Cascading library access to managed accounts

Plex Media Server
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1

Server Version#: 26.3.1
Player Version#:

So I’ve got a plex account setup using lifetime pass that I purchased in 2020. A friend of mine runs a plex server and has granted me access to all the media within it. I have created managed accounts under my main account but the shared library does not show up for the managed accounts. I’ve tried to look for any setting that would cascade the access to those accounts but haven’t found anything. Suggestions?

2

That’s by design. Neither your friend nor you can share each others Managed HOME Users.

Managed users in a Plex Home cannot directly access libraries shared from another server (shared by a friend). By design, managed users can only access content shared by their own server administrator. To resolve this, you must share the libraries directly with the main account, not the managed user, or elevate the managed user to a regular account.

Key Reasons & Fixes:

  • Design Restriction: Managed users are designed to only see content from the home owner’s server, not “shared” content from others.
  • Fix - Use Separate Accounts: If a friend wants to share with your family members, your family members need their own individual Plex accounts (not managed users), and your friend must share with them individually.
  • Fix - Request Access directly: Have the external server owner share directly with your master account, then you can configure which libraries your managed users can see, as discussed in this Plex forum thread.
  • Plex Home Requirement: For managed users to work correctly with shared content, they must be in the same Plex Home as the server owner who owns the media, as explained in this Reddit post.