When playing media from a server running on the same box (via docker), playback is now reported as the “Local” user rather than as my logged-in user. Sometimes relogging will show the proper user for a single play, but then will revert back to the blank user. This occurs both on web client and windows client playback.
This doesn’t happen on other devices on the local network, even though they’re “allowed without auth”
This messes up my media logging and playback statistics.
It’s the “blank” profile picture/name user that appears in the dashboard. The play is reported as from user ID “0”, which usually means it’s an unauthenticated user on a local network.
List of IP addresses and networks that are allowed without auth
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Warning! : Any app connecting to the server this way without being signed in will be treated as the admin/owner. That means access to all libraries as well as the ability to change server settings. We strongly encourage using Plex apps that allow signing in to accounts to ensure the highest security for your computer and network.
I think you’re mixing up two different concepts.
You can specify LAN networks to tell Plex which subnets should be considered local.
Listing IP addresses / networks to not require authentication is something different – even on the machine that’s hosting your server you’ll need to authenticate once the server is claimed. Else you’ll still be able to access the web app but you won’t see any of the hosted media.
Judging by your screenshot you are not signed into plex and are watching anonymously. You have to sign into plex to have it record who is watching what on the dashboard.
I just tested this myself (watching something while not being signed in) and I get the same blank user screenshot you provided above.
I’d then suggest going to https://app.plex.tv/desktop/#!/settings/devices/all and removing your clients (windows & web) and then try again after signing. Maybe something funky is happening with the auth and the clients which this might help with.