Plex Media Server not published after upgrade and new install on Raspberry PI 5

[microsim86]

Server Version#: 1.42.2.10156-f737b826c
Plex Web Version#: Version 4.147.1

Hello! I’ve been using Plex on a raspberry pi for a long while. The last year running on top of a Raspberry PI 5 8GB to stream local content from a NAS. My setup has been flawless until an update in september when the server stopped all of a sudden. I’ve spent a lot of time investigating and now come to the conclusion I need some help. After the update in september my server disappeared and after some time I just uninstalled and purged the packages and reinstalled it. I also have a lifetime subscription of Plex.
Here’s the process:

root@plex:~# apt install plexmediaserver
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree… Done
Reading state information… Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
plexmediaserver
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 4 not upgraded.
Need to get 75.7 MB of archives.
After this operation, 200 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 ``https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb`` public/main arm64 plexmediaserver arm64 1.42.2.10156-f737b826c [75.7 MB]
Fetched 75.7 MB in 2s (39.1 MB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package plexmediaserver.
(Reading database … 161127 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack …/plexmediaserver_1.42.2.10156-f737b826c_arm64.deb …
PlexMediaServer install: Pre-installation Validation.
PlexMediaServer install: Pre-installation Validation complete.
Unpacking plexmediaserver (1.42.2.10156-f737b826c) …
Setting up plexmediaserver (1.42.2.10156-f737b826c) …
PlexMediaServer install: PlexMediaServer-1.42.2.10156-f737b826c - Installation starting.
PlexMediaServer install:
PlexMediaServer install: Now installing based on:
PlexMediaServer install: Installation Type: New
PlexMediaServer install: Process Control: systemd
PlexMediaServer install: Plex User: plex
PlexMediaServer install: Plex Group: plex
PlexMediaServer install: Video Group: video
PlexMediaServer install: Metadata Dir: /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support
PlexMediaServer install: Temp Directory: /tmp
PlexMediaServer install: Lang Encoding: en_US.UTF-8
PlexMediaServer install: Processor:
PlexMediaServer install: Intel i915 Hardware: Not found
PlexMediaServer install: Nvidia GPU card: Not Found
PlexMediaServer install:
PlexMediaServer install: Completing final configuration.
PlexMediaServer install: PlexMediaServer-1.42.2.10156-f737b826c - Installation successful. Errors: 0, Warnings: 0
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.26-1) …
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.36.0-1.1) …
Processing triggers for mailcap (3.70+nmu1) …

The server start fine but throws a strange argument error in the initial logs:

Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]: Error in command line:the argument for option ‘–serverUuid’ should follow immediately after the equal sign
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]: Crash Uploader options:
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]: Minidump Upload options:
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --directory arg        Directory to scan for crash reports
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --serverUuid arg       UUID of the server that crashed
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --platform arg         Platform string
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --platformVersion arg  Platform version string
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --vendor arg           Vendor string
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --device arg           Device string
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --model arg            Device model string
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --allowRetries arg     Whether we will allow retries
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]: Session Health options:
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --sessionStatus arg    Seassion health status (exited, crashed, or abnormal)
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --sessionStart arg     Session start timestamp in UTC or epoch time
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --sessionDuration arg  Session duration in seconds
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]: Common options:
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --userId arg           User that owns this product
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --version arg          Version of the product
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --sentryUrl arg        Sentry URL to upload to
Oct 16 19:50:25 plex Plex Media Server[6495]:   --sentryKey arg        Sentry Key for the project
lines 20493-20532/20532 (END)

I’ve seen these in earlier functioning installations of plexmediaserver.

Logging logging into the web-interface it asks me to log in and select my user which sends me to the plex main frontpage. On the menu to the left when clicking + Your Media I’m presented a message “Get Plex Media Server”. Somehow it seems only the client is functioning and the server isn’t registering correctly.

I tried going through the logs under /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Logs but cannot fint anything that really points out an obvious issue except these:

Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.161 [140735358611680] ERROR - [HttpHeader] invalid ‘X-Plex-Device’ header value (Raspberry Pi 5 Model B Rev 1.0^@)
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.163 [140735354319072] DEBUG - [HCl#4] HTTP requesting GET https://plex.tv/api/v2/features?X-Plex-Token=
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.164 [140735384809696] DEBUG - [HCl#5] HTTP requesting POST https://plex.tv/devices//unclaimed?Connection
[uri]=http://192.168.4.2:32400
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.164 [140735467662976] DEBUG - Waiting for server condition to be signaled.
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.164 [140735336984800] DEBUG - MyPlex: mapping state set to ‘Mapped - Not Published’.

Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.169 [140735377977568] WARN - [Req#10] Request for plug-in [com.plexapp.agents.htbackdrops] but it doesn’t exist.
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.169 [140735394820320] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:53584] 404 GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.htbackdrops (2 live) #10 GZIP 4ms 350 bytes
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.174 [140735377977568] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:53598 (Loopback)] GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.localmedia (2 live) #14 GZIP Token ()
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.174 [140735377977568] WARN - [Req#14] Request for plug-in [com.plexapp.agents.localmedia] but it doesn’t exist.
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.174 [140735392690400] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:53598] 404 GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.localmedia (2 live) #14 GZIP 0ms 350 bytes
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.179 [140735377977568] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:53608 (Loopback)] GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.themoviedb (2 live) #16 GZIP Token ()
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.180 [140735377977568] WARN - [Req#16] Request for plug-in [com.plexapp.agents.themoviedb] but it doesn’t exist.
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.180 [140735394820320] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:53608] 404 GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.themoviedb (2 live) #16 GZIP 0ms 350 bytes
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.193 [140735377977568] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:53612 (Loopback)] GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.none (2 live) #18 GZIP Token ()
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.193 [140735377977568] WARN - [Req#18] Request for plug-in [com.plexapp.agents.none] but it doesn’t exist.
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.193 [140735392690400] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:53612] 404 GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.none (2 live) #18 GZIP 0ms 350 bytes
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.197 [140735377977568] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:53622 (Loopback)] GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.plexthememusic (3 live) #1a GZIP Token ()
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.197 [140735377977568] WARN - [Req#1a] Request for plug-in [com.plexapp.agents.plexthememusic] but it doesn’t exist.
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.197 [140735394820320] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:53622] 404 GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.plexthememusic (3 live) #1a GZIP 1ms 350 bytes
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.201 [140735377977568] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:53628 (Loopback)] GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb (3 live) #1b GZIP Token ()
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.201 [140735377977568] WARN - [Req#1b] Request for plug-in [com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb] but it doesn’t exist.
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.202 [140735394820320] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:53628] 404 GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb (3 live) #1b GZIP 0ms 350 bytes
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.203 [140735377977568] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:53640 (Loopback)] GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.movieposterdb (3 live) #1d GZIP Token ()
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.204 [140735377977568] WARN - [Req#1d] Request for plug-in [com.plexapp.agents.movieposterdb] but it doesn’t exist.
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.204 [140735394820320] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:53640] 404 GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.movieposterdb (3 live) #1d GZIP 0ms 350 bytes
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.205 [140735377977568] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:53646 (Loopback)] GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.lastfm (3 live) #1f GZIP Token ()
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.205 [140735377977568] WARN - [Req#1f] Request for plug-in [com.plexapp.agents.lastfm] but it doesn’t exist.
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.206 [140735394820320] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:53646] 404 GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.lastfm (4 live) #1f GZIP 0ms 350 bytes
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.207 [140735377977568] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:53654 (Loopback)] GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.imdb (4 live) #20 GZIP Token ()
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.207 [140735377977568] WARN - [Req#20] Request for plug-in [com.plexapp.agents.imdb] but it doesn’t exist.
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.208 [140735392690400] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:53654] 404 GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.imdb (4 live) #20 GZIP 0ms 350 bytes
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.209 [140735377977568] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:53660 (Loopback)] GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb (4 live) #22 GZIP Token ()
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.209 [140735377977568] WARN - [Req#22] Request for plug-in [com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb] but it doesn’t exist.
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.209 [140735392690400] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:53660] 404 GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb (4 live) #22 GZIP 0ms 350 bytes
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.214 [140735377977568] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:53666 (Loopback)] GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb (4 live) #24 GZIP Token ()
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.214 [140735377977568] WARN - [Req#24] Request for plug-in [com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb] but it doesn’t exist.
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.214 [140735392690400] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:53666] 404 GET /:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb (4 live) #24 GZIP 2ms 350 bytes
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.341 [140735354319072] DEBUG - [HCl#6] HTTP requesting GET https://plex.tv/api/v2/server/users/features
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.387 [140735375814880] DEBUG - [HttpClient/HCl#6] HTTP/1.1 (0.0s) 401 response from GET https://plex.tv/api/v2/server/users/features (reused)
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.387 [140735336394976] ERROR - MyPlex: Error 401 requesting JSON from: https://plex.tv/api/v2/server/users/features
Oct 16, 2025 19:50:27.387 [140735354319072] WARN - FeatureManager: Couldn’t get features. Trying again soon.

Other than that I can’t see anything obvious.. I also tried a procedure to reclaim the plex server documented here: https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/ but the issue is that the configuration I’m suppose to remove is not present in Preferences.xml:
In your text editor, remove the following attribute/key pairs from the Preferences.xml file:
PlexOnlineHome=“1”
PlexOnlineMail="jane@example.com``"
PlexOnlineToken=“RanD0MHex1DecIm4LtoKeNheR3”
PlexOnlineUsername=“ExampleUser”

So, yeah.. I’m stuck and don’t know how to debug or come further with this issue so any help will be very much appreciated. BTW, I installed the plexmediaserver on a Mac and Windows host which works well.

Logging in to Plex after install:

I don’t see my server in the list:

Navigating to “+ Your Media” gives me this message.. Get Plex Media Server

Thank you

[nibbles]

You probably have to do the uninstall from the Pi5 the way it’s normally done with apt but then do one more step to remove the old server from Plex’s online list of your Authorized Devices which will remove any old authentication token etc.

You would open the hosted web app then go to Settings → Authorized Devices → Server and delete any old unused/uninstalled PMS. The following URL in a web browser should get you there, but you could drill down if you like.

https://app.plex.tv/desktop#!/settings/devices/pms

That completes the uninstall. Then I hope the new install you posted will function.

(It’s also possible that the apt remove doesn’t delete everything and that you may need to look for a plex data folder that you also have to nuke. I don’t have Pi5 to test against your OS, sorry.)

[microsim86]

Hi!

Thank you for your input. I hadn’t deleted my server from the authorized devices list. I did the uninstall again and ensured the package and all its data and configuration was removed ( apt is doing a good job here) and removed the device from the authorized devices list. Now, the issue is a bit different: after a clean install i immediately go into a “Not authorized” type of issue where I need to claim it.
Following https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/ i need to remove some configuration in Preferences.xml:
In your text editor, remove the following attribute/key pairs from the Preferences.xml file:

PlexOnlineHome="1"
PlexOnlineMail="jane@example.com"
PlexOnlineToken="RanD0MHex1DecIm4LtoKeNheR3"
PlexOnlineUsername="ExampleUser"

Those lines are nowhere to be found in that file. I start to suspect there’s some type of issues with the arm version of the package running on top of a raspberry pi. I have another one in the drawer somewhere and will do some more extensive testing, and I really hope that Plex still have support for it… ? This is so strange, I’ve been running this for years without any issues..

[nibbles]

After PMS is installed, you’re not exactly locked out as much as you’re expected to complete the steps to enter setup which claims the server.

Usually what’s required is

1. In a desktop web browser on the same subnet, go to the insecure bundled web page. If your rPi PMS is located at 192.168.1.20 for example, you would visit

http://192.168.1.20:32400/web

2. You will be asked to sign in to your plex.tv account after which it should reload the page and you end up in the server setup loop, asking you to name your server and create a few libraries. This is what claims the server and later allows you to connect via https
3. If you are not taken to the setup page after singing in to Plex, (e.g. it might give you an infinite spinner) then in the same tab, visit that same URL I showed above. The second time it should accept that you’re already logged in, not ask you to log in, and instead load setup. This is what happens on Mac, and it’s due to browsers having too much cruft.
4. If you’re still stuck and can’t enter setup, you can always verify that PMS is running and waiting for you to do setup by visiting

http://192.168.1.20:32400/identity

where it will spit out some XML telling you claimed="0" meaning it’s not claimed yet.

This sort of complex setup is the result of Plex tightening their security due to hacks.
Let me know if that works.

[microsim86]

Yeah, so that is the strange part. I never got to see the setup wizard. Accessing the identity uri gives me a xml with a property claimed=“0”

I found a description here How to Claim Your Plex Server - Plexopedia following the chapter Claiming your server manually repeating the steps:

Stop the Plex Media server from running.

1. From the Plex advanced settings, delete the PlexOnlineToken value, and keep the name.

2. Also from the hidden settings, copy the ProcessedMachineIdentifier value as it will be used to generate a claim token.

3. Open a Web browser and log in with your Plex account.

4. After logging in, go to https://www.plex.tv/claim to generate a claim token. Copy this token.

5. From a terminal window, run the following command:

   curl -X POST -s -H "X-Plex-Client-Identifier: {processed_machine_identifier}" "https://plex.tv/api/claim/exchange?token={claim_token}"
   
   

   Replace {processed_machine_identifier} with the value from the ProcessedMachineIdentifier setting, and {claim_token} with the claim token from the Web page.

6. At the bottom of the response should be the following values:

   • username

   • email

   • authentication-token

   Each value will need to be copied into the Plex advanced settings with the following key names:

   • PlexOnlineMail: email

   • PlexOnlineUsername: username

   • PlexOnlineToken: authentication-token

   • AcceptedEULA: 1

   • PublishServerOnPlexOnlineKey: 1

7. Restart Plex Media Server and you should now have the server claimed to your account.

Since my media server wasn’t running I couldn’t do step 1 and 2 but I realised the values could be retrieved based on the API response in step 5. I spent some time trying to understand where the “Plex advanced settings” were but looking at the values a google search later I understood that it must have been the “Preferences.xml” file. I adapted the values to xml, restarted the server and then at last I can access it. I haven’t tried to add media to the library yet but hopefully that will work as expected. Will do some initial testing now and report back any findings

BTW, the identity URI now gives me the property of claimed=“1”

[microsim86]

Yep, I’m finally back in action Thank you @nibbles for your input.

I didn’t find any answers to why I didn’t see the setup wizard nor why claiming is not a part of the installation process, and why as part of initial setup I had to “curl” against the API and modify the Preferences.xml file manually.. If this is a part of the “new normal” it would be nice to have the different installation guides updated.

[nibbles]

@microsim86

I didn’t find any answers to why I didn’t see the setup wizard

probably a browser thing. Sometimes ppl suggest deleting cache/cookies and switching to private browsing mode because of content blockers and browser cruft.

I’m curious though what happened when you visited http://lan.ip.add.ress:32400/web
glad to hear it’s up again.