Local and remote access spontaneously stopped working

Plex Media Server Remote Access
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1

Server Version#: 1.41.8.9834
Player Version#: Shield TV latest (10.28.0.3441), Android mobile latest (2025.20.0), Web

I suddenly cannot access my Plex libraries from devices on my local network or remotely. Pulling my hair out and would love some help.

Everything worked perfect up until at least three days ago, when I last watched a movie from my server using my Shield TV. I could connect from any device on my local network, and connect remotely no problem using port forwarding successfully to reach my server from outside my network. Zero changes I’m aware of since then, and suddenly this problem started happening.

Plex Server reports Remote Access is not working (“Not available outside your network”). When I click the Retry button next to the manually specified port, it succeeds and stays that way momentarily. Moments later, it switches back to Red with the same “Not available” message.

Yes the correct external port is forwarding to the correct internal port. Yes the public IP is correct. Yes the server IP is correct (static). Yes both portchecker and canyouseeme report the port is open.

Clients (Plex app on Shield TV, Android phone, app.plex.tv) connect but report libraries are offline. Server reports everything is fine, except for the Remote Access issue. No firewall changes, everything looks correct, no network, server, or app changes. Server is claimed by the correct account. Tried basic troubleshooting: restarting server software and machine, logging out/in of server and apps, clearing app data, recreating port forwarding rule, double-checking firewall, no dice.

Server is running on Windows 11 Pro, no server side VPN, etc. Again it has worked flawlessly for months/years up until today, haven’t touched a thing. Server version 1.41.8.9834. Server reports no updates available.

Any ideas?

2

I can also note that as some others have mentioned, I just tried PlexAMP from my phone and that seems to be working fine, I can see my music library on the same server. The other libraries that aren’t showing up now in non-PlexAMP clients are all correctly set to either Movies or TV Shows.

4

Correct. When I log in the Plex client (when connecting from my local network, when connecting remotely, and when using app.plex.tv) reports all of my libraries are offline. However when I connect with PlexAMP, it sees and plays my music library (consisting of files on my network) on the same server just fine.

I did just notice that app.plex.tv reports ‘app.plex.tv is unable to connect to “[server name]” securely’. The server has secure connections set to ‘preferred’. Again, port forwarding at least appears to be in order and both portchecker and canyouseemee report success and the port is open. I did however notice that PlexAMP works locally, but does not remotely, so I’ll continue to dig into port forwarding however I’m not sure how else to validate this beyond the port forwarding checker tools reporting success.

Still a bit baffled why the standard clients and web report the libraries are offline, but PlexAMP doesn’t. Maybe a certificate issue?

5

I’d like to share the logs, but I’m hesitant to share them considering it exposes IP and port information.

I do see these expired cert errors in the logs:

Jul 10, 2025 14:10:27.826 [22004] DEBUG - [HCl#38] HTTP requesting GET https://[ip_obfuscated].a60eda583ad74903b4a47859e1c63fd1.plex.direct:35284/identity
Jul 10, 2025 14:10:27.830 [19248] WARN - [HttpClient/HCl#38] HTTP error requesting GET https://[ip_obfuscated].a60eda583ad74903b4a47859e1c63fd1.plex.direct:35284/identity (60, SSL peer certificate or SSH remote key was not OK) (SSL certificate problem: certificate has expired)
Jul 10, 2025 14:10:27.830 [22004] DEBUG - MyPlex: mapping state set to 'Mapped - Not Published'.
Jul 10, 2025 14:10:27.830 [22004] DEBUG - MyPlex: sendMapping resetting state - previous mapping state: 'Mapped - Not Published'.
Jul 10, 2025 14:10:27.830 [22004] DEBUG - MyPlex: mapping state set to 'Unknown'.
6

Hello,
I have the same problem.
I can’t remotely access my server on my phone or on my LG TV with WebOS.
The connection with plexamp is ok.
I can access my server with the client on my computer, but I can’t find a match for the newly added movies.
I can no longer download subtitles, either.

I moved a month ago and changed the IP address of my server, which is on a Synology NAS.

Furthermore, I think I can say that everything was working 2 weeks ago and that it has nothing to do with the change of IP address. By the way, the plexamp application still works on my phone.
The problem seems to be recent and only affects videos.

7

If you are not using your own Certificate which is invalid, then something went wrong with the CERT renewal. You can DM me the logs from after a server restart and I can look at what is happening.

8

Thanks! Definitely wasn’t using my own cert.

I saw what looked like some file permission errors in the logs as well which seemed really odd to me. I got impatient after hours of troubleshooting over a couple days, and went for the nuclear option, completely uninstalling PMS, removing all Registry keys, deleting the app/DB directory, then reinstalling and recreating/reconfiguring everything. It all seems to be working again now and I can access my server as expected again.

This wasn’t a fresh install, I had restored the app/DB directory when I migrated machines a while back, and figure the file/directory permissions must have gotten screwy somewhere along the way, preventing PMS from being able to renew the cert and write the updated cert.