PMS installation on Mac Mini M1 not working

[tp33]

Server Version#: 1.25.6.5577
Player Version#: 7.29

I am unable to install Plex Media Server on an Apple Mac Mini M1. I downloaded Plex Media Server for Mac ver. 1.25.6.5577. At installation, I was prompted to install Rosetta. Once installed, when I click Open Plex from the PMS top menu bar to start the setup wizard, Safari browser returns error message “404 Not Found” while pointing to “127.0.0.1:32400/web/index.html#!/setup/“. If I replace “127.0.0.1” with “localhost” in the browser address bar, I get the error message “A problem has been detected with a core component of PMS”. I can not find traces of Rosetta installed anywhere so I am not sure if it was properly installed.
Activity Monitor shows that PMS is running.
I have attached the server logs and screenshots.
What am I doing wrong?

Plex Media Server.1.log.zip (9.6 KB)

[tp33]

I was able to access the PMS settings and start the setup by replacing 127.0.0.1 with localhost (http://localhost:32400/web/index.html#!/settings/server/).
But now I am not able to add any library or folders. It keeps saying “Your changes could not be saved”. I tried adding local folders on the C: drive or an external USB drive. No luck. I can browse the folders but Plex will not save the changes. Any ideas?

[SE56]

You need to add permissions for plex.

[tp33]

I already added permissions like you said but PMS still will not let me save changes when adding a library or folder.

[SE56]

I have seen this issue myself and the only two ways i have seen to resolve.

1. A server restart

2. Manually replace the Contents Folder in Applications.

To replace the contents folder Shut Down Plex from menu bar Chevon. Navigate toGo menu top of Desktop, hold down the Option Key till you see Library. Enter Application support/Plex Media server/updates/ the same Server version as mentioned/Packages/PMS Zip/ Duplicate the zip and drag it to the desktop. Expand Zip so you have a new Contents folder on the desktop.

Go to Applications Folder/Plex Media server/ Right click/show package contents/ swap out contents Folders.

Now start Plex and see if you can add folders to a Library.

[tp33]

I followed all your instructions and I still get the same error message when adding folders to a Library: “Your changes could not be saved”

[tp33]

I found the solution: Plex Media Server was not accepting blanks in the computer name.
I changed the computer name from “Mac Mini” to “Mac-Mini” and the installation worked perfectly.

[SE56]

To clarify, you are meaning the Friendly name of the Plex Media server and not the Mac Admin name?

[tp33]

I changed the “Computer Name” under Settings/Sharing on the Mac Mini.
The Plex Media Server’s Friendly Name automatically changed itself to match the Mac Mini’s Computer Name after a restart.

[SE56]

So this must a Apple Silicon issue with Monterey as on Intel and Big Sur this is not an issue. I have admin name and a Friendly name that are different.

Gary’s iMac and SE56

[Volts]

@tp33

I changed the computer name from “Mac Mini” to “Mac-Mini” and the installation worked perfectly.

Nice find! Random!

Where did you change this? This right?

System Preferences → Sharing → Computer Name

Or somewhere else also? I agree with @SE56, I have Intel machines with spaces in their names, and the default computer name will typically include a space. I’ll be surprised if it’s an Apple Silicon issue … that would be odd …

But like, nice find.

[tp33]

Yes in System Preferences → Sharing → Computer Name
My Mac Mini M1’s default computer name was “Tony’s Mac Mini”. I had to change it to “Mac-Mini” for the Plex Media Server installation to work.

[Volts]

Thanks for confirming.
That’s super weird.

What made you think of it in the first place?

[tp33]

I looked at the Plex Media Server logs and saw an error saying something like “server name not valid”.

[Volts]

Well that’s obvious and … obvious. Good job reading logs and actually paying attention.

I wonder if it was the apostrophe, rather than the space? I wonder if it was a pretty apostrophe?

It seems like any special characters get stripped off when the Unix-style hostname is set. It seems like Plex uses the Unix-style hostname, but …

Ahh, well. Glad it’s working!