Server Version#: 1.19.3.2852
Player Version#: Android 8.0.2.17816
So a few weeks ago plex started not working outside my network. It should be noted that it was working without a problem before this. It says it’s " Fully accessible outside your network"… but then when i try to access it outside my network, it doesn’t work. I’ve had a friend try to access it from his network without luck (which they used to be able to access it before), and I’ve also used my phone with wifi turned off to check. Here are the things I’ve tried, but with no success.
Note: UPnP is enabled on my router. Also i’m on windows 10, and using plex media server version 1.19.3.2852
Checked the " Manually specify public port" and set it to 32400
Checked the " Manually specify public port" and set it to 32401
forwarded ports 31000 to 34000 from my router to my PC (which has a static IP), then retried steps 1 and 2
Let’s not mix up all at once…
If you’re using UPnP, you should not mix this up with defining a manually assigned port forward within Plex.
If you define a port forward on the router, that’s the public port you also configure in the corresponding settings in Plex.
Sometimes it’s worth to test a very uncommon port to rule out ISP interferences.
If you can access/reach your router‘s public IP address through the defined public port from the port forward (e.g. using yougetsignal.com or canyouseeme.org) but remote access still fails, this implies there’s an issue between the router and Plex.
Have you double-checked the security settings of your Win 10 or installed security components that might interfere with the communication (e.g. security apps, firewalls or content blockers)?
Follow up question: can Plex connect to your library and „just“ fails to play videos/music while outside your home network or does it fail to connect for good?
Not really… a lot of frustration about the remote access status indicator showing fails error messages and the occasional amount of users with a bad remote access configuration / ISPs blocking stuff / weird network setups / failed VPN setups…
If I uncheck the manually specified port, and stop forwarding the port, plex says it’s fully accessable outside the network, but it still doesn’t show up on my phone when i’m off wifi.
Also, for some reason when i try to check that the port is open using yougetsignal on any other port besides 32400, it shows it as closed, even though the port is open. For example, if i forward 32400, then check it, it shows the port is open. If i unforward the port and check, it shows it’s closed. So that works just fine. This works no matter what public port i specific in the Plex settings. Now lets say i forward 31313 (i assume it’s an uncommon port) and try to check it with yougetsignal, it shows the port as closed. When try forwarding 31313 I also have that set as the public port in the plex settings.
Other ports and such do seem to work with port forwarding for some other services/programs such as FTP and Remote desktop and several others.
Also, when I say it’s not working or it fails, I’m meaning plex on my phone says “Error Loading Content”. It also shows the server as offline. I’m using the plex app on my phone (android). I did just check one thing that did seems to work though, and that’s going the plex.tv/web on my phone and signing on that way, whic did seem to work. that’s with using port 31313. So i’m not sure why it’d work through the web and not the app, unless the phone carrier is blocking that port for some reason.
Anything else to check? I’ll try to have a friend check it from their house later today and see if it pulls up for them. Thanks for your help with this!
So in short… whatever port you create a manual port forward for on your router, you cannot see it as open/accessible from outside your network – some exceptions apply for common service specific ports such as FTP.
Alas… you could try to hijack one of those common ports for your Plex Remote Access.
Alternatively you might need to talk to your ISP. Sounds like they might be blocking those other ports for “security reasons”.
PS: The remote access status indicator within the Plex Remote Access settings seems to get easily distracted. So don’t read too much in it showing it’s working after you disable it.
So i also run some other services, which i’m not sure if i can mention their names on here or not, and those serves ports are also forwarded and show to be open when checked. so i moved my service on port 8989 to port 8988, and then set plex to use 8989 (without changing any port forwarding rules). 8989 then became closed, while 8988 became open when checked (Note that i forward a range of ports from 8000-10000 or so, so that’s why 8988 was already forwarded and became open).
If i understand it correctly, in order for the port to appear open, there has to be a service or something that’s active on that port. So could it be that the reason that the port for plex is showing as closed even though i’m forwarding it is because plex isn’t doing anything active on the port? I’m not sure.
All that being said after switching stuff back, I was able to access my server from outside my network… sort of. I got an “indirect playback” message when trying to access something, so it’s at least partially working, but at a reduced bandwidth.
I have allowed plex through the firewall and i believe that’s the only program i have running that could be blocking it (I have AVG virus protection, but i don’t think that blocks ports and such). I also tried adding inbound and output rules in the firewall to allow the plex port to go through… What else can i do to fix the indirection connection? or should i open a new topic? thanks for your advice!
