How to Fix Plex Remote Access not Working?

Setting up remote access for your Plex Media Server typically goes smoothly, but occasionally, issues may arise due to your home network configuration. This results in Plex remote access not functioning as expected. Let’s explore how to enable remote access and troubleshoot common problems to fix Plex remote access issues.

Table of Contents

Troubleshooting steps to fix Plex Remote access issue

If your server is not configured for remote access, it will display the message “Not available outside your network,” as mentioned earlier. This indicates that your Plex server hasn’t established a connection to the broader internet, and we can perform diagnostic procedures to address this issue. The internal IP address and port number of your Plex Media Server and the external or public IP address and port number will be provided.

Although noting both the internal and external IP addresses and port numbers can be helpful for troubleshooting, it’s optional for everyday use of Plex Media Server. Plex automatically manages all connections when logged into your Plex account on your media server and your clients.

1. Check the Connection of Plex Media Server

Remote access may only be a problem you encounter, but occasionally, troubleshooting is necessary. It’s important to remember that once you’ve logged into Plex and successfully connected to the Plex online server, your network access is functioning correctly. If you’re still facing remote access issues, the next step is to examine your router settings.

2. For Automatic Connections, Enable UPnP

The first step you should take is to check if your router supports either NAT-PMP or UPnP. These service protocols enable automatic port mapping, and if your router is compatible with either of them, the Plex Media Server will configure its port forwarding automatically. Typically, you can easily enable UPnP by referring to terms like “how to enable UPnP” in your router’s manual or online instructional resources, which are readily available. Once activated, Plex will seamlessly handle the port forwarding to establish a connection with the external internet.

3. Use Bridge Mode to Resolve Address Problems

Enabling UPnP is often the solution that resolves around 90% of connectivity issues. In rare cases, if UPnP doesn’t resolve the Plex’s connection to the public network, you may need to take additional network configuration steps. Some routers feature Network Address Translation (NAT), which manages the intricate task of handling incoming network requests to your single public-facing IP and directing them to the various internal IP addresses they are intended for.

Fix Plex Remote — Image credits: screenshot taken from the website

4. Manually Forward Your Ports

If you prefer not to use UPnP, you can manually set up port forwarding to bypass the issue. Port forwarding instructs your router to direct traffic through a specific port and IP address. Here’s how to do it:

Enable manual port mode in Plex by going to Settings > Server > Remote Access.
Check “Manually specify public port.”
Keep the port number as is unless you have a specific reason to change it. Click “Apply.”

Configure the port forwarding rule on your router after assigning a static IP address to your Plex Media Server. For example, you can forward all traffic on external port 32400 to the internal IP address of your Plex server, also on port 32400. For more details on port forwarding, refer to our comprehensive guide.

5. Check Your Internet Upload Speed

Your server’s internet connection upload speed, measured in Mbps (Megabits per second), significantly impacts your streaming capabilities. To find this value, you can test your upload speed using a service like speedtest.net. Make sure to set it equal to or lower than the “upload” speed indicated by the test. A commonly referenced value for upload speed is 100Mbps.

6. Limited Remote Video Quality

You can establish a maximum upload speed for each playback stream. For example, you can choose not to permit any remote stream to exceed 4 Mbps, even if you have a greater total internet upload speed and allow multiple streams.

7. The Last Resort

If none of these options effectively enable remote access to Plex, your last resort is contacting your local Internet Service Provider (ISP). They can assess whether your internet connection is outward and capable of being mapped. Their engineers will make every effort to assist you in diagnosing and resolving any issues with your internet connection.

Conclusion

Setting up remote access for your Plex Media Server is usually easy. However, in some cases, network configuration issues may lead to Plex remote access problems. To “Fix Plex Remote” issues, we’ve outlined a series of troubleshooting steps to ensure your server connects seamlessly with the external internet. If you’re experiencing Plex remote access problems, follow these steps to ensure uninterrupted streaming and access to your media library. Your entertainment experience is just a few fixes away!