# Plex Server shows as Offline for friends

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-server-shows-as-offline-for-friends/930638>\
**Category:** Plex Media Server\
**Tags:** server-windows, library-management\
**Created:** [September 10, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-server-shows-as-offline-for-friends/930638 "2025-09-10T00:42:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![reemusk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/reemusk/32/107840_2.png) [@reemusk](https://forums.plex.tv/u/reemusk)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-server-shows-as-offline-for-friends/930638/1 "2025-09-10T00:42:48Z")

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Server Version#:  
Player Version#:  
\<If providing [server logs](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250417-plex-media-server-log-files/) please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only [debug logging](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201643703-reporting-issues-with-plex-media-server/#toc-1) should be enabled\>

**Environment**

- OS: Windows 11 (fully updated)

- Plex Media Server version: 1.41.8.9834-071366d65

- Server type: Windows desktop/server install

- Remote Access: Enabled, port 32400 forwarded, shows Fully accessible outside your network

- Networking:

- Issue:

What I’ve Tried:

- Verified not behind CGNAT.

- Verified remote access is green and working for my account.

- Verified only one server exists under Account → Devices (no ghost servers).

- Unshared and re-invited users via Plex Web. Initially works, then fails after ~12 hours.

- Enabled “Enable Relay”.

- Set Preferred Network Interface = Any.

- Set LAN Networks = 192.168.3.0/24.

- Set Custom Server Access URLs = [http://192.168.3.192:32400](http://192.168.3.192:32400),http://:32400.

- Confirmed Windows Firewall rules are allowing Plex Media Server on TCP 32400 inbound/outbound.

- Deleted “Plug-in Support” and “Cache” folders → forced rebuild.

- Fully uninstalled/reinstalled PMS and restored Metadata + Databases. Still fails after ~12–20 hours.

Current Behavior:

- I (the owner) can always access the server locally/remotely.

- Plex.tv shows the server as claimed, but friends never see it online.

- Sharing libraries fails with “unexpected error”.

- Friends cannot connect or stream at any time.

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**Author:** ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2025, 12:52am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-server-shows-as-offline-for-friends/930638/2 "2025-09-10T00:52:07Z")

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> [@reemusk](#):
>
> Plex Media Server version: 1.41.8.9834-071366d65

Update PMS. See [Plex Media Server - Security Update - #3 by PlexInfo](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-media-server-security-update/928341/3).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![reemusk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/reemusk/32/107840_2.png) [@reemusk](https://forums.plex.tv/u/reemusk)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2025, 1:21am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-server-shows-as-offline-for-friends/930638/3 "2025-09-10T01:21:22Z")

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Just did that, now I can’t even access Plex locally.

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**Author:** ![AUTO\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@AUTO\_1](https://forums.plex.tv/u/AUTO_1)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2025, 1:30am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-server-shows-as-offline-for-friends/930638/4 "2025-09-10T01:30:32Z")

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Exact same issue here, tried all of the same troubleshooting to no avail.

Only difference is mine shows “not authorized” for friends but I can still access locally and remotely.

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**Author:** ![Moose13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/22d042/32.png) [@Moose13](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Moose13)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2025, 6:03pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-server-shows-as-offline-for-friends/930638/5 "2025-09-13T18:03:35Z")

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Same issue here. Updated to the latest update, no change

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**Author:** ![Stretch200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Stretch200](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Stretch200)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-server-shows-as-offline-for-friends/930638/6 "2025-09-16T17:30:38Z")

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Mine is giving me a lot of problems outside of my network now as well. Just started for no reason I can tell. Hopefully someone comes up with a solution.

Also, I’m still having trouble outside my network even after updating to the newest version: v.1.42.1.10060-4e8b05daf

August 11, 2025

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![reemusk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/reemusk/32/107840_2.png) [@reemusk](https://forums.plex.tv/u/reemusk)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-server-shows-as-offline-for-friends/930638/7 "2025-09-16T17:43:14Z")

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This is their solution to the security breach. Don’t fix the problem just break it.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-server-shows-as-offline-for-friends/930638/8 "2025-12-15T17:44:08Z")

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