Remote Access Enabled but cannot access outside network

Plex Media Server Remote Access
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1

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

Hey,

I have been bashing my head with having a similar issue.

Locally it works perfectly, however when I try access it outside my network Plex says my server is offline.

I have a Virgin Media Hub 5
I have done the port forward settings 32400

Local IP (My Mac’s IP address)
Local start port 32400
Local end port 32400
External start port 32400
External end port 32400
Protocol: TCP
Enabled

I have reserved the Ip on DHCP
UPNP is Disabled

When I click Enable now : remote connection, it shows green and connected

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image1920×1471 139 KB

When I test with canyouseeme - it says connection times out

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image900×574 21.7 KB

I have followed every article correctly

What is strange is prior last few days it was working perfectly fine locally and outside my network, not changes made to network settings or anything.

With relay on - it defaults to relay connection, then it works and as you can imagine its terrible - with relay off - server cannot be accessed at all and shows as offline

Devices on my local network like my TV LG WebOS Plex App were going through indirect connection but now are going through local connection and still transcoding whereas before it was Direct Streaming perfectly

Testing :
Local Server : Direct Play works on MacOS
Local Connection on LG WebOS Plex App : hit and miss, sometimes it will show as local connection, sometimes it switches to indirect (before it was direct playing)
5G : iPhone - server not found / on WIFI it direct plays perfectly

Server logs :

Plex Media Server Logs_2026-01-02_15-21-42.zip (2.4 MB)

2

Uncheck Verbose logging and restart your server.

Are you using a Pi-Hole or some other network security?

Resolving *.plex.direct seems to be a major issue for most people, using Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 or Google are known to work.

DNS-Rebinding: Telling your local DNS-Resolver that *.plex.direct addresses are ok.

General: OS, Browser and apps now need local access permission.

3

Verbose Is not enabled

On Debug, logging is just set to “enabled”

I’m not using any other systems, MacMini which is running the server, Ethernet connection directly to router.

LG WebOS and MacOS are running okay locally on WIFI.

I just can’t see why it’s not working outside my network.

4

UPDATE : rest the port forward number to the default 32400 and remote connection is now working