I have been trying to add my new laptop to my Plex account as a media server for about 4 hours. I currently have 3 other computers logged in and running as servers that operate on windows 7 and 8. The new computer is running 8.1 and I installed a loopback exemption program. When I log into my Plex account on the web, or log into the app, and look for servers, the 3 are listed, but there is no option to add or name the current computer that I am trying to add. I have logged out of the others, and it just stops showing them, but still does not give me the option to add a new server.
My son even went online to Plex with his computer (running Win7) and was able to add his laptop as a server while all of this was happening.
I can see this computer listed in the devices tab ONLY not under servers. It is listed as "Plex for Windows" while the others all say "Plex Media Server". I can't get any where because the only choice I have in the server tab is to change the name of an existing server, which does me no good. So frustrated right now its unreal.
Please give me some indication of what I am doing wrong.
The windows 8.1 app is not a server. It is a playback app like Plex home theater or the mobile apps. (It technically was designed as a tablet app) the server is a separate thing.
As far as adding servers. You don’t add servers on the webpage. You just log into it with your account in the Connect settings of the server
Ok, that definitely makes sense about the 8.1 app, but back to my original question. How do I this computer as a new server? What do I need to do? If I can't do it from the app, and can't do it from the webpage (although my son somehow was able to add his computer through the webpage) then through what means do I add a new server?
Ok, that definitely makes sense about the 8.1 app, but back to my original question. How do I this computer as a new server? What do I need to do? If I can't do it from the app, and can't do it from the webpage (although my son somehow was able to add his computer through the webpage) then through what means do I add a new server?
Thanks!
As BigWheel says just install the server software.
However i gotta ask.. Is there a particular reason why you need 4 devices to act as servers?
You may have your reasons and thats totally fine, but most people have one server (occasionally two) with ALL their media on it and use the other devices as clients via the WebApp or W8 Plex App or PHT plus of course mobile clients such as phones and tablets. I'm just a little concerned that youre trying to achieve something that you do not actually need to. :)
Server software!! Ugggh, I totally skipped that step. I knew it was something simple that I was forgetting or overlooking. Thanks!!!
As far as having 4 servers.The first is a dedicated computer used as a media server with a lot of existing older content, but I realized after set up that is was taking way too long to load new content onto it the way my husband configured it (set it up in a closet away from other components with no mouse,keyboard or monitor) It is easy to stream from though. The second is a desktop that I started using in place of the original server to accept new media designed to be more permanent. We put a dedicated hard drive in it for the new media. The third is my old laptop, it just has a few things on it and is going to be replaced by the new laptop ( fourth server). I would rather put temporary things like TV shows or kids programming on the laptop to stream so I can delete them after a few days.
Thanks again for helping me with my not-so-obvious mistake!
wait I’m having the same issue in that I have multiple servers etc but on the one windows 7 pc its not detecting the server and I’ve installed the app, but unlike on my other devices when I install it it doesn’t detect and then prompt me to name my server, and nothing shows up in devices or servers, at my wits end and this seems to be the only relevant thread, I’ve created my own threads no answers though
Im having the same problem. was able to add another laptop as server, but the wife’s windows 10 laptop doesnt show up… any suggestions?
edit: additionally, i cant add local folders on this laptop; it only lets me add folders from my desktop (primary plex server) which is on the same network.
