New Server Claiming Requirement for MacOS

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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Starting with Plex Media Server v1.29.2, Plex is changing the default behavior of the server on macOS. Servers will now, by default, need to be claimed (i.e. signed-in to a Plex account). Coinciding with this new requirement, we’re also making some changes to the process for claiming a server. Due to this, the old method of claiming a server will no longer work (simply opening the local, bundled Plex Web client will no longer give access to claim the server). We’ve simplified the process of claiming a server, as explained below.

Am I affected?

This security/claim change currently only affects Plex Media Server on macOS, but it will be rolling out to other platforms over time.

You will be affected and need to claim/sign-in the Plex Media Server if any of the following apply:

  • It’s a new install (or a “reinstall” after a full data wipe) of Plex Media Server on a given machine
  • Plex Media Server was claimed/signed-in at any time prior to installing v1.29.2 (or newer)
  • Plex Media Server was claimed/signed-in after installing v1.29.2 (or newer) and then you unclaim/sign-out that server.

You will not be affected and may continue as you were nor need to do anything special when upgrading if:

  • You have an existing installation that has never been claimed/signed-in.

Why are we doing this?

This change is intended to provide both security and user-experience benefits:

  • The new claiming experience happens without having to load any third-party web pages, which avoids encouraging users to treat potentially-untrusted, insecure servers the same way they’d treat trusted Plex domains. This reduces phishing risks.
  • The new claiming experience is generally much quicker and smoother for users.
  • Previously, if a server became signed-out (whether due to intentional user action, a bug, or malicious attack), the server would default to an insecure state that was more vulnerable to certain classes of exploit. The new behavior ensures the Plex Media Server never enters an insecure state in this way.
  • The old default requires a number of internal security mechanisms to behave in insecure ways by default, which can lead to security brittleness. Once it’s rolled out across all platforms, the new behavior will allow us to tighten internal infrastructure to be as secure as possible in all cases.

Does this mean I need to have an internet connection to set up a new server?

Yes. Your computer must be able to access our plex.tv services to claim the server. Once claimed, your server does not need constant internet access and will operate according to the current internet requirements as described on our support site.

How do I claim my server?

The process has been simplified. From the macOS menu bar (that’s the menu along the top of the screen), find and click on the Plex Media Server icon. You will be shown a menu of options. Select Open Plex.... (This is not a new option, it was already there.) When the server is unclaimed, this action will now open the default web browser and forward you to Plex.tv to sign into your Plex account. Signing into your Plex account in that browser window will then automatically claim your server and link it to that account.

If your server is not claimed and you explicitly want to not sign in/claim it, cancel this step. Do not use this option to open the bundled Plex Web client, open it manually from your browser as explained in our opening the web app article.

What if the “Open Plex” button doesn’t claim the server or I can’t get to the UI to click it?

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 ~/Library/Application Support/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.

Note: We identified a last minute bug where this method may not work under certain circumstances. A fix will be released in the next PMS update.

Note 2: This is now fixed in 1.29.2.6364.

What if I still don’t want to claim my server?

If you really, really, really don’t want to claim your server, you can remove this requirement for now. (It’s possible this exception may go away in the future, though.) This is done by adding an advanced server setting. See the Advanced, Hidden Server Settings article for more information about these types of settings.

  • Parameter: enableLocalSecurity
  • Type: True / False
  • Description: Server must be claimed.

You will want to add this enableLocalSecurity parameter with a value of False using the macOS “Terminal” application to run the following command:

defaults write com.plexapp.plexmediaserver enableLocalSecurity -bool false

You may then need to restart Plex Media Server after making this change for it to take effect. With this setting in place, this new requirement will not apply to your server and none of the rules under the “Am I affected?” section will be applicable.

As noted earlier, this setting is temporary and may not work in the future.

2 Likes
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The previous claim method over SSH will still work, that hasn’t been removed.

4

this does NOT work! I tried both the html and enable to “false” and I still cannot get into my settings! horrible… I do not know what to do… can I erase the com.plex file in library and let it rebuild it ?

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There is an unrelated bug that is preventing older macOS from accessing settings. We are working on it.

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If you see your media but not the settings, that is a different issue. This new requirement has to do with claiming the server. If you see the media, then it is claimed.

The bug with the settings not being available hasn’t been seen with 1.29.2 so you’ve got something new. Please start a new post and provide all your server logs.

1 Like
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So much like @bfactor I’m in the same situation. I retired [signed out and deleted server] my old Intel MacMini and setup a brand new macStudio. I’ve tried everything and each and every time I’m running into the same situation.

I was trying to have this up and running for the Turkey Dia break so we could all enjoy the new[er] & faster Mac[hine]. However I’ve spent most of night/day trying to get this to work and nada.

Hopefully someone can offer some insight as we may all enjoy again Plex during the holiday break. Cause I don’t know what else to do anymore, cause nothing is working. This is very, very, very no bueno. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

  • Gracias

Each and every time Ive delete the following:
~/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server
~/Library/Caches/PlexMediaServer
~/Library/Preferences/com.plexapp.plexmediaserver.plist

as well as
~/Library/Safari
~/Library/SafariSandboxBroker

Details as follow:
Plex Media Version: 1.29.2.6364-6d72b0cf6
Plex Media Version: 1.30.0.6406-f3f2fcc0a
[yes I tried both version same issue]
Mac Studio running macOS 13.0.1

1 Like
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Where did you get the older version so I can try it out as well.
I took want to enjoy my sweat pants after a big-ass meal.

  • Gracias
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@bfactor - It’s possible you had a bad install of 1.29.2. I’d be curious if the settings issue affected that version. You’re the first to mention it.

Exactly what is the situation? You can see media but no settings?

If you can’t see anything, have you claimed your server by using the “Open Plex” option from the menu bar as mentioned?

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@anon18523487 I’ve re-downloaded 1.29.2 several times [as well as plexpass version]. Rebooted my Mac[hine] each and every time as well. I do see “open Plex” and it ask me to sign in and then its an endless loop and I can’t claim the server no matter what I do. I’m look for the older install right now as @bfactor suggested. After being such a long time support of Plex for so many years. This is the first time I’m expirencing such a bad situation. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated by not only myself but my friends and family as well.

  • Gracias
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I’m sorry for interrupting you’re efforts, and I helped bfactor over DMs earlier.
I know what it’s like from doing extensive testing of PMS and MacOS on my Mini & Studio.

I wrote up a how-to clean install for myself

How to Clean Install Plex Media Server for Mac (no remote access)

  • Fully uninstall any previous PMS
  • In the hosted web app Settings → Authorized Devices remove the Mac server if it’s listed.
  • Empty Mac trash
  • In Safari close any tabs and do History → Clear History → All History → Clear History
  • Restart the Mac → Reopen windows not checked
  • Extract PMS from the zip and drop it into /Applications.
  • Start Safari and ( ⇧⌘N ) to open a new Private Window.
  • Close the non-private window.
  • Double click the Plex Media Server app in /Applications
  • Accept a popup message about being unsigned or unverified. PMS is blocked.
  • CTRL+Right Click on the Plex Media Server app in /Applications and choose Open
  • PMS runs and Safari loads the Plex Sign-in page.
  • Sign-in to Plex
  • Either Setup:
    • starts to 127.0.0.1:32400/web correctly and will move on to the next step.
    • or it spins but doesn’t actually load the URL in it’s location bar, and you have to click the URL and hit Return to make it load.
    • or setup goes to app.plex.tv which isn’t the correct redirect and you need to visit http://127.0.0.1:32400/web by pasting that into the same tab’s url bar and hitting Return
  • After Setup starts in one of the above ways, you’re asked for your PIN if you’re in a Plex Home.
  • Then it loads the first Setup screen where I click the GOT IT! button.
  • The next step is Friendly Name and Remote Access, where you uncheck it for now.
    • Allow me to access my media outside my home
    • disabling Remote Access like that gives a much higher chance your install will be smooth.
  • When you click Next there may be a 30sec spinner. It’s working well.
  • At the next step you Add Libraries. I uncheck the default music and photos ones, then add my own media library that has maybe a dozen films in it.
  • Once you finish adding your libraries and setup is done, and once you are redirected to a bundled Plex Player screen, quit Safari.
  • You’ll have full control if you open

After setup of a new install you’re kicked to an insecure web page where you can’t admin PMS but might see your libraries. You’d see settings unavailable. The way to go is open Plex for Mac. If you mean this is the first you’ve heard of setting unavailable for 1.29.2, I think I referred to it in a round about way.

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If you got the sign in screen then an endless spinner, it may be that your server was actually claimed. This sign in should redirect you back to the local web client, but that may not be happening and instead is trying to forward you to app.plex.tv. If your server is not setup properly for remote access, this won’t work and you see the spinner or you don’t see your server.

So if it did get claimed, then you can try opening the local Plex Web manually and see if you can get to the server settings that way.

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@nibbles thanks for the document. The one step I didn’t; do was this " * CTRL+Right Click on the Plex Media Server app in /Applications and choose Open". I thought that would be the sauce right. However it ended right back to where I’ve landed each and every time. I dunno know what’s going on but it ain’t working. Thanks for the suggestion tho bro. Enjoy your Turkey Dia!

  • Gracias
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Yup I’ve see that behavior as well. No matter how many time I quit, relaunch it still doesn’t;t work and I still see “Open Plex” option in the menu item as well.

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I responded back in that thread.

1 Like
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You will always see this. If your server is unclaimed, it will forward to Plex.tv so you can claim it, then back to Plex Web. If your server is already claimed, then it will just open Plex Web.

I had your account checked and it shows your server was claimed a few minutes ago, but it also shows as offline, which means your server did not respond when Plex.tv pinged it to check the remote access settings.

Verify that remote access is configured properly.

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Yeah okay that make sense when it connect I finally for the first time saw this.app.plex.tv is unable to connect to “XxXxXx” securely. I followed the instructions and used Plex.app. When launched it see that remote is enabled, but after 4-5 seconds it disconnects. I dunno what’s going on, but it finally seems like I’ma step closer to get this back to working. Any other suggestions?

  • Gracias
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If it were me, I’d do a clean install without Remote Access. You can set that up later.

To do the Setup without enabling Remote Access follow the how-to again, starting with the complete uninstall, but you make sure the Naming Step has it unchecked where it says

Allow me to access my media outside my home

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@nibbles bro, thanks for your tips. However I tried and it’s still a no go.
I’m gonna sit-down and has our TDia dinner and try again later. Everyone enjoy your holiday and if anyones has any bright ideas. Hit me up.

Also on a side note I create a new account and tried to sign as well, and no dice with new users as well.

  • Gracias
1 Like
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Have a nice dinner. When you get back, tell me exactly which step failed.
This sounds like a MacOS 13.0.1 Ventura issue though.
That procedure works on 12.6.1 Monterey Mac Studio.