Server Version#: 1.19.5.3112-b23ab3896
Player Version#:
Nearly every time I start Plex, there’s an orange update message at the top of the home screen. But it’s telling me to install a version I’ve already installed.
For example, I just installed 1.19.5.3112-b23ab3896 and restarted my computer. But on the General settings page, Plex tells me it’s running version 1.14.1.5488 (it’s been stuck on this for a long time).
When I install a new update, I usually need to reinstall (or repair) it three or four times before I can use the Cast feature, but the orange bar and old version number persist.
Looks like the install did not succeed, does it?
What version of Windows are you running this Plex Media Server on? Are you using some “Cleaner” apps that might have deleted existing installer files (e.g. to save some disc space)?
"Plex Media Server Update Required
We will soon be increasing the minimum version of Plex Media Server required by our player apps to 1.15.2 or newer. This new minimum version will be required in our iOS and Apple TV updates on August 26, 2020, and other player apps will soon follow.
You’re receiving this email because we show that you’ve used an older Plex Media Server version recently. If you don’t take action, your apps may no longer be able to connect to your server. Please update your server to a current release. The latest versions are always available on our Downloads page."
It’ll be interesting to see if my PLEX install still works after the 26th.
Your server will keep working. If your server is still on version 1.14, your client apps will no longer be able to connect to it as they are being updated and require version 1.15.2 as a minimum.
I’m having the same problem. I’ve updated both the Plex for Windows (where I see the notice) and Plex Media Server for Synology. I have confirmed both show that the latest versions are installed, yet I still get the noticed every time I start Plex for Windows.
Plex for Windows Version: 1.23.0.1435-e10e14cf
Plex Media Server for Synology Version: 1.20.5.3583-309e93364
I too am always being told there is an update, but in my case, When I go to install the update, I get the message to grab a cup of tea this could take a couple of minutes, and 2 hours later, the circle is still turning and no update has been loaded. I then have to cancel the update and the message never goes away. Meanwhile, I can’t pull up my content on my television as I used to be able to and I have a feeling it’s because the update, I can’t load, is in the way. HELP!!!
When your server is running on Windows, you can always do the “manual” update:
All you need to do is:
Stop/quit/end Plex Server with the tray icon
Make sure to disable (or better uninstall) tools like “CCleaner” or “registry optimizers” and similar tools, because they can cause your Plex library to get lost during the following step!
deinstall Plex Server with the regular ‘Apps’ control panel of Windows (do not use 3rd party ‘Uninstaller’ software like Revo etc.)
for safety, reboot Windows
download the installation exe of the newer version and install it
If that fails too, you have some serious issues on your computer and need to investigate further
Well, I was able to get rid of the annoying message that pops up after starting Plex by uninstalling Plex, searching my entire drive for anything that had Plex in it’s file name, deleting all of those found files that windows would allow, and then re-installing the latest version. Not exactly orthodox, but it seems to have worked. This did force me to re-sign and and configure things how I like them again though.
“This did force me to re-sign and and configure things how I like them again though.”
Yeah, that’s precisely why I’m hesitant to uninstall/reinstall. I have a LOT of videos which I needed to name myself for various reasons, and I don’t look forward to doing it again. Anyways Plex still thinks it’s running version 1.14.1.5488 even though I continue to install all updates, and so far it continues to work with Chromecast on iPhone and desktop.
“2 hours later, the circle is still turning and no update has been loaded”
Updating from the Plex settings page has never worked for me. Instead, I click “Download Updates”, then I quit Plex and open the …\Plex\Plex Media Server\Updates folder to manually install the latest update.
I actually had tried uninstalling/reinstalling alone before with no luck. That didn’t reset all my settings. I believe what cause my settings to be reset this time was deleting all the other remaining Plex files/folders that remained after the uninstall.
Something else I observed after doing this that my be worth checking into more… Since I already have it fixed I can no longer test this theory but you might want to ensure that there is nothing that appears out of the ordinary with the C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex directory. After I uninstalled Plex, this directory still had a Plex.exe file. Attempting to run this .exe just launched the update notification… Seemed odd that it was still there and that’s what happened when I ran it. Are you opening Plex from a shortcut?
Well, I finally got fed up enough to uninstall and reinstall Plex.
So long fixed matches… Hello SO MANY bad matches.
So long fixed artwork.
So long renamed items
So long custom-sorted franchises
So long split apart items.
Hello oddball bonus features.
So long star ratings
So long iTunes playlists
So long every single customization.
I don’t want to spend my life reorganizing and fixing all of this again just to need to do it again in three years. Preserving the end-user’s hard work should be a priority. This is a PERFECT example of why I don’t pay for Plex–there are just too many glitches, poor priorities and unintuitive interface changes.
PS. Features that are sorely missing:
Remove track from playlist while playing
Delete item from Plex but NOT hard drive
Delete unwanted artwork
Open file location on disk
Search for a Match manually (not Fix Match)
Bring back “import iTunes playlists”
Have been having this problem for quite a while and tried normal uninstall/reinstall. Also did not want to lose all of my fixed matches/artwork, custom stuff, etc. I think if you make sure you delete everything only for the Plex App itself and do not touch anything for the Media Server portion it will work (It worked for me, I no longer have the prompt to update and it kept all of my changes to my library). This is also assuming you have the app running on the same PC as your Media Server, if you do not, and are only running the App, then by all means just search your drives for Plex and delete anything found after Step 1 below.
Here is what I did:
1: Uninstall Plex through the Microsoft App page in your windows settings. (Start Menu -> Settings -> Apps).
2: Delete the folder C:\Program Files\Plex (Or whatever drive D:, X:, etc your Program Files folder is on). DO NOT DELETE C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex. This is where the Media Server stuff lives.
3: Delete the folder C:\Users\(your profile name)\AppData\Plex. There is also a Plex Media Server folder in AppData, leave it alone. If you do not have hidden folders enabled in your folder settings, you will not be able to see this. (Open any folder -> View -> Options -> Change Folder and Search Options -> View -> Hidden files and folders -> Click Show hidden files, folders, and drives).
4: Empty Recycle Bin.
5: Restart PC.
6: Download and install the latest Plex App.
7: Start App.
That’s it. Again, it worked for me and kept all of my library settings intact while fixing the endless update box every time I started the app. I have restarted a few times and tried again and it has not come back and hopefully, it is fixed for good. I will see what happens next time they update the Plex App and if it starts happening again, may have to just repeat this until they figure out what exactly is causing the update or uninstall to not get rid of whatever signals an update.
I had this exact issue. I also completely removed the Plex Media Player for Windows 10 from my PC, cleaned it up and reinstalled. I ensured my Plex Server was on the latest version. Then I reinstalled the Plex Media Player app on my PC.
Launched it and the Message to upgrade did not appear and the orange/yellow? check mark was gone from the status icon.
Then I pinned the shortcut to my start menu and the message was BACK!!!
I consistently DO NOT get the message when I launch the app from the app list, but if I launch it from the Pinned shortcut it is there every time. .
So strange…
UPDATE:
Found the issue. There were TWO different install paths for the Plex Player. While only the new one appeared in the App tray, when I pinned the App it used the Old Path
Old Path: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex\Plex.exe
New Path: C:Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Player\PlexMediaPlayer.exe
I had a similar update issue to what is described here, and I found a solution (at least for me). Sharing in case it helps.
My problem:
My PMS is on version X
Plex would tell me I can update to version Y
I download update, I click install. Plex says to get coffee.
This screen stays up for “hours”. I click “Retry connection”, and it takes me back to the screen telling me I’m I can update.
My PMS stayed on version X, and reminds me I can get to Y
Endless cycle of attempting to update but it never does
The solution:
I realized after much digging that I either intentionally or unintentionally set the Plex Update Service (Standard Windows Service, access via “Services” view in Win Settings) to “Automatic Delayed Start” and the service was currently OFF
This meant that when I restarted my PC, this service did “not” start automatically. (Technically, an auto delayed start “should” start the service after a period of time. No idea why it didn’t for me. Might be an issue with my Windows setup)
So, I changed the setting to “Automatic” so it started upon PC start.
I then started the service, and attempted to update PMS again.
The update completed without issue, spending only about 45 seconds at the “grab a coffee” screen before refreshing automatically.
In a nutshell, I disabled the update service and forgot about it :-). Turning it back on allows Plex to update. Self inflicted lol. Perhaps someone else’s is similar. Best wishes.
If you have Plex server and Plex player installed on the same computer as I do, this is not recommended because you will almost certainly break your server install in the process.
