I am a total noob at this so please excuse my ignorance.
I use Plex app on my Mac. It was introduced to me by my uncle who uses it, and he shared his libraries with me so I can watch his movie collection.
I have a collection of movies and shows of my own that I store on an external hard drive. I’d like to create my own server that is totally separate from his to add my own files to so as not to disturb his collection. I cannot figure out how to create my own separate server. I can’t even create my own libraries because the + button seems to be missing from my app, I don’t know if this is a recent update or because I’m not logged in as him, the creator of the server.
But my ultimate goal is to create my own server for my own library of files so I can stream media to my computer and Smart TV without having to connect my external harddrive. Is this possible?
Please help and ELI5!
I would start here:
https://support.plex.tv/articles/200264746-quick-start-step-by-step-guides/
You need to run the server software on your Mac and your external Hard Drive will need to be plugged in to your mac in order for the media to be accessible
Did he make you part of his home, or did he share to you as a friend?
If the first, then you can’t create a server for your self, AFAIK
Ahh, thanks for the info, that’s useful to know, and I suppose it makes sense if you think about it.
I had not really considered that.
It might be worth trying to get the ‘powers that be’ to add that info to this page:
https://support.plex.tv/articles/203960236-consequences-of-being-in-a-plex-home/
Or, if it is implied in there, make it bit more obvious.
Most administrative options are not available from the apps. You will need to download and install PMS. Follow the link @blim5001 posted. It will get you going.
You are currently not a member of someone else’s home.
When you set up a server on a computer which already had Plex server on it in the past, it might still use the account information from back then.
Use this procedure to reset that: https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/
Thanks Otto,
I know I am not 
it was just that I had replied to the original poster with a link on how to get started setting up their own PMS and then @dane22 pointed out that if the original poster was in a home they would not be able to setup their own PMS
And I just thought that would be useful information to be added to the support page.
Right you are. I should’ve gone all the way up 
@rocketshipblastoff you are not a member of someone else’s home.
You need to install ‘Plex Server’ on your own computer.
Download below.
I’m actually not sure which it was, I just know I got the invitation via email and I can access his libraries. It looks like I can’t add libraries so I don’t now if that narrows it down.
So the external hard drive needs to be connected at all times if I’m trying to access the media? That definitely defeats the purpose I’m trying to achieve. In that case does anyone know of an alternative where I can upload files I have to an online source and stream them from there to
a computer or TV without my media source being connected? I don’t think such a thing exists.
Then that opens a whole can of worms… 
There are a few ways it can be done, but possibly I do not advise it if you are not technically minded.
And you would still need the Mac turned on in order to run the Plex Server, even if it was getting the files from an online source.
Here is one way:
https://forums.plex.tv/t/local-plex-cloud-with-google-drive/335018
That is super helpful thank you!
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