Hey,
If I share my server with a friend, does he have access to my media server settings or only access to what libraries I share with him and that’s it? I want to make sure he can’t mess with my settings, libraries, etc, before doing this. I’ve never done it before and want to make sure I know what I’m doing, I don’t usually get into this part of Plex but he’s begging me to share a certain library that I have with him and I just want to double check before doing so.
Thanks
As long as you are using “Sharing” and not adding him as a Home User, he can only influence settings on his side and can’t mess with your server settings.
Yes I would be doing SHARING, not HOME USER, I live alone and would have no reason to use that option. I just wanted to make sure he couldn’t edit folders or mess with my libraries or settings. I just want him to be able to access the videos in the library I give him access to and that’s it.
When it comes to syncing in the sharing settings, does that mean he can actually save a copy of a video on his device, which would mean he would then own a physical copy of it and would no longer have to stream it from me anymore?
That’s correct. I limit the people I allow to sync because it can place a heavy load on the server to transcode and upload the media.
None of my files need transcoding, they are all mp4’s, does that still make a difference?
If you sync, the file will get transcoded nonetheless. The user can select a quality level for the sync, which of course affects the storage space consumed by the synced version.
Syncing is only possible on iOS and Android mobile clients.
It is not easy to find the synced files outside of the Plex app.
You need to explicitly allow syncing per user.
Oh, I didn’t know that, I thought they would get whatever quality my file was in, I didn’t know they had a choice to lower the quality of the file, etc. But when they sync the file, it’s not duplicating anything on my end, is it? It’s only placing a copy of the file on their end, correct?
During the sync process, the transcoded copy will be stored in your Plex data folder. After this file has been transferred to the user’s device, it will be removed again.
Allowing Sync requires a Plex pass.
Oh, so I can’t allow someone to sync any vids from my libraries if I’m not a Plex pass holder? I thought only they would need to be a holder since they are the ones doing the syncing.
That’s not how it works. The server owner needs to have the Plex pass to unlock certain features. Sync is one of these.
OK, so does the person who is syncing vids from me also need a plex pass or just me?
Only you. But they may need to buy the app, because the mobile apps are not free.
That doesn’t seem very fair lol, why do I only need a Plex pass to let another user who is sharing my Plex server sync from me but at the same time they don’t need a Plex pass to sync as well? This makes no sense at all to me! It’s like their being able to sync for free. Oh well.
It is what it is.
Almost all Plex Pass features relate to the server and unlock features for the server
https://support.plex.tv/articles/201751006-plex-pass-feature-overview/
Plex is for private, non-commercial use.
Sharing is intended to be used with family members and close friends.
So the server owner does operate the server for his family and friends.
There is no incentive to generate more Plex Pass sales through users who are violating copyright and are sharing their servers with world+dog.
OK I get it, no problem. Thanks for explaining.
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