"Couch" Remote control for Plex Windows Media & TV Guide Shortcut

Plex Media Server
1

I just want to use a remote control with Plex Windows, like you do Windows Media Center or a Roku so I can control it from the couch. I also would like to know if there is a shortcut key to bring up the Live TV Guide.

Here is what I have tried:

Remote:
I have tried using my Harmony Hub/Remote which works fine with Roku and WinMedia Center but it does not function right.
I added and connected my Harmony remote to the Plex PC, and the only controls that work are volume. I tried adding the plex pc to harmony remote as both a media center and just a generic computer. Neither worked.

Android App
Supposedly the Android app is supposed to be able to remote control my plex on my pc/tv, but the button in the app to show devices just shows “no devices found” even though the plex server says it is an authorized device. Did they remove the remote control feature?

Can anyone help with the Harmony remote method or recommend a way/product to control Plex Win from a remote, and not a keyboard/mouse?

ShortCut Key
As for a shortcut key for Live TV, I do not see any way to do this. I have looked through many websites that list shortcut keys and not one lists how to bring up the TV guide.

Server Version#: Latest
Player Version#:
<If providing server logs please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only debug logging should be enabled>

2

Have you considered using Plex HTPC instead of the desktop player for this purpose?

1 Like
3

I believe they call it “plex media server” now and that is what I installed and am running.

4

In that case you might have missed some major announcements since using Plex :grinning:

https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/?cat=plex+htpc&plat=windows#plex-app

[edit: + announcement → https://www.plex.tv/blog/way-to-be-htpc/]

5

I see the separate download for HTPC now. I hadn’t seen that before and I assumed the “server” was the HTPC…

6

So when i get the HTPC loaded, are you saying my harmony remote and or other remote options will work, like the android?

Also should i remove everything from my Plex NUC? . Meaning, it sounds like I should remove plex media server, and plex for windows and then just install plex htpc?

7

Plex HTPC is a Plex player. It’s not replacing your server – just adding a shiny “big screen” user interface and the capability to control it with a remote.

The Plex HTPC app comes with a set of pre-installed input maps for remote controls.
If yours isn’t listed, you can also create your own mapping (or update the default).

https://support.plex.tv/articles/plex-htpc-input-maps/

From inputmaps.md (see path in the link above):

Harmony Hub user tips:

  • configure the Hub to address Plex as an entertainment device using these instructions
  • Harmony long press handling can interfere with Plex HTPC’s long press handling. Experiment consolidating long press configuration into the Harmony or into Plex HTPC keyboard mapping.
1 Like
8

Thanks so much for the product clarification. The server and the Windows edition both had a nice interface, so I assumed the Windows version could be remote controlled. I will try HTPC and remove Windows version and keep the server / report back for others who have this combo.

9

Remote works with HTPC now, but am unable to get the guide button to bring up the live tv guide. Is there a trick to that? I edited the JSON files, but maybe did not do it correctly. I added “KEY_GUIDE”: “guide”, and am using a harmony remote in media center mode. Any ideas?

10

I don’t think there is a way to assign a particular library to a button.

11

Is “TV Guide” classified as a library? It is a main menu item that is listed along the left side, so I assume there would be some sort of button /shortcut for the “tv guide”

Every cable box/rock/pluto/etc has a “guide” button that takes you to the current tv listings, I would think plex has a button to do that.

12

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.