Pulling Out Hair - Remote madness

Plex Media Server Remote Access
1

Server Version#:1.42.2.10156
Player Version#:26.0.1
<If providing server logs please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only debug logging should be enabled>

So I’m totally pulling my hair out, I’ve tried everything i can think of and read all sorts of “Solutions” but nothing is working.

Plex is running on a qnap with firewall open to port 32400 for any traffic coming from my router. Router is UDMP with firewall, port is forwarded appropriately. Everything works perfectly locally but had the issue where remote said it was accessible for a second or 2 and then went red, and couldn’t connect outside of network.

I read a comment where someone used a different external port forwarded to 32400 internally, so i tried that. It worked like a dream! Plex said it was available and i was able to connect from outside my network, all my problems solved. Sadly a few mins of dreamworld and all of sudden plex said it was unreachable from outside and i could no longer connect. It can’t be a network setting as it was working great and connected like a dream and then decided to ■■■■ the bed.

I’ve tried everything i can, loosened firewall, different ports, anything i could think of. Help please!!

2

In your Unifi network application, navigate to Settings → Internet. Note the IPv4 address for your primary WAN interface.

Then, navigate to canyouseeme.org and note what it shows as “Your IP.”

Are they the same?

3

Yes they are the same. Again, it connected for a few mins before bailing out if that’s a factor.

4

At that same site (canyouseeme.org), try entering the port you configured in your port forwarding rule and see if it sees it as open.

Note, in your PMS remote access settings, you need to ensure you’ve selected the “Manually specify public port” check box and entered the same port.

5

It does not. And it is set appropriately in the Plex server network tab. As I mentioned I saw someone else said they tried a random port and forwarded it. Which I did and it worked for a few mins. And not just server said it could connect for a couple mins but i could actually connect and access media from my phone on with wifi off. That worked for at least 5 mins before it decided to quit.

Thanks for your help btw.

6

Are you able to temporarily turn off the firewall on your NAS? Something is blocking the connection, either on the router or the NAS. If you’re able to connect locally, it means that PMS is still running and listening on TCP 32400 (locally). So any traffic forwarded to it should connect.

No problem! Just trying to puzzle it out.

7

ok, so temporarily disabled nas firewall and library popped right up on my phone. Just to check, I enabled and disabled a couple of times and yup, access up, access down. Although the whole time the plex server web interface said “fully accessible outside your network.”

Attached are screenshots of my qnap firewall rules, where did i go wrong?

Screenshot 2025-10-29 at 07.24.20
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Screenshot 2025-10-29 at 07.24.13
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8

Source for the Plex rules should be Any, not 192.168.44.0/24

9

Other ports that Plex uses: https://support.plex.tv/articles/201543147-what-network-ports-do-i-need-to-allow-through-my-firewall/ .
Firewalling the server seems overkill.

10

i was thinking all my traffic is going through my router/my own internal network, i’m probably overly paranoid when it comes to restrictions.

11

i was going by the advice here on the other ports.

Screenshot 2025-10-29 at 14.45.38
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12

Read the Blue note.

13

i’m clearly not good at the details but i read that as only necessary for being in your local network. Everything works like a dream internally.

14

Just a misunderstanding.

You posted a screenshot you called your QNAP firewall rules, but what you meant was they were your routers firewall rules. I replied with additional ports as if you were setting this up on your QNAP internal network.

15

Ah, no, that is from my QNAP firewall. I made the adjustment @BobSnot suggested and just set qnap firewall to allow from any instead of just my internal network and seems to be working and stable.