# Cannot Claim Server **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Tags:** server-linux\ **Created:** [July 21, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-claim-server/435753 "2019-07-21T00:37:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dmdcompass](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/dmdcompass/32/112014_2.png) [@dmdcompass](https://forums.plex.tv/u/dmdcompass)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-claim-server/435753/1 "2019-07-21T00:37:00Z")
My Linux server crashed. So, I reinstalled Linux and Plex. I was finally able to login to the console. There was a button to “Claim Server” After mashing the button several times it continued fail upon “Claim Server”. I am not certain how to proceed. I know this isn’t much help but, this sums up the steps. I am not certain what it actually attempts to do when claiming server so, it is difficult for me to debug. ---
**Author:** ![ChuckPa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chuckpa/32/79710_2.png) [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 1:22am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-claim-server/435753/2 "2019-07-21T01:22:40Z")
Some relationship info helps. 1. Server local or remote? 2. Native on the host or in a VM/container? If LAN, and on the same subnet, 1. Sign out your web browser from [Plex.tv](http://Plex.tv) 2. Open an incognito window 3. Now open [http://ip.addr.of.machine:32400/web](http://ip.addr.of.machine:32400/web) If it’s not gone into “protection” mode (which will require you to take additional steps, that should get you going again. ---
**Author:** ![dmdcompass](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/dmdcompass/32/112014_2.png) [@dmdcompass](https://forums.plex.tv/u/dmdcompass)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 1:55am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-claim-server/435753/3 "2019-07-21T01:55:17Z")
Thank you, for responding. My description was so, thin that I was a bit embarrassed to post it. It is native on a host. It is not running on a VM or something like docker. Initially, I was attempting to claim the server through my laptop’s browser to the server. I think that was a mistake. So, now after your post I did it directly from my server. I followed your instructions on the server that Plex is installed upon to the letter. One of the things that strikes me is that when I click on the drop down with the server name in it, it reads “Nearby” under the server name. Even though I am on the server it is installed upon. I feel like that may be a clue. Maybe, not. Is there something in the logs that would indicate protection mode? ---
**Author:** ![ChuckPa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chuckpa/32/79710_2.png) [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 3:33am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-claim-server/435753/4 "2019-07-21T03:33:58Z")
You don’t need logs to tell if it’s in protection. The most obvious is when you go to it, signed into your account, if you don’t see “Settings - Server” then it’s protecting itself and doesn’t recognize you as the owner. If that’s the case (you aren’t the owner), here is how to take care of it: [https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/) ---
**Author:** ![dmdcompass](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/dmdcompass/32/112014_2.png) [@dmdcompass](https://forums.plex.tv/u/dmdcompass)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-claim-server/435753/5 "2019-07-21T14:22:09Z")
Thank you, for your response. That didn’t seem to work I did take some screenshots in the hopes that may help. Most of the values in the knowledge base for the prefences.xml were not even present. ![Preferences](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/5/e/5e52334a6e23cc304f342f7e55d0c4c459641c1b.png) Here are some errors that are occurring in the console. The are related to sqllite. ![consolelog](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/b/a/baa711118005b0428f468aff9a90f6c10a7ad622.jpeg) Here is a screenshot of the Plex console. It’s true that I do not see “Settings - Server” ![plexconsole](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/d/9/d9b56896bc4bf60d4f6c0f9d99d16b267b637af5.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![ChuckPa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chuckpa/32/79710_2.png) [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 3:56pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-claim-server/435753/6 "2019-07-21T15:56:19Z")
Ignore Gracenote. Engineering transitioning from that. Gracenote’s contract has terminated. > **[ukdtom/ClaimIt](https://github.com/ukdtom/ClaimIt)** > > ClaimIt 4 Plex Media Server. Contribute to ukdtom/ClaimIt development by creating an account on GitHub. This will help with the claiming. In most cases, it will handle what Plex/Web cannot. ---
**Author:** ![dmdcompass](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/dmdcompass/32/112014_2.png) [@dmdcompass](https://forums.plex.tv/u/dmdcompass)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-claim-server/435753/7 "2019-07-23T22:15:32Z")
HI Chuck, Thanks you for your continued patience. I tried the script. I will show screen shots below. It failed. So, I tried resinstalling everything, including Linux. I am still getting the same result. This is so crazy since, it was such an easy install for me a 1.5 years ago when I first installed it. I notice Preferences.xml may not have all of the correct values. Is that put there when claiming the server? Thanks for your continued support. claimit script output ![claimit-output](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/3/5/35073998f4fec944961e94d27d4ce50e5a2b6af5.png) Description of possible causes for error. I feel like it has to be 1 or 2. Although, I have installed plex multiple times. I have reinstalled Linux once. ![ErrorDescription](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/7/c/7caa03dffdd8661f9b35469646a127c888d1946c.png) Screenshot of my preferences: ![Preferences](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/a/4/a45150d3bb453590a06bd73f5404a7c454ee3296.png) ---
**Author:** ![dmdcompass](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/dmdcompass/32/112014_2.png) [@dmdcompass](https://forums.plex.tv/u/dmdcompass)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-claim-server/435753/8 "2019-07-28T17:08:56Z")
I wanted to give an updated on this. After doing much research I found that this behavior was sometimes caused by a router issue. I rebooted several times to no avail. I then performed firmware updates and validated all of my settings. Ultimately, I bought a new router. This ended up fixing the issue. At some point there was an update that impacted the internal network and how plex interacts with a router. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-claim-server/435753/9 "2019-10-26T17:08:58Z")
Closed on October 26, 2019, 5:08pm UTC This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.