Found that my Plex server was suddenly entirely unavailable. I’ve spent the last two and a half hours troubleshooting. I’ve tried deleting the registry keys that allow me to reclaim the server, but when I attempted that the claim wasn’t going through. So I uninstalled, deleted the entire Plex Media Server registry file as suggested for a “thorough” uninstall, and reinstalled. Now the server simply doesn’t seem to be responding at all.
When accessing through localhost:32400 I’m able to select my user, but the server doesn’t appear in my settings at all, just like when this all started. A few moments ago it was telling me that I was unauthorized and needed to claim the server.
When accessing the server IP, which should be 127.0.0.1:32400, it never connects. It loads for a minute and then my browser gives me a connection timed out error. This happens regardless of what page I try to access, and even when I access it through the Open Plex option in the Media Server tray icon.
I’ve uninstalled, reinstalled, rebooted, cleared registry files, added the key that supposedly turns off the need to claim the server, changed my DNS on the machine, checked the DNS in my router, disabled my VPN, added an exception to my VPN, checked my firewall, nothing is working. This is all running on the same machine, same network. It was all fine 12 hours ago, and I hadn’t changed anything in that time.
Edit: Poking around some more, found the Setup Plex.html file in my appdata folder, but running that opens a tab called Claim Server that just keeps auto-refreshing itself.
Plex Media Server.1.log (80.2 KB)
That means your server is now unclaimed.
You need to claim it again: New Claiming Requirement for Windows
Did you web browser ask you about permission for the website 127.0.0.1 to access the local network? You need to allow that. The same applies to app.plex.tv https://forums.plex.tv/t/important-note-about-the-plex-web-app-local-network-access/933264/1
Do also keep in mind that you should use a web browser for the claiming process which isn’t designed to impede websites (Brave, et al.)
I’m using Firefox, and I’ve not received any request for permissions. I found a post about those same permissions, and don’t appear to have any option to enable them manually.
I’ve read through and tried to follow the New Claim instructions several times. As mentioned, the server doesn’t appear at all when accessing through localhost, and the page doesn’t load if accessing through the IP. So there’s no option for me to claim the server.
Disable your VPN.
Connect your server to the router with a cable. WiFi is too unstable.
Try setting the “DNS server” either on your router, or in the connection properties of your server’s network connection, to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8
Verify that the network connection of your server is classified as “private”, and not as “public”.
My VPN has been disabled.
I am on ethernet.
My router’s DNS is set to 1.1.1.1, with 1.0.0.1 as the fallback.
My network is set to private.
Here’s another idea:
Either save and subsequently import this .reg file:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Plex, Inc.\Plex Media Server]
"EnableIPv6"=dword:00000000
or make the change using regedit.exe directly.
Plex server must be stopped while doing this.
As a last resort, try going back to a server version before 1.43.0
You can find older installers in your Plex data folder, in the subfolder /Updates.
Same results after adding the IPv6 key, and also after uninstalling and reverting to 1.42.2.10156
Then unfortunately I’m out of ideas.
I’d suggest actually uninstalling the VPN software, because the server log is suggesting that it’s still active somehow. It might still be interfering.
Also verify that there are no DNS or other blockages which prevent communication with plex.tv systems. The majority of these systems are located in AWS facilities in Ireland and possibly also other countries. Keep that in mind when defining internet filters based on geographic locations.
Is there any way to fully destroy and rebuild the server? When I’m reinstalling, I don’t receive any sort of prompts to activate the setup wizard, which seems to be the only way to generate a new server and start over from zero that I can find through googling.
That’s the guide I’ve followed each reinstall. If it’s only a matter of removing the app itself, the only other thing I can imagine is reinstalling my OS.
It isn’t. Please re-read it carefully. There is a manual deletion of the plex data folder, as well as removal of all Plex Server-related registry data.
I’ve cleared that folder each time, and deleted the associated registry keys. The new install continues to act as if I already have a server running and don’t need to use the setup wizard.
As a last hail mary, I rebooted the system, including cutting the power supply entirely for thirty seconds. Now I’ve been prompted to sign back in to my Plex account, and I’ve got a screen that says “Initializing Plex Media Server…” that’s been spinning for about three minutes. I’m going to walk away and let that do whatever it’s trying for an hour or two, and maybe this will all be resolved.
