Locked out of my plex server running on Ubuntu

Server Version#: 1.14.1.5488
Player Version#:

I had trouble syncing shows to my phone, and in that troubleshooting part i logged out of the server… Since then, its gone.

I have tried the steps here: https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/

Even tried to remove plex server, and install it again (just kept my Library) but still the same…
Server is running something, as i can open player webpage on it. But the server part under settings are gone.

I dont care about the Library, that can be rescanned. But its sad if i need to re-share it with the guys i share with. As all “viewed” status gets removed…

I just remembered that i have tried to start the server without the Preferences.xml file in place, it gets created, but the server is still not working as it should.

if the server is local (your LAN), and you have an RFC-1918 compliant LAN address range (aka. Private Network);

  1. Log out of Plex/Web app (upper right)
  2. Stop the server
  3. rename Preferences.xml to Preferences.xml.old
  4. Start PMS
  5. Open http://ip.addr.of.server:32400/web
  6. Sign in
  7. “Got it”
  8. Don’t create any new Library sections (SKIP)
  9. Set other preferences along the way
  10. Arrive at Dashboard.
  11. It’s yours again.

Hi!

I did exactly that, about 10 times yesterday.
When signed in, i arrive at my dashboard with only the servers others share with me.

Then let’s do this the hard way.

sudo tar cfz /tmp/Logs.tar.gz "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Logs"

It will create a tarball of your Logs directory for me to look at.
Please upload that tarball here.

Thanks, ill do that later on today and upload here.

Logs.tar.gz (1.0 MB)

Here is the logfiles.

two things could happen.

  1. ownership / permissions of the files
  2. damage to the Preferences.xml file itself.

I am going to address both in one shot here .

  1. Verify Preferences.xml is ready to be reclaimed without losing its identity

https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/

  1. Put all files back into proper ownership
sudo sh
systemctl stop plexmediaserver
chown -R plex:plex /var/lib/plexmediaserver
find /var/lib/plexmediaserver -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
find /var/lib/plexmediaserver -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;
  1. Sign out of your Plex account in the web browser
  2. Start Plex
  3. Open, in an incognito window: 127.0.0.1:32400/web
  4. Be greeted by the “Got It” and “Sign In” banners
  5. Start the normal setup ward EXCEPT Do Not Create New Library Sections – SKIP this part
  6. Arrive at the Dashboard.

Hope that there is more than two things :frowning:

I did those two things, but its still the same…

Are you accessing the console over VPN or is the server in VM or other abstraction / remote-like configuration?

My plex is running on a desktop computer from my techroom in my house. Its not accessable from the web, besides port 32400.

But ports can be forwarded for remote access if needed.

If it’s on a different subnet and/or you’re not RFC1918 compliant with addressing.

You will need SSH tunnel into it.
ssh -L 8888:127.0.0.1:8888 ip.addr.of.server

while there:
Stop PMS
rename the Preferences.xml to Preferences.xml.old
Start PMS

open http://127.0.0.1:8888/web
It will be a new startup/sign-in wizard.
Complete it as-if normal EXCEPT do not create new library sections. Skip that part.
Continue to the dashboard
Check / set preferences when there.

The server is now fully reclaimed as yours.

Thank you! And im sorry for all this time spent on my uselessness.
I just assumed that i was on the same subnet as the plex server. But yor last post made me check, and i saw that this was not the case. I went though my router and that stopped the onboarding.

Again, sorry to waste your time.

/tommen

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