Server Version#: 1.30.1.6562
Player Version#: 4.99.2
I wasn’t having any issues with connecting before I updated to this newer server version, but I am literally watching my Remote Access switching from being available outside my network to not available outside my network. It’s resulting in a connection issue that I am literally watching no access being given randomly. I have a 1 Gigabit network connection and I have manually specified the port to port 32400 and did the port forwarding process in my Linksys machine. What is going on here?
I am having this same issue. I have had plex for years and have a lifetime pass. Suddenly the remote access randomly stops. I tried replacing my server, I got a newer router, etc. I have gone through all the troubleshooting steps (manual ports, double NAT, etc.) and it still wont stay connected.
If you’re looking at the indicator inside Plex, it can be unreliable. What happens when you actually try to use remote access? What happens with an external port testing tool?
I’ve been having the same problem from the last few months. (PMS on Synology NAS). Manual public port, forwarded in (synology) router to synology-nas-IP:32400. Worked fine for a while but in recent months intermittently drops connection. Upgraded today to 1.30.2.6563.7000 today, but still having the same symptoms.
For a while it It says “Fully accessible outside your network” Then it after a minute or two " Not available outside your network" and external user can’t access the server.
As others have stated above:
The way the remote access status indicator works is it’ll show as „green“/working while testing the remote access status. This is by design. You can argue if that makes sense or should be improved (e.g. by showing a 3rd state like „checking status“).
If you experience the remote access status indicator showing „green“ for a moment (even up to a minute or maybe 2) and then switching to „red“/not working → assume it’s not working in the first place.
I’m not aware of any current or newly introduced server side issues with remote access. Usually those issues come down to some aspect of the remote access setup being broken… ranging from your ISP‘s backend, your router, home network, server OS (incl. local firewalls or security tools) to a bad configuration of remote access inside the Plex Media Server.
If you want to troubleshoot remote access issues, it’ll be helpful if you can look into what part of that chain is giving you trouble (potentially there’s more than one).
This guide is usually a good place to start… if it doesn’t help you to actually fix your issues, the respective findings might still be helpful to anyone who’s going to assist you further.
Understand your reluctance to believe that its a server side issue and maybe its pure coincidence.
But …
The only thing that’s changed in my system to cause my remote connection to falter, is upgrading to a new server version … I’ve had a green check mark for years at my current location and for so many years prior to that I don’t even remember when I didn’t have plex.
Not every problem = visit the troubleshooting page.
In this instance, whether coincidence or not, upgrading to the beta/experimental version fixed my issue.
Yes, I went through those articles before posting. I’ve tried with default ports, firewall completely off, manual port forwarding, upnp. Makes no difference apparently.
Specifically, as the articles suggest:
Upnp toggled of and on. Didn’t make any difference in either state.
No, proxy, ad-blocking software, anti-virus software, or similar installed,
New router so no, “older routers offer UPnP support that may not work with new applications” issue
disabling firewall completely doesn’t resolve it
I’m not sure why the UI would be designed this way by default
… But in any case, that poor design choice doesn’t explain why it works for a while then doesn’t. … i.e. intermittently.
Does your router get a publicly routable IPv4 address from your ISP (=your router’s WAN IP) or some private IP (e.g. some CGNAT)?
Can you establish a manual port forward on your router and access the router’s public IP on that port from outside your home network (e.g. using a service like canyouseeme.org)?
It’s the basics from the troubleshooting guide.
Did you establish an IP reservation for the server machine in your router (some routers call that a “static IP”)?
Do you experience this across different apps or with specific ones?
If you haven’t tried the beta/experimental version like I did, i would definitely do that.
Did you EVER have remote access working ?
Key things: forwarded port, static ip assignment for your plex machine, what does your port forwarding look like and what does the remote access page look like ?
I have a similar problem. Without ever changing any settings, my server is alternately (and predictably) in one of several states:
Fully available outside your network - TRUE
Not available outside your network - TRUE
Fully available outside your network - FALSE - it IS available outside my network
What the heck?!! If the server really isn’t available outside my network, I can get it working again by clicking “RETRY” and/or “DISABLE”/“ENABLE” several times. I can sometimes also initiate remote access from a remote location by just refreshing the Plex app. I never change any settings, but the remote connection is intermittent and the remote access status message is unreliable. This is frustrating, stupid, and inexcusable. What is going on here? Here are my settings:
Version 1.30.1.6562 (up to date as of posting)
Manually configured port forwarding (never changed)
Static local IP address
I have checked and re-checked all the issues on the “Troubleshooting Remote Access” page. None are helpful or relevant.
Plenty can change without you deliberately doing so. ISP level changes, OS changes resulting from patches, other software changes from updates (AV/VPN etc.) etc. etc.
Have you tried all the additional troubleshooting steps as outlined here?
