Plex app on LG TV says Network Unavailable

Plex Players Smart TVs
32

Dear all,

I have found a workaround for this problem, though it might be it is a specific solution which only works if your network has the same specification as my network: both wifi and hard-wired.

Problem: when starting Plex App on LG, network error -355 is thrown, with only options to retry or exit the App.

  1. Disable IPv6 on the television. Error remains.
  2. Use a hardcoded IP address and use a public DNS like 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1. Error remains.
  3. Deinstall and install Plex App on LG. Error remains.
  4. Remove TV from Plex (I saw here a dual registration in my account for 1 TV). Error remains
    –> this is an important clue, apparently the Plex app does not even communicate to Plex.tv.
  5. I run Plex as a service on my server, using Github code. Stop Plex as-a-service and start Plex default. Error remains
  6. Stop Plex on my media server. Error remains.
    –> next important clue, apparently the error is not related to a media server being present.
  7. Power off and power on the television set (various times during the troubleshooting). Error remains.
  8. Check with another app if the Internet connectivity is available. Various times during the troubleshooting. No problems with NPO app.
  9. Use the retry option in the Plex LG app various times. I tried 15 times. Error remains.
    –> there must be something miscommunicating between the LG network stack and the Plex LG app
  10. Connect WiFi as well using DNS (remember the TV has a hardcoded, hardwired IP address at this stage of the process). Success! TV registration at Plex.tv successful.
    But: in the evening, the -355 error was back. I powered off the TV and on again without changing any setting. And it worked again (??)
    However NPO app is now not working any more (I guess because the TV has now two IP addresses)
  11. WiFi only. The error Network unavailable it thrown shortly, and then Plex LG App starts.
  12. Switch back to hard-wired (1Gb network), with fixed IP address and IPv6 disabled. Sofar I have used Plex LG appr for 2 consecutive days without errors.

I do not have a clue why this workaround works for me, since the setup is now equal to the setup of step 2, and that one failed. But I found earlier posts in this forum that connecting to a hotspot and then switching back to the original WiFi does the job too.

I would suggest Plex Inc and LG Inc to investigate in a network driver or stack problem, maybe some kind of persistant overflow or memory leak which clears out when switching networks.

Good luck all!

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