# ReadyNAS server stuck as shared / ghost server – cannot be claimed
**URL:** https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918
**Category:** Plex Media Server
**Tags:** server-netgear
**Created:** [April 11, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918 "2026-04-11T15:13:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@AKEHAndreas](https://forums.plex.tv/u/AKEHAndreas)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918/1 "2026-04-11T15:13:24Z")
Hi,
I have a Plex Media Server running on a Netgear ReadyNAS (OS 6).
The server is running and accessible locally on LAN, but I cannot claim it. The server worked fine yesterday and I assume it stopped working today due to external IP changing. This has happened before and I got the libraries back but this time I accidently interrupted something mid-loading which probably caused the issue.
Even when accessing the local setup URL
`/web/index.html#!/setup`
I get: **“Setup is not allowed for shared servers”**.
I have already:
- Removed all PlexOnline\* entries from Preferences.xml
- Restarted Plex cleanly (no running processes left)
- Tried manual claim via API using curl:
- Tried forced local setup URLs and new MachineIdentifier
Only shared servers from friends are visible; my own server never appears as owner.
This appears to be a **ghost / soft-deleted server identity** on the Plex backend.
Please **detach/reset the backend server identity** so the server can be claimed again.
Platform: Netgear ReadyNAS OS 6
Server name: AKEH-NAS
Local IP: 192.168.0.70
Thank you.
---
### Author:  [@dbirch](https://forums.plex.tv/u/dbirch)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918/2 "2026-04-12T00:57:49Z")
Can you post your [server logs?](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250417-plex-media-server-log-files/)
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### Author:  [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2026, 6:54am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918/3 "2026-04-12T06:54:33Z")
The server is not deleted.
It’s still connected to your user acount.
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### Author:  [@AKEHAndreas](https://forums.plex.tv/u/AKEHAndreas)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2026, 8:31am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918/4 "2026-04-12T08:31:29Z")
Since I can´t access any server settings in plex (when connecting through my local IP) I can’t seem to package them from plex itself. I added all the logs manually into the .zip.
[Logs.zip](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/5yvOwbIVegSyvVjjfaFsbFxLKpp.zip) (1.5 MB)
---
### Author:  [@AKEHAndreas](https://forums.plex.tv/u/AKEHAndreas)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2026, 8:33am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918/5 "2026-04-12T08:33:05Z")
Yes, my understanding is that this is actually the problem? I am sorry, my knowledge about this is limited, I’ve been vibing with AI-chat to try and solve the issue (As I also did when setting it up in the first place). It has been working fine for quite a while but obviously I messed something up yesterday and now I just can’t seem to get it working again.
---
### Author:  [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2026, 9:46am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918/6 "2026-04-12T09:46:58Z")
Possibly this: [Important note about the Plex Web app - Local Network Access](https://forums.plex.tv/t/important-note-about-the-plex-web-app-local-network-access/933264/1)
---
### Author:  [@AKEHAndreas](https://forums.plex.tv/u/AKEHAndreas)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2026, 10:06am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918/7 "2026-04-12T10:06:24Z")
This seems to only apply when you try it from the plex app in the browser though? I am browsing into the local IP, I will try as soon as I get home though.
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### Author:  [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2026, 10:29am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918/8 "2026-04-12T10:29:22Z")
> [@AKEHAndreas](#):
>
> Tried forced local setup URLs and new MachineIdentifier
What did you do? You are not supposed to supply the machineID yourself.
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### Author:  [@AKEHAndreas](https://forums.plex.tv/u/AKEHAndreas)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2026, 10:41am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918/9 "2026-04-12T10:41:39Z")
Some weird Ai-tip. I kept the old file and changed it back. So no numbers are changed.
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### Author:  [@AKEHAndreas](https://forums.plex.tv/u/AKEHAndreas)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918/10 "2026-04-12T19:32:45Z")
After much problem-solving I managed to get it up and running again. No matter what I tried I couldnt reclaim the server, I think the reason is that my NAS’s OS is just too old and couldnt read/install the certificate. The problem got solved by installing an earlier version of plex which allowed me to access the server without issue.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2026, 7:33pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/readynas-server-stuck-as-shared-ghost-server-cannot-be-claimed/937918/11 "2026-07-11T19:33:41Z")
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