Confused about about how "home users" can access the server

General Discussions
1

I’m trying to understand the docs on sharing the server and related things and have a question.

I have set up a managed user on my server for my kid, but we can’t work out how he can connect to it on his phone. He has the app. He has a Plex account. He starts the app. He can’t see the server (he’s on the same network as the server, Version 1.13.9.5456 Linux).

2

Solution for his own account: Delete the managed account and add a new user to plex home, but this time don’t make a managed account but choose the “add an existing plex user”. There will be an email send out once you filled out the details. He should now be able to access plex once you accept this email.
Solution for a managed account: login with your plex details on his phone. Now he should be able to see and play movies.

The difference between a managed account and his own account is that with a managed account he will be linked to your plex account and needs your login details. His own account has a own login name and password and needs to be added to plex home as an existing user.

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3

Thanks, we got there in the end.

Just so I’m clear: there are four user concepts to understand:

  1. admin (needs Plex paid account)
  2. managed user (free access to server once the admin has signed in on their device(?) and can only access from the LAN(?))
  3. existing Plex account holders (access once invited by admin over email)
  4. guest (dunno what that does)

For some reason I was expecting to just set up accounts, invite by email, and then they log in and set a password or something.

4

See https://support.plex.tv/articles/categories/plex-pass/plex-home/

Can access from anywhere, as long as remote access is activated and working.
You can restrict their access to certain libraries, age ratings and labels, just like all other users.

They come in two “flavors”: those who were invited into your Plex Home and those who did not.

If you invite a Plex user into your Plex Home, he will get the benefits of your Plex Pass. (i.e. free access to the mobile Plex Apps)
However, you should only do that with persons who are living in your household, because of https://support.plex.tv/articles/204232453-fast-user-switching/

Those users who did not get invited to your Plex Home, stay as ‘Friend’ users. They can access those libraries you share with them, but they don’t appear in the ‘Fast User Switcher’ and they have to pay for their mobile Plex apps.

This is intended for ‘shared devices’ in your household (e.g. the living room tv) when you have guests in your house.
You can enable the ‘Guest’ user when they arrive and switch to the Guest user on the playback device.
When they leave, you disable the Guest account. After doing that, the played/unplayed info is reset for that user.

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5

OK cool - so I think I’ve understood it now! Thanks!

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