@docbillnet - if you look at this page … https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/236324808 you should find the information you need.
For the White Christmas question you would ask plex to play the movie White Christmas.
@poodlebra https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200250417-Plex-Media-Server-Log-Files
Grab a whole log dump. Try to do it right after you repro the problem you’re having.
@vanstinator said:
@poodlebra you don’t have to set anything. audio will just play through the Echo device when you request to play something that is audio
It is absolutely lovely that the Plex developers have added this feature. I can now access and play music from my Plex library wherever I have an Alexa device.
However, I have discovered one oversight or bug in the ability to direct playback to a specific Plex Media Player. It’s the music recommendations feature.
I have tried every variation of voice commands for music recommendations listed on the Plex support page for Alex Voice Commands, adding the name of my one and only active Plex Media Player (running on a NVIDIA Shield TV, if it matters). For example, I say “Alexa, tell Plex suggest some music on Shield.” My Alexa device dutifully gives some suggestions, and then when I answer with “Yes,” the selection always plays on the Alexa device I was speaking to. If I ask Alexa to play specific music and name my player (i.e., “Alexa, tell Plex to play Pretty Hate Machine on Shield”) then it’s played on my Shield TV as expected.
Honestly, even if the ability to select a media player for music recommendations gets fixed, I think it would be even better if there was some way to add “local Alexa device” as a player that can be globally selected, if possible. Then people could set their Primary Player to their Plex Media Player of choice and not have to add it’s name to every voice command related to music. Then in that case, if they want to play music on the Alexa deice they’re speaking too, they could add a phrase like “this Alexa device” or “locally”, for example, “Alexa, tell Plex to play Hail to the Thief on this Alexa device.”
EDIT: Another apparent bug -
On a fair number of my tests to ask Alexa to play specific music to my Shield TV player, Alexa replied “Sorry, I’m having trouble accessing your Plex skill right now,” despite playing the music or track I asked for. If I ask Alexa to play that same selection without specifying “…on Shield,” then I get the same error message, but no music plays. It’s possible it’s happening with more difficult to parse song / album titles, but I can’t say for sure, because some of the names seem pretty simple to me.
@vanstinator here is my log file. Skyfall was my request.
Bought an echo dot today. Same issue as the other echo. Says it’s playing, nothing happening.
@poodlebra if you ask alexa to pay the next track does anything play?
@poodlebra do you get an entry in the Alexa history that shows Plex played the song you asked for?
@Geoff555 said:
@poodlebra if you ask alexa to pay the next track does anything play?
Nope
@kegobeer-plex said:
@poodlebra do you get an entry in the Alexa history that shows Plex played the song you asked for?
Yes
@poodlebra Close your Plex Server, wait one minute, start your Plex Server, wait two minutes. Then, use your Echo Dot to start playback (“Alexa, ask Plex to play …”). After you get the notification that it’s playing, use your web browser and log into your Plex Server and download the logs. Post them here so we can take a look.
Also, when you post the logs, let me know what song/artist you selected.
@kegobeer-plex said:
Also, when you post the logs, let me know what song/artist you selected.
@kegobeer-plex here you go. server ‘gooch’ freshly updated to latest version, restarted. ‘ask plex to play songs by monster magnet’. ‘ok, playing songs by…’
@poodlebra - I don’t see your logs. Please attach them to your next post.
no idea why they didn’t attach @kegobeer-plex
should be on this post
“Alexa ask plex to music by Brian Setzer Orchestra” … Alexa responds with “playing music by Brian Setzer Orchestra” and then silence. Plex server shows now activity (Status or Now Playing). Sooo close. Hope there is a quick fix
No luck getting this to work.
Here is what happens
Alexa ask plex to play “More than a feeling” … Alexa responds with “Playing More than a feeling by Boston” and then silence
Here is what I found in the log file:
I see its using my external ip/port instead of my local ip 192.168.1.191 if that makes a difference
Nov 27, 2017 11:58:55.529 [47596] DEBUG - Request: [54.89.119.236:53240 (WAN)] GET /playQueues/undefined?repeat=0 (12 live) TLS Signed-in Token (Jmiranda7777)
Nov 27, 2017 11:58:55.529 [47596] VERBOSE - * X-Plex-Product => Plex for Alexa
Nov 27, 2017 11:58:55.529 [47596] VERBOSE - * X-Plex-Version => 2.0.0
Nov 27, 2017 11:58:55.529 [47596] VERBOSE - * X-Plex-Device => Alexa
Nov 27, 2017 11:58:55.529 [47596] VERBOSE - * X-Plex-Device-Name => Alexa
Nov 27, 2017 11:58:55.529 [47596] VERBOSE - * X-Plex-Client-Identifier => 57f6191e-fc90-490c-bfd4-c97d3626a289
Nov 27, 2017 11:58:55.529 [47596] VERBOSE - * X-Plex-Token => xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nov 27, 2017 11:58:55.529 [47596] VERBOSE - * Accept => application/json
Nov 27, 2017 11:58:55.529 [47596] VERBOSE - * host => 66-176-14-121.2d338be7167f4e4291e3bd2f9bfc51e9.plex.direct:32400
Nov 27, 2017 11:58:55.529 [47596] VERBOSE - * Connection => close
Nov 27, 2017 11:58:55.529 [47596] VERBOSE - * repeat => 0
Nov 27, 2017 11:58:55.529 [47596] ERROR - Exception handled: bad lexical cast: source type value could not be interpreted as target
@vanstinator, I don’t see anything in my PMS logs that show a failure or even a call to play music when I ask it to play. It’s just a regular MP3 file that works in the webUI.
Hi,
I just bought Sonos One and I love it.
I was looking for a way to make it play from my plex music playlists.
@vanstinator mentioned that Sonos is not supported yet.
Can you clarify what is preventing the music service to be available and is it planned to be supported in some of the next updates?
That is something I am really looking forward to 
Thanks!
Got the plex > echo playback problem solved for my situation. many thanks to @vanstinator for the help.
having tried a shared remote server which played back perfectly it was clear the problem was with the plex server, not the echo. a little fiddling around got it working. i’ve only ever accessed the server on the local network so hadn’t set up port forwarding for remote access. a little tweaking with the router to provide a fixed IP for the server, and port forwarding for that IP, and boom.
BINGO! Based on poodlebra’s post… I too already had my Plex server set for remote access. HOWEVER, the difference being i was using UPNP instead of a static route. Added a static port route (port 32400 internal 13868 external) and my Alexa now plays the music. Hope this helps folks track down the issue.
