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Hi. Tried to relocate an existing, working Win deployment to a Mac mini. Plexpass lifetime on the account. This relocation process failed catastrophically, way too much time wasted trying to get the files over and then each time there was an auth issue, so I’d like to cut anchor and start anew. All authorized machines have been de-authorized, I’ve ran the instructions to nuke a Mac install a half dozen times including removal of all files / folders, and running a handful of terminal commands, and removal of the PMS app itself.
Upon fresh install, I click the top right arrow for the PMS server menu, ‘Open Plex’, and it says ‘Initializing Plex Media Server…’ - with spinning circle, but it does not load. After awhile the following error occurs:
Something went wrong. Make sure the server is available and try again.
Every backdoor I’m aware of such as the 127… address - just shows up blank. Nothing happens.
I think the problem is (or its’ symptom), when ‘installing’ the plex media server - it’s not actually creating any of the folders, such as under Library / Application Support / Plex Media Server. Each time I attempt to ‘uninstall’ from the Mac, none of those folders exist: the main PMS folder, cache, logs, none of it.
Any idea why these folders are not being created when I install PMS? Thanks!
Edit: Downloading sequoia 15.2 right now to see if that helps. This is a base Mac mini m4 running sequoia 15.1.1
Now with new 15.2 macOS I get ‘not authorized’. I’ve tried everything I could find including a claim code and slipping it into some xml plist file, I’m at the end of my rope. Do I need to delete my account and buy plex pass again? All I want to do is start over with a new server, point to my content folders, and call it a day. Thanks
Ok, I feel the frustration. Firstly your looking in the wrong Library. The quickest way is to Navigate to the Go Menu (Top of Desktop) hold down the Option key to find a hidden Library. In this library you will find those so called Files you were hunting down. I would suggest shutting down PLEX Media Server first.
After you have removed the files and deleted, Install Plex Media Server again and sign in using your old Credentials and follow the set up instructions.
~ Tilde on Mac/ Unix means Home Directory of current User
I wish it was that simple. I had already gotten hidden files shown globally - the plex folders aren’t hidden, they do not exist. I know this for sure because I can create them myself. Any attempt to name a new folder the same as one that’s hidden is otherwise denied - ‘name is already taken, choose a different name’. I can’t even look and see what the logs say because the logs folder does not exist.
I was trying to find an older version of PMS installer to see if maybe it’s just something wonky with this version but that doesn’t appear to be a thing, I can’t find it anywhere.
Thanks! Going to see how far back I need to go to get the folders to install. So far… not so good.
Interestingly, this last time I tried a fresh install, when clicking ‘open plex’ from the PMS icon at top right - I tried starting up a new email address / new account instead of signing into this one. It let me sign up with the new email, and when I logged in using the new email address - I saw the multi-selection icon option for my users under THIS account. So not only is plex not fully installing, the uninstallation instructions are incomplete because I can’t even start fresh using a different email address.
I just went back and reread your original post and wondering if you followed the guide https://support.plex.tv/articles/201370363-move-an-install-to-another-system/
(just read that windows to mac is not advised)
Also wondering that if you did do it correctly it might have a database issue that needs repair.
Not trying to tell you what to do, but if you run into the same error, post a screen shot of the exact error and we can help a bit more. OS 15.1/15.2 has for me added a bunch of weird things that I had to search to fix what was working fine before the update.
Thanks, yeah that’s where I started. Figured it might be clunky but tried anyway, no dice. Deleted the PMS folder that I had used during the failed migration attempts, tried to nuke and pave, still the same ‘not authorized’ issue. No other errors. Just stuck in an endless loop of nuke, install, no folders get added to macos where they’re supposed to, attempt ‘open plex’ and sign in, not authorized. Deleted every single thing except the account itself, every authorized machine, every history, user, everything I could do to just start over and just… nothing.
So yes, that’s where this started but after several hours of fighting to get the migration to work, I cut anchor and tried to start anew. Except, I can’t. Even a new email address / account doesn’t work, when I log in with the ‘open plex’ link in the PMS app with the new email address - my old user in the other account is the only thing available to click on. No change user, try different email, etc. So there’s clearly something missing from the nuke instructions - quite possibly on Apple’s end with Safari, who knows. Trying a different default browser is my next and possibly last step before I pivot.
Therein lies the problem. Or the symptom. That folder does not exist. I just tried a totally new browser with nothing imported, set as default, logged in with the brand new account, and ‘Initializing Plex Media Server…’ skinny circle of death. I have no doubt it will give me the same ‘Something went wrong’ error I got last time, from the original post
The installation of PMS on this machine does not work. Newest version, older versions, it’s just not working. I am the only user account on this machine and am administrator, and no matter what I try, I can’t get plex to properly install. I move it to the apps folder, fire it up and it chills in the top right tray, and all options open a browser and fail. If I click ‘preferences’, it asks for my login, I try the brand new account, then it gives me ‘not authorized’.
If this is true, and you just want to try and get PMS running. Create a new user in Mac OS X and attempt the Plex Media server install again, the ~/Library folders will be created under the new user. But again screenshot and share the errors, OS X now required me to turn on things in Settings-> Privacy & Security -> Full Network Access and other things.
But trying under a different user might be an easier option if you don’t have anything else on this machine yet.
Also you don’t need to switch your email to another, you can have multiple servers under one plex pass and you are starting the mac as a new server and not trying to bring the database over. Make sure to name it differently though.
Correct. PMS is running, I can see it in the top right bar, and all the processes in activity monitor etc. No folder. Followed installation and removal instructions on plex site word for word at least a dozen times, trying any variation I can think up. Never once did it create those folders, using latest PMS version or random old version. Going to try as suggested below and create a new account now and see if that gets the folders created.
Correct. Only user on this machine. Tried as suggested above and created a new user, installed - no folders.
Just completely nuked the hd and installed sequoia from scratch. This is the only account on this machine and it is confirmed in settings as ‘Admin’. That’s not the ‘name’ of the account, though. It defaults to my real name. I can create an Admin account called ‘Admin’ if that will help?
Anyway, fresh install - same exact problem. I didn’t change a single setting in macOS. Went straight to plex, downloaded PMS from the official site, moved to the application folder, clicked the app and got it running in the top right, ‘open plex’, sign in, cycle continues
-first it’s ‘initializing plex server’
-then that fails with the ‘something went wrong’ message.
-any further attempts to get into plex media server, preferences, ‘open plex’ - all lead to the ‘not authorized’ nightmare
-not a single folder in application support, logs etc are created. Did the cmd shift period trick to ensure I’m seeing hidden files, nothing’s there. I can manually create the folders I’m supposed to be looking for, in the correct locations, with zero errors, which should not be possible.
Forgive my ignorance but this looks like a tool for linux, I have NFI how to run linux on a Mac, do I need to partition this machine to get Linux on it to accomplish this?
What is the path that you’re going to for Application Support? If you try going, Macintosh HD-> Users->"USER NAME"->Library->Application Support do you find a Plex folder?
And I just tried installing it on another Mac and see what you are talking about. Try going to this address in a web browser. http://127.0.0.1:32400/web/
The app.plex.tv address just kept spinning “initializing Plex Server.”
Thank you. I was in the main application support dir, not users->library etc. I see the folder now. Going to try the original migration now that I’m in the right place and see what happens, because going to the 127 address gives me ‘not authorized’
