Android App not playing Locally on network

Plex Players Mobile Devices
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Server Version#: 1.41.9.99961 (Linux)
Player Version#: 2025.25 (Android)

Hi,

Plex Server IP: 192.168.0.10
Mobile: 192.168.0.207
(Note: I am not playing across the Internet, only on my home network.)

The Android app detects the server and loads the libraries, but refuses to play without purchase (paywall). I have the latest Android app version 2025.25 and I believe the new app is no longer restricted?

However, if I use the web browser (Firefox-Android) and go to: http://192.168.0.10:32400/
on my mobile it will play just fine.

Thanks

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Very good writup @OttoKerner .

However I also recently noted, that playback of one of my local devices is shown as remote and I absolutely don’t know why. I’m not affected by it in principle (Plex Pass), but I would like to understand why.

I have a Shield TV, a Fire TV 4K, a Fire TV 4K Max and a Fire TV 4K Max Gen 2 on my network.

Shield TV and Fire TV 4K Max are hardwired, other two devices are on Wifi. All devices have IPs from my Local Network Range (192.168.158.x), yet only the playback on the Fire TV 4K Max is considered remote, while on every other device its local.

DNS Rebinding exception is set.

Any other ideas?

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Unfortunately not. I have just collected the various causes which were found previously in other forums threads.
It is conceivable that there might yet another possible cause for trouble.
However what that might be, I have no idea. Personally I steer clear of these Amazon devices. They might contain adaptions which are only beneficial when used in the ecosystem of their producer.

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Hi OtterKerner,

when you posted those rules they werent specifically aimed at me were they? I mean I haven’t go anything wrong have I?

I specifically posted under the “Player” and “Mobile” section.

I am only trying to watch on my mobile at home, not from outside… and after reading through the forum before posting I saw the the new app has changed.

At this point of time I have the server setup on my computer and wish to only play with other members of the house while at home. (… at a later date I will be moving and if I am happy with Plex and how it’s works etc I will be looking at getting a “pass” to continue sharing, installing Plex on a dedicated Media centre instead of my personal computer… but all of that was irrelevant to the current problem so I didn’t include it lol).

The point right now is…

I have Plex on my computer and I am trying to watch it on the Android App while at home on my home network only.

This problem is specifically only the Android App!

I can use a web browser on a different device (while at home on my network) and use the web player perfectly fine, using the internal network IP address of my computer with Plex installed (http://192.168.0.10:32400/)…

So…

  1. The actual Plex and network setup is fine because it works using the web browser, I can log into Plex using a different device on my home network and play in browser, showing it works… and this problem is specific to the Android App not working? (and not a problem with Plex itself or the network setup).

I don’t think Plex on my computer is seen as remote/outside the same network…. Is there a way I can test this?

  1. My understanding is that this is now allowed and perfectly fine to do without purchase, inside your home network, using the new Android App?

Please correct me if I am wrong or if I have broken any rules?

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This is not about rules. It is about the app communicating with your server directly. Only then is the location of the client considered “local”, and thus doesn’t require a Remote Watch Pass.
The possible reasons are collected in my link, so peruse them carefully.

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Thank you.

I did look at the information previously and at first glance I don’t think these are the problem, but I will look more closely when I am able and go through each one.
Sorry I didn’t ignore the information you provided previously, I just wasn’t/am not currently able to check these.

I think what is confusing me about this is that if I can use the Android phone to access and play media using a browser on the phone, then the server and network are setup and working correctly (locally).

Therefore there is no reason the Android App, on the same phone, shouldn’t be working (locally) too… I mean if it’s a problem with the network configuration, then the web player also wouldn’t be working using a browser on the phone, right?

Or have I misunderstood something?

I understand if Plex believes it’s on a different network then it goes into remote mode, but then the web player also wouldn’t work would it?

and that narrows the problem down to the Android App itself, not the network setup.

(All ports are open, there are no additional routers/NAT interfering, it’s in the same subnet/IP range, etc).

Sorry if I’ve not been very clear.

When using the web browser on a different device on the network it says it’s playing “direct” and not “remote”.

I guess if I hadn’t tried the web browser and seen it working then I would immediately be thinking it was a problem with the network config. Or if using the browser it said it was playing “remote” that would indicate a network problem too.

I don’t know :person_shrugging:t2:

I will have another look at it tonight/tomorrow to see if I’ve missed something and go through the info you provided like a checklist to rule each one out hoping I find the problem.

Thank you :slightly_smiling_face:

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The Android app has a higher security level. It absolutely requires secure connections to the server. And that in turn can only work if DNS is playing ball.
Item 2 from my linked list is probably the thing you need to investigate.

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You might have just solved it!

I have a feeling I disabled secure connection or set it at minimum because I tend do that during an installation since higher security levels can cause problems and once something is running correctly I increase the security, so that if something stops working I know that is the problem.

I obviously missed that it’s mandatory for the App or it just didn’t twig in my brain when I was skimming through information… Hopefully this is the problem and an easy fix.

Thank you :slightly_smiling_face:

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