# Plex pass account sharing issue

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232>\
**Category:** General Discussions\
**Tags:** plex-web\
**Created:** [March 11, 2020, 7:20am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232 "2020-03-11T07:20:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![spaceyama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@spaceyama](https://forums.plex.tv/u/spaceyama)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 7:20am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232/1 "2020-03-11T07:20:52Z")

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Hi …! I did set up a media server for the first time  
Problem 1.  
I share a flex account with my family  
I have a family-only account with a pin number  
My admin account has a pin number  
The first time you connect from the web, the pin number is ignored and you’re connected to your administrator account.

Problem 2.  
Family knows ID / PW of shared account  
My family can reset the pin number to access the admin account.  
Can you stop it?

thank you!

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**Author:** ![Coxeroni](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/coxeroni/32/21481_2.png) [@Coxeroni](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Coxeroni)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 8:38am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232/2 "2020-03-11T08:38:16Z")

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1. Disable auto-login, then you will always be asked for the PIN.

2. How and where can they reset any PIN? For me, only the admin can reset PINs.

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**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 7:24pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232/3 "2020-03-11T19:24:55Z")

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1 - That is intentional. If you sign in with your admin account, it automatically uses that account.

2 - That is not possible to change the admin pin from another account. If you are able to do this, we’ll need exact steps to try and reproduce.

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**Author:** ![TeknoJunky](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/teknojunky/32/165055_2.png) [@TeknoJunky](https://forums.plex.tv/u/TeknoJunky)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232/4 "2020-03-11T19:48:43Z")

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> [@anon18523487](#):
>
> That is intentional

sad face security issue

if pin is enabled, it should _ALWAYS_ be required even after logging in to a device the first time.

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**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232/5 "2020-03-11T19:51:00Z")

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But why would you need the PIN screen if you already know the admin credentials? Keep in mind that the pin is not a way to keep users out. It’s a way to prevent accidentally switching to the admin account.

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**Author:** ![TeknoJunky](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/teknojunky/32/165055_2.png) [@TeknoJunky](https://forums.plex.tv/u/TeknoJunky)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232/6 "2020-03-11T19:52:07Z")

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because folks who use MANAGED users for their family must either physically log into their users/kids/parents devices, or ‘share’ the admin login.

I fully understand that plex expects the admin user to do the logging in.

But REALITY says that the admin email/pass is shared among family/trusted users.

If there was a way to migrate users from MANAGED to regular HOME users with their own account, (IE as kids grow up), that might be ok, but still ignores the fact that admin credentials are still going to be shared for managed users.

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**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232/7 "2020-03-11T19:57:27Z")

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> [@TeknoJunky](#):
>
> physically log into their users/kids/parents devices

Right, that’s the intent. So after logging in, you would switch to another user anyways, so why stop at a PIN screen. Go to “Switch user” and leave it there for the managed user.

> [@TeknoJunky](#):
>
> or ‘share’ the admin login

> [@TeknoJunky](#):
>
> admin credentials are still going to be shared for managed users.

Booo. If you share this, then there’s no point is having a PIN. Knowing the credentials would allow that person to change/remove the pin anyways.

Why bother creating a manages user if you share the admin credentials? The whole point of a password is so others don’t know it. A PIN is always less secure, so if you’ve already given away the keys, a “do not enter” sign isn’t going to help.

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**Author:** ![TeknoJunky](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/teknojunky/32/165055_2.png) [@TeknoJunky](https://forums.plex.tv/u/TeknoJunky)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232/8 "2020-03-11T19:59:37Z")

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> [@anon18523487](#):
>
> If you share this, then there’s no point is having a PIN. Knowing the credentials would allow that person to change/remove the pin anyways.

the point, and request is, the PIN (if enabled) should be REQUIRED _in addition to_ the admin credentials.

if I share my plex credentials with my sister (because she is family but lives across the hallway/street/town/country and I don’t feel like yelling/walking/driving/flying over to setup her new phone/device/whatever), but she does not have my pin, she should not be able to log into my admin profile or make any changes to the server.

expected/desired steps

- user logs into device
- profile dialog pops up
- user selects profile and enters applicable pin
- ???
- profit

NOT this…

- user logs into device
- is immediately given admin profile and priviledges
- must switch user to get to profile dialog

* * *

requiring the pin in addition to admin credentials would also help increase security against account hacks.

similar in manner to two factor authentication.

and if plex wanted to go all out, you could allow for increased security by having more flexible pins, more than 4 characters and not only digits.

and yes I understand that entering a 24 character profile password is not very fun, if someone wanted to do it, they should be able to.

> [@anon18523487](#):
>
> Why bother creating a manages user if you share the admin credentials?

People create home/managed users to share plex pass privileges so they don’t have to unlock family mobile devices.

also home users get dvr access and whatever other differences between a home user and shared non-home user.

People create managed users, because either they want to keep it simple for their family, or they simply DO NOT KNOW/Understand that your family can create their own plex account and they can be invited them to their home.

And once someone starts using a managed user, then they have play history etc they don’t want to lose.

ergo the desire to migrate managed user \> dedicated account home user

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232/9 "2020-03-11T21:07:16Z")

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> [@TeknoJunky](#):
>
> requiring the pin in addition to admin credentials would also help increase security against account hacks

Plex is looking to add more security, but the PIN is not the appropriate way. It’s like giving out your online banking password but not the ATM PIN.

> [@TeknoJunky](#):
>
> People create home/managed users to share plex pass privileges so they don’t have to unlock family mobile devices.

You can do that with a regular Plex account too.

> [@TeknoJunky](#):
>
> also home users get dvr access and whatever other differences between a home user and shared non-home user.

I give you that one. 😄

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TeknoJunky](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/teknojunky/32/165055_2.png) [@TeknoJunky](https://forums.plex.tv/u/TeknoJunky)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232/10 "2020-03-11T21:24:18Z")

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> [@anon18523487](#):
>
> You can do that with a regular Plex account too.

Right!

But people do not know or understand that, until AFTER someone points it out.

I did not know that originally myself. I had to have it proven to me. I even created a new account just to test it.

So yes, part of the problem is user error/user ignorance.

yes the documentation explains it.

documentation doesn’t help when it isn’t read or remembered.

and every time a new plex pass users creates a home and managed users, we get a new thread, and here we are.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![spaceyama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@spaceyama](https://forums.plex.tv/u/spaceyama)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 9:01am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232/11 "2020-03-13T09:01:44Z")

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Thanks for all the answers.  
I got the desired result  
I entered another account as my home user  
I couldn’t figure out if other user menus require approval at this stage.  
I tested it myself and after approval it was included in the general user.

Thank you all.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:01am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-pass-account-sharing-issue/553232/12 "2020-06-11T09:01:50Z")

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