I keep the Plex Update Service in Windows set to manual so that it’s only used by Plex when it is actually open and I want to install an update.
However, after years of trying to figure out why clicking “install update” in the browser UI never works, I’ve now realized it’s because Plex is unable to start its own update service, which is not disabled and only set to manual.
Please fix this if possible. I don’t use Plex often and therefore do not want an update service running in the background for no reason. Plex should be able to open its own service if it is set to manual in Windows services.
Plex Media Server on Windows does not (generally) run as an administrative user. Helper services are needed for certain functions, updates being one of them. I’m not suggesting that they couldn’t hack their way around this, but why? Just leave the service at ‘Automatic’ if the ability to update from the web UI is important to you. Otherwise, download and install the update manually. Especially since you don’t use Plex very often.
Why in the world would Plex change their upgrade mechanism for such an edge case?
This cannot be fixed. Starting and stopping services is not something an ordinary app should be allowed to do. Thus, Plex Server cannot start its update service when it pleases to do so. Particularly if that service is allowed to install software updates.
Why are you so butthurt? Why in the world would Plex make their app function better???
The least they could do is give a notification in the web interface for what is wrong when I try to update so I at least know what the problem is. They could also just have an elevation prompt for the updater that runs from the web interface.
No, I will not leave a needless service, that should be able to be started by its associated program, on Automatic. That has literally never been a problem for any other program I’ve ever used. I really suggest you stop trying to “help” people on these forums with your arrogant, aggressive approach. Blocked for being a total dick for no reason.
Then how are programs like Chrome and Razer Synapse able to do it? My experience with Windows tells me this isn’t true. If it has to do with permissions then an admin elevation prompt would work, or just not require a windows service to update.
Because you are a smartass user who is completely computer clueless and is making snide/rude comments.
With programs like chrome, they bypass the admin requirements by side-loading the app and installing it to %appdata% not C:\Program Files. In windows the correct location to install programs is the Program Files directory, but that requires admin rights, and can also affect system registry keys, file associations, and other components (ie registering DLL’s). Google and companies who decided to adopt the google method, side-load or bypass the Windows User Account Control and install programs into appdata (and then fail to properly register the app in add/remove programs, and other key system locations). Using appdata allows users who do not have permissions to install apps to load chrome, and forces a unique install per user instead of a simple system wide installer.
UAC is specifically there to prevent non-elevated applications from elevating and gaining permissions by accident. With Plex running as a service in most cases, there is no active UI on console 0 to provide a UAC prompt to invoke a UAC prompt to elevate. Which is why Plex was designed to run with a service helper (Chrome and other apps do the same thing too) When you start interfering with how programs operate and things break, dont try blaming the program authors. Instead look in a mirror, thats the person who broke it.
That’s funny because nothing you just said contradicts my statement. Other programs can do it because they do it correctly. It sounds like the update mechanism is a poorly built house of cards that people like you are desperate to defend.
Any program that relies on a service to run 24/7 for it to work when it’s opened is poorly designed. It’s a basic principle about respect for the user’s PC. Oh and defending myself against rude users isn’t rude. If someone is choosing to troll rather than actually be helpful, yes I tend to inform and block.
I’m closing this topic because it has just turned into back and forth insults. If you strongly disagree to a point you can’t just ignore then mute them and you won’t see their posts.
