# Cannot initialize server, user not authorized

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-initialize-server-user-not-authorized/889240>\
**Category:** Plex Media Server\
**Tags:** server-windows\
**Created:** [September 23, 2024, 2:40am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-initialize-server-user-not-authorized/889240 "2024-09-23T02:40:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ccalinescu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@ccalinescu](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ccalinescu)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 2:40am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-initialize-server-user-not-authorized/889240/1 "2024-09-23T02:40:44Z")

</div>

Server Version#: 1.41.0.8992-8463ad060

I am trying to install Plex Media Server on a new machine.

When running the server for the first time I get this:

[https://app.plex.tv/desktop/#!/server/946cf18e910ae1bbf56b056fba0fc3c1c6fba5ca/await](https://app.plex.tv/desktop/#!/server/946cf18e910ae1bbf56b056fba0fc3c1c6fba5ca/await)  
Something went wrong. Make sure the server is available and try again.

If I try to connect to local server:

[http://127.0.0.1:32400/web/index.html#!/setup/946cf18e910ae1bbf56b056fba0fc3c1c6fba5ca](http://127.0.0.1:32400/web/index.html#!/setup/946cf18e910ae1bbf56b056fba0fc3c1c6fba5ca)  
Not authorized  
You do not have access to this server.

You may be able to claim it by choosing “Open Plex…” from the Plex menu in the macOS menu bar or Windows system tray. For more troubleshooting tips, see our [support article](https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/).

I followed the steps in the article. It did not fix the issue.

I removed the claim for the old server from the account. It did not fix the issue.

Added 2FA to the account. It did not fix the issue.

Tuned Firewall OFF. Turned Antivirus OFF. It did not fix the issue

Uninstalled, cleaned installation folder, cleaned registries. It did not fix the issue

I have already spent 6 hours on this. I do not know what to do anymore.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 8:44am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-initialize-server-user-not-authorized/889240/2 "2024-09-23T08:44:47Z")

</div>

> [@New Claiming Requirement for Windows](https://forums.plex.tv/t/new-claiming-requirement-for-windows/839096/1):
>
> Back in Plex Media Server 1.29.2, we introduced some new behavior for macOS. This behavior is now being brought to Plex Media Server for Windows starting with version 1.32.2. Servers will now, by default, need to be claimed (i.e. signed-in to a Plex account). Coinciding with this new requirement, we’re also making some changes to the process for claiming a server. Due to this, the old method of claiming a server will no longer work (simply opening the local, bundled Plex Web client will no lon…

Is this a Windows Server Edition?  
Is it located in your home network or at a Datacenter? If so, where?  
Try disabling any internet filters, VPN software, 3rd-party firewalls etc.  
Change the DNS server address for your local network to the known-good 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 (if you don’t have access to the configuration of your local DNS resolver [usually in your router] you can try to set the DNS server in the properties of the network connection in Windows.)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ccalinescu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@ccalinescu](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ccalinescu)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 10:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-initialize-server-user-not-authorized/889240/3 "2024-09-23T22:02:16Z")

</div>

It is a Windows machine, running Windows 11 Pro 64bit. Latest drivers and windows updates…

It is a home network.

I had the same version of plex server installed on another machine running windows 10 pro 64bit. No problem.

I have disabled firewall and antivirus on the machine. No success.

No, I will not change the network IP.

Would logs help you?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 8:01am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-initialize-server-user-not-authorized/889240/4 "2024-09-24T08:01:56Z")

</div>

> [@ccalinescu](#):
>
> No, I will not change the network IP.

Then the only way for you to solve this issue is to battle with your ISP, and ask them to remove some filter from their DNS.

To be clear, I am not telling you to “change the network IP”.  
I am only recommending you to use a different DNS server, which is a way to circumvent any restrictions placed by your ISP.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ccalinescu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@ccalinescu](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ccalinescu)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 2:52pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-initialize-server-user-not-authorized/889240/5 "2024-09-24T14:52:32Z")

</div>

There is no traffic filtering from my Internet provider if this is what you are suggesting.

I did the equipment (server) change on Sunday. The Plex server was running fine on the old machine until the moment I did the change.

This is all your suggestion to fix it? You do not need any logs?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ccalinescu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@ccalinescu](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ccalinescu)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 4:56pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-initialize-server-user-not-authorized/889240/6 "2024-09-24T16:56:54Z")

</div>

In **com.plex.app.system.log** I get the following CRITICAL errors:

```auto
2024-09-24 12:46:54,266 (29ac) : CRITICAL (core:574) - Exception in thread named 'refresh_servers' (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins-8463ad060\Framework.bundle\Contents\Resources\Versions\2\Python\Framework\components\runtime.py", line 1126, in _start_thread
    f(*args, **kwargs)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins-8463ad060\System.bundle\Contents\Code\peerservice.py", line 169, in refresh_servers
    servers_el = self.get_servers_el()
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins-8463ad060\System.bundle\Contents\Code\peerservice.py", line 165, in get_servers_el
    return XML.ElementFromURL('http://127.0.0.1:32400/servers', cacheTime = 0)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins-8463ad060\Framework.bundle\Contents\Resources\Versions\2\Python\Framework\api\parsekit.py", line 344, in ElementFromURL
    method=method,
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins-8463ad060\Framework.bundle\Contents\Resources\Versions\2\Python\Framework\api\networkkit.py", line 67, in _http_request
    req = self._core.networking.http_request(url, *args, **kwargs)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins-8463ad060\Framework.bundle\Contents\Resources\Versions\2\Python\Framework\components\networking.py", line 352, in http_request
    return HTTPRequest(self._core, url, data, h, url_cache, encoding, errors, timeout, immediate, sleep, opener, follow_redirects, method)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins-8463ad060\Framework.bundle\Contents\Resources\Versions\2\Python\Framework\components\networking.py", line 119, in __init__
    self.load()
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins-8463ad060\Framework.bundle\Contents\Resources\Versions\2\Python\Framework\components\networking.py", line 159, in load
    f = self._opener.open(req, timeout=self._timeout)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\python27.zip\urllib2.py", line 435, in open
    response = meth(req, response)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\python27.zip\urllib2.py", line 548, in http_response
    'http', request, response, code, msg, hdrs)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\python27.zip\urllib2.py", line 473, in error
    return self._call_chain(*args)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\python27.zip\urllib2.py", line 407, in _call_chain
    result = func(*args)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\python27.zip\urllib2.py", line 556, in http_error_default
    raise HTTPError(req.get_full_url(), code, msg, hdrs, fp)
HTTPError: HTTP Error 503: Service Unavailable

```

```auto
2024-09-24 12:46:56,059 (1998) : DEBUG (runtime:717) - Handling request GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.system/resourceHashes
2024-09-24 12:46:56,071 (1998) : DEBUG (runtime:814) - Found route matching /:/plugins/com.plexapp.system/resourceHashes
2024-09-24 12:46:56,072 (1998) : DEBUG (networking:144) - Requesting 'http://resources-cdn.plexapp.com/hashes.json'
2024-09-24 12:46:56,163 (1998) : ERROR (networking:197) - Error opening URL 'http://resources-cdn.plexapp.com/hashes.json'
2024-09-24 12:46:56,164 (1998) : CRITICAL (core:574) - Exception getting hosted resource hashes (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins-8463ad060\Framework.bundle\Contents\Resources\Versions\2\Python\Framework\components\runtime.py", line 1291, in get_resource_hashes
    json = self._core.networking.http_request("http://resources-cdn.plexapp.com/hashes.json", timeout=5).content
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins-8463ad060\Framework.bundle\Contents\Resources\Versions\2\Python\Framework\components\networking.py", line 243, in content
    return self. __str__ ()
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins-8463ad060\Framework.bundle\Contents\Resources\Versions\2\Python\Framework\components\networking.py", line 221, in __str__
    self.load()
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins-8463ad060\Framework.bundle\Contents\Resources\Versions\2\Python\Framework\components\networking.py", line 159, in load
    f = self._opener.open(req, timeout=self._timeout)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\python27.zip\urllib2.py", line 435, in open
    response = meth(req, response)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\python27.zip\urllib2.py", line 548, in http_response
    'http', request, response, code, msg, hdrs)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\python27.zip\urllib2.py", line 473, in error
    return self._call_chain(*args)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\python27.zip\urllib2.py", line 407, in _call_chain
    result = func(*args)
  File "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\python27.zip\urllib2.py", line 556, in http_error_default
    raise HTTPError(req.get_full_url(), code, msg, hdrs, fp)
HTTPError: HTTP Error 404: Not Found

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ccalinescu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@ccalinescu](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ccalinescu)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2024, 6:22am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-initialize-server-user-not-authorized/889240/7 "2024-09-25T06:22:04Z")

</div>

I solved the issue by connecting the machine direct to the ISP router and re-installing Plex Media Server.

After that, I reconnected the machine back to my local network.

It looks to me that my machine needs to be visible from outside during the setup.

I do not see why that is, as the server works fine after installation if not accessible from outside my local network.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CurryK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c4cdca/32.png) [@CurryK](https://forums.plex.tv/u/CurryK)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 8:18am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-initialize-server-user-not-authorized/889240/8 "2024-12-15T08:18:48Z")

</div>

The true fix is in another thread on this forum… it’s a damn replacement of the Registry file that takes you back to an unclaimed Server. I don’t know why manually removing the reg folders don’t do this but following this procedure fixed it so quickly, after I spent hours following a bunch of manual methods that never worked.

Here it is, the damn reg file replacement that allows you to clear the claim and then reclaim to make your new Library (or possibly salvage previous library)…

[You need to reclaim your server, but don’t dare to touch the Windows Registry - General Discussions / Tips, Tricks & How-Tos - Plex Forum](https://forums.plex.tv/t/you-need-to-reclaim-your-server-but-dont-dare-to-touch-the-windows-registry/809720)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 8:19am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/cannot-initialize-server-user-not-authorized/889240/9 "2025-03-15T08:19:13Z")

</div>

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