Plex server not accessible using mobile app or app.plex.tv from browser...HOWEVER

Plex Media Server Remote Access
1

Server Version#: 1.43.2.10687

Subject: Server reachable via public IP but plex.tv cannot broker connection

Server Name: Man_of_War
Plex Pass: Lifetime
Plex Media Server OS: Windows (PC)
Router: Google Nest Pro
ISP: Xfinity (Comcast)

ISSUE:
My Plex Media Server is not accessible through app.plex.tv or the Plex mobile app, despite being fully reachable from the outside world via direct IP access.

WHAT WORKS:

  • Accessing server via localhost:32400 ✓
  • Accessing server via local IP (192.168.xxx.xxx:32400) ✓
  • Accessing server via public IP (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:32400) ✓
  • Port 32400 confirmed open via canyouseeme.org ✓
  • Server is signed into my Plex account ✓
  • Server appears in my account profile (watch history visible) ✓

WHAT DOESN’T WORK:

  • app.plex.tv cannot connect to Man_of_War
  • Plex mobile app (iOS/Android) shows server as offline on cellular
  • Remote Access in server settings shows green only when manually hitting Retry, then reverts to red if I navigate away to a different menu and back

TROUBLESHOOTING ALREADY PERFORMED:

  • Confirmed port 32400 forwarded correctly in Google Nest Pro router (TCP, internal IP 192.168.xxx.xxx)
  • Created specific Windows Firewall inbound rule for TCP port 32400
  • Cleared Custom Server Access URLs field of all stale entries
  • Manually specified public port as 32400 in Remote Access settings
  • Set Custom Server Access URL to http://192.168.xxx.xxx:32400 to address NAT loopback issue (Google Nest does not support hairpin NAT)
  • Fully exited VPN software (Private Internet Access)
  • Confirmed Secure Connections is set to Preferred
  • Relay is enabled
  • Server version is current and exceeds minimum required version

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
netstat output confirms PC was attempting to connect to its own public IP and failing due to NAT loopback limitations of the Google Nest router. This appears to be causing Plex’s self-test to fail even though external connections succeed. Despite addressing this with the Custom Server Access URL workaround, plex.tv still cannot broker a connection to the server.

It appears plex.tv’s relay or discovery infrastructure may have stale or incorrect registration data for my server that is preventing it from being reached through your platform despite the server being genuinely accessible from the outside world.

Please advise.

2

Please stop and restart your server now.

3

I did this multiple times, including full PC reboots, with no change. My server is still inaccessible through plex.tv or the app. Friends whom I’ve invited to share my media with CAN access it though through their own plex clients.

4

Then you have an issue with your local network. Either you have somehow managed to isolate all machines in your local network from each other by activating a router setting.
Or your Windows server has its network connection classified as “public”. It should be “private”.

You might want to take a look at this list: Client says it won't play from "remote server", although the server is local