Losing My Mind

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

I’m sure the new claiming server requirements come with good intent, but I’m getting denied. The first thing that happened to me is that Plex wouldn’t update. Then I got a message saying some other server was trying to log into my account (Lifetime Plex Pass holder here) so I foolishly changed my password. As a result I am locked now out of my server settings. I can’t even see them in Firefox anymore. I got to the point where I was logged into my account yesterday in another browser (Chrome) so I could actually see the new request for claiming the server, but that failed too. I get one chance to claim the server and it doesn’t work tells me I have a problem, wants me to install the software again manually, which I have tried twice, and then the button is rendered useless).

I’ve had seven years of relatively uninterrupted service, but now I can’t do anything. Curiously, although it wants to the server to be claimed, I can see my library on my mobile and it works for now. I’d pay $50 for an hour of tech support, but that won’t be happening apparently. I have a user name and password, but it seems my only log-in option is to use my e-mail and password and that just lets me back into Plex access, but not to my own media, which is all I care about. I’m locked out four or five days now with no end in sight.

My question is, if I delete Plex from all my devices, download it again (probably v1.29.1 or or some earlier version to avoid the claiming issue for as long as humanly possible), change my password(s), again, reload my library, again, delete my authorized device where PMS is housed, will all the issue of separate log-ins to the local host and web app go away? Since I can never actually speak to anyone I worry my Lifetime Pass will disappear in the process. I have rebooted the router, change back to dynamic from static IPs, re-downloaded the current version of Plex Media Server, deleted all the Plex related stuff in the registry and followed every possible solution in the forums I could find, but I’m still stuck. I’m inclined to start from scratch and work around the claiming issue for now and see if that will make this headache go away.

I’m obviously frustrated, but can anyone at least confirm deleting Plex from every device I own and re-installing it will not invalidate my Lifetime Pass? Thank you.

P.S. From the console log if it helps; [HttpClient/HCl#a5] HTTP error requesting GET http://10.0.0.121:8080/description.xml (55, Failed sending data to the peer) (Send failure: Connection was reset)

2

Did you try the alternate claiming method described in this post?

For problems and to accommodate headless environments, we have added an alternative claiming method. When Plex Media Server starts up, a file named Setup Plex.html will be created in the %LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server folder. Open this file with your web browser from any other computer on the same network and it will go through the same claim process outlined above.

This support article also has some suggestions for getting back in to a server when it says you’re locked out: Why am I locked out of Server Settings and how do I get in? | Plex Support

3

Well, I’d be happy to if I could see the server settings in my browser of choice (Fire Fox) like it used to, but since I can’t I don’t feel like that is my only issue. It’s sort of on the back burner to me because I feel like I have one password changed and one not updated if I understand what’s happening correctly. My account can’t seem to synch once I changed passwords so I’m guessing that issue supersedes the claiming issue. If it did at least I would have the option to claim the server in Fire Fox on my desktop. I don’t have that currently. I’d delete all of my authorized devices and start again there if I thought it would make a difference, but I really don’t know anymore. I guess I could try that later and try to use Chrome to see if it makes any difference, but I’m not very hopeful honestly. Thank you for trying to help.

4

Do you have a screenshot of “I am locked now out of my server settings”? Because unless there’s some extra context I’m missing, that’s exactly what the “Why am I locked out of Server Settings” article I linked should help with.

5

I would restart your server. if you have not deleted it already

Otherwise i would follow either if the guides that that @DTR linked already

6

@Nacho999 what operating system are you using? Mac or Windows for server? If you are running on MAC there was a bug / issue with upgrading PMS passed a certain OS / Version. Here is link to that older thread.

Plex Thread Unable to Upgrade PMS

7

Thank you for trying to help. I don’t know if I’m explaining it the right way, but I have downloaded, several times now, the request in picture two. I realize picture one says Plex Web vs Plex Media Center, but I don’t seem to have the right links for anything else. Normally I would have a squiggle/scan button, but that is gone. I hit settings and these are my choices (figure 1).
I am on Windows 10, the server gets restarted every day. I don’t feel like I am computer illiterate, but maybe I am. I have tried deleting tokens in the registry and I watched more than one YouTube tutorial, but I’m still stuck. Now I can’t even see the claim server button in Chrome for some reason. I bookmarked it, but it won’t let me back in saying the site is unreachable. I could have used that picture for a third figure to show you what I’d normally see if everything was working perfectly. Thank you for everyone who is trying to help.

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8

Hi Big Wheel, can you confirm that if I delete everything, all software, all mobile software and all authorized devices, that my Lifetime Pass won’t disappear with all of that? I seem to be in need of two user names and passwords because now that I have changed the only one I knew existed, it doesn’t connect to the server. I apologize if I don’t understand what I’m talking about, but I get the feeling if I hadn’t changed the password I’d just be stuck with the claiming issue. I’d delete everything and start over, but I’m worried I will lose my rights to the lifetime pass, particularly when my new password doesn’t connect me to the server somehow. I’d add my media again, but I can’t see how to do that now. It seems like I need separate software somehow. I was hoping if I started from scratch I would be able to get this squared away, but how would Plex then know I have a Lifetime Pass? Apologize for the headache.

9

Sorry if you’ve already tried this, but I don’t think you mentioned explicitly if you tried what’s in the first link I posted in my original reply. In Windows explorer, if you navigate to %localappdata%\Plex Media Server (expanded out, it will be something like C:\Users\<your_username>\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server) and double-click Setup Plex.html, what happens?

10

The Plex Pass is connected to your plex.tv user account, and not to your computer.
I can see that the account which you are using to post in this here forum has a Plex Pass attached.
So I suggest using this one with your Plex server and all your plex clients as well.
To find out the email address of this account, simply click on this link: https://app.plex.tv/desktop/#!/settings/account

If your server was accidentally connected to a different account, you must sever this connection first. Then you can re-claim the server with the right plex.tv account.
To sever the connection with a plex account, you need to close the server and then edit the registry.
If you are afraid to edit the Windows Registry directly, you can use methods 2 or 2.2 described in this post: You need to reclaim your server, but don't dare to touch the Windows Registry

Is your server machine still running on Windows 7 or did you upgrade to Windows 10 / 11?

11

This is what happens…I get a blinking claim server in the tab and endless searching as depicted here…

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12

Thank you Otto. I’m not afraid to edit the registry. I will read through these two links and see what I can make happen. I am on Windows 10 to answer your question. Thank you again for trying to help me.

13

Make sure that you don’t have any “internet filters” active. Either in your network (e.g. Pi-hole), or on your router, or in your computer.

Make sure that your hosts file is clean.

Disable any VPNs you may have.

If your default web browser is not Firefox or Chrome, use these temporarily to open the above mentioned Setup Plex.html
Make sure to disable any browser add-ins (Ad-Block, uMatrix, etc.pp) before you do so.

14

I clicked on the first link and it took me to my normal space, but it is here that I cannot see the option to claim the server, let along claim the server at all. I changed the password to this account not 10 days ago after a warning, but now it doesn’t seem to see my media or give me the option to look at server settings much less change them. My picture, user name, subscription, etc all come up as normal, but no server settings. Am I wrong to think I need to change the password at the PMS level somewhere as well? When you say “different account” is that what you are referring to? I only have one account, but I did get a warning that someone else was trying to use my account, which is why I changed my password in the first place. Maybe that person got in and claim my server somehow? I’m exploring the 2 methods now to see if one of them works, but I still have the nagging feeling that my account is split somehow. I’m sorry if I’m coming across as dunce.

15

I set the link so you can see the email address of the account which you are using to access this forum. Nothing else.

I meant the post above mine.

16

Well, this seemed to go well. Method 1, but still no results…

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17

Try method 2.2 please.

Keep in mind that the claiming procedure has changed in the latest server version.

18

I swear I must be thick, but I can’t even get the file copied to my hard drive. I open notepad, I pasted this in, I have an option to Save As and it comes up *.txt. I believe I’m supposed to change this to *.reg and save it to my desktop. It won’t take for some reason. I change the Save As type to all files and still nothing. It blinks, but nothing is saved. Am I OK to copy and paste this information directly into the Plex Media Server folder in the Registry? I’m not sure why I can’t save the file and use it as an executable if that was the intent, so I must be doing something wrong. Thank you for your patience. These are all the files under my Plex Media Server registry for kicks…

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19

Never ever post a screenshot with your Plex token!

20

Got it. Sorry…