A few weeks ago my Plex server dropped its Remote Access connection and basically never picked it back up. The connection graphic in Settings will show green for a few seconds and then switch back to red. One thing I think is weird is that if I try from a remote device while it’s green I can sometimes get an actual connection where I can browse libraries and even play content, until I try to change users or close and reopen the app. Maybe that’s normal, I don’t know. It’s connectable like normal from within my network.
It just started a few weeks ago after a long time with no issues. Over the years I’ve moved houses several times and replaced the router a few times, but nothing in the last 6 months or so. I’ve followed both the official troubleshooting guide and there’s a popular forum post that gets shared a lot. Nothing seems to work. My server has a static IP. I’ve always had manual port forwarding but once it stopped working I tried automatic forwarding and manual forwarding with a different port. I’ve completely disabled my Windows firewall. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled Plex. I’ve even replaced my router and did a fresh setup. I’m physically wired into a single router, so there shouldn’t be anything like Double NAT, at least there never has been. Nothing has worked and I’m out of ideas. I know that it has to be something stupid if I’m having this much trouble, but I’m missing it.
I am on TrueNAS Core and I am now experiencing this. I changed nothing on port forwarding or any other security settings. I wonder if I revert back to a previous version will help.
If you have been unable to get remote access working after you have completed all of the above (please be thorough and don’t skip any steps, or think you’ve already done all of this so you don’t need to bother), come back and we’ll get some details from you and proceed from there.
The remote access going green initially is a red herring. It will always go green after you make a change, while Plex is actually checking the access. Once the check is complete it correctly changes to red. It is not actually briefly working and then stopping.
Some common things that seem to trip people up are:
Windows is set to Public network profile instead of Private
As VPN usage becomes more prevalent, people forget they have it enabled, or don’t realize that it will cause remote access issues
Yeah I’ve tried all of that as best I can. When I go to Can you see me my PC doesn’t show up is I think the only information I forgot to include the first time
my router died and spectrum sent me a sagem model sax1v1s and now i have no remote access. added upnp went to router and it shows no plex.i tried changing ports ,still nothing. i am on windows 10.worked ok on old router. where do i go next?
Please create your own thread just so things don’t get muddled. Please also try manual port forwarding, not upnp. And make sure you have assigned static ip to your PMS in your new router. Also confirm that your network type is set to private.
OK. So possibly a CGNAT issue then (since you said single router so no Double NAT)? CGNAT can be identified by checking the ISP modem/router public IP Address and if it is within the CGNAT range of 100.64.0.0 - 100.127.255.255
Then you’re likely experiencing an ISP-induced form of double NAT (CGNAT). Unless you’re using a VPN, which I believe you mention you were not.
If you’re current WAN IP address (as shown by your router) is in the 100.64.0.0/10 block you are definitely behind a CGNAT. Though any non-publicly-routable range can be used (ranges defined by RFC-1918, for example).
If you’re behind a CGNAT, you’ll have to talk to your ISP to see if they can provide you with a publicly-routable IP address.
It looks like you may be right, my router shows my WAN address as 100.102.xxxx. Who do I need to talk to at my ISP to get that changed, and how do I explain to them what I need? This seems beyond what the regular tech support phone line usually handles
That’s where I would start actually. If they don’t know the answer hopefully they can find someone does.
You could tell them that you need remote access from time to time to a computer in your home and that the vendor’s software you use doesn’t support your current configuration (CGNAT or carrier-grade NAT). They require a publicly routable IP address. Start from there.
In the mean time, you could try Plex Relay. Help helps circumvent these types of problems by proxying your media playback through their servers. Note, however, this isn’t a perfect solution as streams will be limited to 2Mbps (for Plex Pass subscribers) or 1Mbps. So, your server may have to transcode and quality may be reduced (depending on your media).
