How to Diagnose and Fix Plex Media Issues

Fix Plex Media: When you run Plex regularly, you may have experienced problems with your Plex Media Server not opening or not responding. This...

How to Diagnose and Fix Plex Media Issues

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Fix Plex Media: When you run Plex regularly, you may have experienced problems with your Plex Media Server not opening or not responding. This can be unpleasant, especially if Plex is your primary app for media streaming. There are solutions to troubleshoot and resolve various server issues, such as Plex not showing your media or other connectivity issues. We'll go over the most common causes of Plex Media Server start problems in this tutorial, along with fixes to get it operating properly once more.

Fix Plex Media: Common Causes for Plex Media Not Opening

Image Credits: Image Created Using Canva
Image Credits: Image Created Using Canva

It's important to know the common causes of why Plex Media Server fails to start before starting any troubleshooting operations that you can Fix Plex Media. Here are a few explanations of why this could happen:

  • Outdated or Corrupted application: Your Plex program might not open properly if it is corrupted or outdated.
  • Problems with Network Connectivity: Plex won't work without a constant internet connection. Plex may not launch if there are connectivity problems with your network.
  • Interference from Firewalls or Antivirus Software: Plex Media Server may not start or connect if certain firewall or antivirus settings are in place.
  • Server Configuration Errors: The program may not run if there are configuration errors in Plex's server settings.
  • Hardware Resource Limits: Plex may not launch properly if it has insufficient RAM or CPU.

Fix Plex Media Step 1: Take a Look for updates to the software

Sofware Update
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Ensure that you have installed the most recent version of the application as this is the basic and initial action to take while troubleshooting Plex Media Server not opening. New releases may contain bug fixes; therefore, using an out-of-date version could result in compatibility or performance problems.

  • Check for updates by opening the Plex app or visiting the official Plex website.
  • Install any available updates by downloading and installing them.
  • Restart the Plex Media Server again after giving your computer a restart.

Fix Plex Media Step 2: Turn on the router and computer again

router
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Easy solutions are the best sometimes. You may reset the system and fix temporary problems by restarting your computer and router.

  • Switch off your computer.
  • Before resetting your router, turn it off and give it a break for at least 30 seconds.
  • After restarting your computer, try to launch Plex Media Server.

Step 3: Confirm the Connection with Your Network

Network
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Network troubles may be the main culprit if Plex is taking an unusually long time to assess your connection speed or if you're having trouble getting it to start.

  • Ensure that the internet is connected to the computer. Check to see whether other websites are loading properly by opening a web browser.
  • Make sure everything is stable by checking your Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi connection.
  • Ensure that the computer using Plex is linked to the same network as the other device.
  • Ensure that your router is operating properly and that there are no broader network problems.

Yet another option is to try an internet speed test. Your internet may be working too slowly for Plex to open correctly if it takes a while for it to respond when Plex checks your connection speed.

Step 4: Check Antivirus and Firewall Configurations

Firewall & Antivirus
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Plex Media Server sometimes gets stopped from starting or establishing a connection with other devices on your network by firewalls or antivirus software.

  • Plex Media Server should be added to the list of allowed programs or exceptions when you open your firewall or antivirus program.
  • Make sure that no specific ports (usually port 32400) that Plex uses are being blocked by your firewall.
  • Take a break to turn off your antivirus and firewall and check if Plex launches without any problems. Should that happen, you will have to adjust the security program to permit Plex.

Step 5: Clear Plex Cache

Cache
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A destroyed cache may be the reason Plex Media Server isn't displaying your media. Plex employs cache files to speed up the loading of your media collection; nevertheless, there is a chance that these files will get corrupted and cause problems.

Delete the Plex cache by:

  • The folder containing Plex should be opened.
  • Go to the folder named Cache.
  • Remove every file contained within this folder; do not remove the folder itself.
  • Start Plex Media Server again.
  • Plex will automatically restore it after the cache has been deleted. Your media may start to appear again after doing this, which might take a few minutes.

After clearing the cache, Plex will automatically restore it. This can fix the problem of your media not showing up, but it can take a few minutes.

Step 6: Look for Setup issues on the server.

Server Setup
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Your Plex Media Server may not start properly if some settings are incorrect. This is what you ought to do:

  • Access the Plex Media Server setup.
  • Go to the section labelled "Remote Access."
  • Make sure that the correct options are activated, especially when you wish to connect to your server from a network that is not part of your local area.
  • Make sure your network and library settings are set up correctly by checking them twice.
  • After making any modifications, restart the server to ensure that it starts up correctly.

Step 7: Plex Media Reinstalling

Reinstall
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It could be helpful to reinstall the Plex Media Server if none of the previous fixes worked for your problem.

  • Uninstall Plex from your computer or device first.
  • To ensure a clean reinstallation, remove any remaining Plex files from the installation directory.
  • Visit the official Plex Media Server website to download the most recent version.
  • Reinstall Plex after installation.
  • Try recovering your media libraries to see if it fixes the issue.

Step 8: Look for Problems with Hardware Components

Hardware
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If Plex is having trouble opening or not showing your media, one possible cause is the hardware in your computer. For Plex to work properly, you'll need enough CPU and Memory, especially if you're streaming in high definition or operating a sizable media collection.

  • See if Plex is using excessive amounts of system resources by launching the Activity Monitor (Mac) or Task Manager (Windows).
  • Shut down any other apps that could be consuming bandwidth, RAM, or CPU.
  • If required, think about upgrading your hardware, particularly if your system is outdated.

Step 9: Look for issues in the Plex logs

Plex Log
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Going through the Plex logs may help you understand why your Plex Media Server isn't opening if you're still stuck for an explanation. Plex creates log files that contain information about problems and other aspects of its operation.

  • Go to the Plex Media Server directory on your PC to locate the logs.
  • Examine the "Logs" folder to see if there are any new cautions or problems.
  • If a particular mistake appears in the logs, you can look it up online or send the logs to Plex support for more help.

In summary

Although the Plex Media Server not opening might be a frustrating problem, most problems should be easy to diagnose and resolve by following troubleshooting steps. You can get Plex back up and running by using the preceding procedures, regardless of whether the problem is with network connectivity, configuration issues, or broken software. Please contact Plex's official support team for more in-depth diagnostics if the problem continues.

You may ensure that you can enjoy uninterrupted media streaming by following these methods to fix Plex Media Server not opening, Plex verifying connection speed, and Plex not presenting your media.

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Shrawan Choudhary

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