if one of the following is true:
- You access from within your local network on the same subnet
- You follow the "Plex Media Manager" link for your server from the myPlex website (which will include the security token to authenticate your access)
- You're using a browser that has previously authenticated with your Plex Media Server/Media Manager successfully
Supported myPlex Sites
A multitude of websites are currently supported for use with the myPlex "> Plex It!" bookmarklet. See a full list on the Supported myPlex Sites page.