# Plex and express VPN **URL:** \ **Category:** Remote Access\ **Tags:** server-windows\ **Created:** [April 8, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577 "2019-04-08T20:15:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zombotomy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ccd318/32.png) [@zombotomy](https://forums.plex.tv/u/zombotomy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/1 "2019-04-08T20:15:29Z")
Server Version#: newest Player Version#: newest i cant get remote access to work lately with vpn. vpn must be on because of sonar. ive tried split tuneel and put plex through it but nothing. i also tried this [https://www.cuttingcords.com/home/2014/11/8/protecting-your-privacy-with-vpn](https://www.cuttingcords.com/home/2014/11/8/protecting-your-privacy-with-vpn) still nothing. i just need remote access to work while i have the vpn on ive also tried ipvanish ---
**Author:** ![thomasslagter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@thomasslagter](https://forums.plex.tv/u/thomasslagter)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/2 "2019-05-05T19:50:30Z")
I’m having the same troubles since some weeks. Also don’t know how to fix this! ---
**Author:** ![zombotomy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ccd318/32.png) [@zombotomy](https://forums.plex.tv/u/zombotomy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/3 "2019-05-05T20:12:21Z")
The answer is port forwarding ---
**Author:** ![bantoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c6cbf5/32.png) [@bantoot](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bantoot)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2019, 11:56am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/4 "2019-05-06T11:56:28Z")
I have port forwarding and everything was working fine with VPN on. But suddenly, I mow cannot stream remote with VPN on. Shows not working. Try to connect and nothing. As soon as I turn off my VPN, I get not remotely connected. Just started yesterday. Using PIA and have used that for five years now. Any other ideas ---
**Author:** ![thomasslagter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@thomasslagter](https://forums.plex.tv/u/thomasslagter)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/5 "2019-05-06T14:32:40Z")
It is not, because without VPN on everything works. Turning it on, and after a while PMS will automatically choose a new IP address… ---
**Author:** ![zombotomy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ccd318/32.png) [@zombotomy](https://forums.plex.tv/u/zombotomy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2019, 4:07pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/6 "2019-05-06T16:07:58Z")
You need to have port forwarding set through your router ---
**Author:** ![thomasslagter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@thomasslagter](https://forums.plex.tv/u/thomasslagter)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/7 "2019-05-06T16:08:37Z")
> [@VPN with Plex Media Server](https://forums.plex.tv/t/vpn-with-plex-media-server/408349): > > Server Version#: Version 1.15.5.994 Player Version#: Doesn’t matter Hi, I’m having troubles with the Plex Media Server. Normally I’d start the PMS without VPN turned on. PMS will use your normal IP address to configure the server. After that I’d turn on my VPN client and could do all things normally. Now, since a few weeks, for some kind of reason PMS will check the IP address after a few minutes and change it. This is a problem, because at that time it will change the IP address tot the VPN… ---
**Author:** ![Djurrep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c68b51/32.png) [@Djurrep](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Djurrep)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 6:05am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/9 "2019-05-09T06:05:37Z")
By default, Plex publishes the public IP address on which your server is reachable. Starting a VPN will block that public IP address. Instead of publishing your public IP, you can also publish a URL. Go to Settings \> Server \> Network \> Custom server access URLs Here you can fill in a dynamic domain name. Dynamic domains are freely available with several dynamic domain providers. Run a background app of this provider to keep the IP address of this dynamic domain in sync with your public IP address (with VPN on or off) For more details: [https://support.plex.tv/articles/200430283-network/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200430283-network/) _Custom server access URLs_ _A comma-separated list of URLs (either HTTP or HTTPS), which will be published to [plex.tv](http://plex.tv) for server discovery. This can be very useful in a few cases: if you’re using a VPN to get back home, if you’re using a reverse proxy in front of the media server, or if your networking configuration is otherwise unique. For instance, if you have your own custom domain with subdomain, you might add:_ _[https://plex.mycustomdomain.com:32400](https://plex.mycustomdomain.com:32400)_ _Tip!: If you don’t specify a port, the port from your Remote Access page will automatically be used._ ---
**Author:** ![thomasslagter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@thomasslagter](https://forums.plex.tv/u/thomasslagter)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 11:24am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/10 "2019-05-09T11:24:35Z")
Thanks, But it doesn’t make sense to me. Those kinds of apps synch the VPN IP with the hostname you’ve created. So when Plex starts to contact the hostname, it has the VPN IP. That’s the whole point right, that it needs to contact your real IP, not the VPN IP… I’ve tried it now for some hours and I’m having the same issue. Also I’ve tried using DNS, with my static IP address. Also that doesn’t work, because it keeps changing the IP address to the VPN IP. ---
**Author:** ![Djurrep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c68b51/32.png) [@Djurrep](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Djurrep)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 12:47pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/11 "2019-05-09T12:47:23Z")
I don’t know where your Plex server gets the IP address to advertise on [Plex.tv](http://Plex.tv) It does not use your VPN address. I set it up as described and it works for me. Both with VPN off and on. When I left the _Custom server access URLs_ blank, I could only reach my Plex server from outside with VPN off. ---
**Author:** ![bantoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c6cbf5/32.png) [@bantoot](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bantoot)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2019, 9:48am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/12 "2019-05-10T09:48:28Z")
zombototomy, I do have port forwarding and it was running with VPN on up to a few weeks ago. Nothing changed except maybe an update from Plex. I really would like it to be that way again. I used to leave VPN on 24/7 since I have fiber Any other ideas Thanks in advance ---
**Author:** ![hickmanje2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/hickmanje2/32/12156_2.png) [@hickmanje2](https://forums.plex.tv/u/hickmanje2)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/13 "2019-05-15T15:18:08Z")
I, too, am having issues with VPN and Remote Access with the recent updates of Plex. Before a couple of weeks ago, it worked without flaw. A recent update most of have changed something. ---
**Author:** ![pl\_5309](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@pl\_5309](https://forums.plex.tv/u/pl_5309)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/14 "2019-05-15T15:57:01Z")
Looks like Plex has increased the frequency they check/resolve the remote access ip which is detecting/changing the default gateway when you start your VPN. You can either setup external DNS and use the `Custom Server Access URL` or move your VPN off your server or to a docker/VM I don’t have a VPN on my server or I would try https://external\_ip\_of\_server in the customserver access url to see if it worked. ---
**Author:** ![sjgaboury](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/sjgaboury/32/91541_2.png) [@sjgaboury](https://forums.plex.tv/u/sjgaboury)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 12:55am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/15 "2019-05-28T00:55:30Z")
I am also having the same issue and would love to know how to fix. I am running a plex server on fedora using expressvpn on the server. It was working flawlessly, now nothing works remotely. ---
**Author:** ![standardman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/standardman/32/115235_2.png) [@standardman](https://forums.plex.tv/u/standardman)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/16 "2019-05-28T17:52:44Z")
Same issue, only started happening recently. And yes I do have port forwarding setup. ---
**Author:** ![bhud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47774/32.png) [@bhud](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bhud)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/17 "2019-05-30T04:53:49Z")
I decided to make a quick how to > [@\[How To\] Bypass VPN for Plex](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-to-bypass-vpn-for-plex/417665): > > I’ve seen tons of posts about people not being able to get their Plex remote access with a VPN and rather than post to all of them and look like a spam bot I decided to put it here. There are a lot of work arounds and complicated ways for people that don’t have a VPN with bypass or port forward/tunneling. I had this problem as well with IPVanish and NordVPN, and this solution will work for all vpn providers. I can only explain for Windows. First go to [https://dev.thronic.com/VPN-Bypass/](https://dev.thronic.com/VPN-Bypass/) and do… ---
**Author:** ![PEye2000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/peye2000/32/18583_2.png) [@PEye2000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/PEye2000)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 6:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/18 "2019-06-07T18:02:44Z")
I have same thing, Mine picks up on one of the VPN IP’s Pri or Sec. I have to unlink my pri and Sec VPN connection (Turn VPN Off) Then get Plex to reestablish remote link by refreshing Plex remote… hope there is a fix for this somewhere… Just FYI… ---
**Author:** ![PEye2000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/peye2000/32/18583_2.png) [@PEye2000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/PEye2000)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 6:04pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/19 "2019-06-07T18:04:41Z")
It would be nice if that was a English link you provided… Just some more info ---
**Author:** ![bhud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47774/32.png) [@bhud](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bhud)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/20 "2019-06-07T18:28:32Z")
If you look at the tutorial link. I tell you it’s in Swedish and list all the ip’s you need to add to it. I didn’t make the program or website. Sorry. But google translate will fix it up nice for you. ---
**Author:** ![PEye2000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/peye2000/32/18583_2.png) [@PEye2000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/PEye2000)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577/21 "2019-06-07T19:12:54Z")
OK, Thanks, I’ll look… [Next page](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-and-express-vpn/397577.md?page=2)