# Remote Access Keeps Going Offline **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-windows, android-tv, chromecast, ios-legacy, plex-web\ **Created:** [November 28, 2020, 1:50am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593 "2020-11-28T01:50:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gibgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@gibgun](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gibgun)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 1:50am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/1 "2020-11-28T01:50:38Z")
Server Version#: 1.21.0.3616 Player Version#: Multiple Not using a VPN, and have not made any changes, suddenly I’m hearing from all my Plex users that it keeps going offline for them. I also see the same thing happening on the console. Would appreciate some help so I can get things back to normal. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Volts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a5b964/32.png) [@Volts](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Volts)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/2 "2020-11-28T17:15:51Z")
What are the symptoms when this occurs? What are you seeing in the console? (I assume you mean the Remote Access settings page, correct?) Do you take any action to resolve it? ---
**Author:** ![gibgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@gibgun](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gibgun)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/3 "2020-11-28T17:29:36Z")
Disabling and reenabling makes it show as accessible again, or sometimes it’ll just fix itself. I’ve seen people say that it’s a known thing to see the Plex status temporarily show as offline, and I had seen this in the past, but now I’m getting reports from users that the server is offline for them. ---
**Author:** ![Volts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a5b964/32.png) [@Volts](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Volts)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/4 "2020-11-28T17:55:56Z")
Have you configured port forwarding manually on your router, or is it working automatically? (via UPnP/NAT-PMP) When you disable and re-enable, does any of the information on the Remote Access screen change? When it’s not working, it would be nice to look at the Remote Access screen, and then test if [https://canyouseeme.org](https://canyouseeme.org) can reach your public address : port. Gather and share logs when it shows as not accessible, if you like. ---
**Author:** ![gibgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@gibgun](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gibgun)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/5 "2020-11-28T18:08:38Z")
uPnP has always been enabled and had no issues. I’ve since tried manual port forwarding, changing firewall settings etc but the same thing is happening. ---
**Author:** ![Volts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a5b964/32.png) [@Volts](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Volts)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 6:13pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/6 "2020-11-28T18:13:11Z")
I’m a fan of UPnP in most cases - I’m not judging that, just trying to gather the information about your system. What firewall settings? In Windows? I would assume those are set OK if Remote Access is working most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![gibgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@gibgun](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gibgun)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/7 "2020-11-28T18:25:08Z")
No I left windows firewall settings alone. I just tinkered with the router settings. Various levels of security to see if it would make a difference, but it all feels like a lost cause. I am using split tunnelling VPN with PIA. PMS is not in the exception list however, thus it just goes via the public IP. Again this is something I’ve done for a long time with no issues. ---
**Author:** ![Volts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a5b964/32.png) [@Volts](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Volts)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/8 "2020-11-28T18:34:56Z")
> [@gibgun](#): > > Not using a VPN > [@gibgun](#): > > I am using split tunnelling VPN with PIA > [@gibgun](#): > > PMS is not in the exception list To me, those add up to “I am using a VPN”. 🙂 😃 😛 If Plex isn’t in the exception list, then outbound traffic from Plex will be sent over the VPN. That will interfere with Plex’s Remote Access discovery, connectivity test, and myPlex registration. Typically you will want to EXCLUDE Plex traffic from any VPN. (Unless you are specifically trying to force Plex to use the VPN, but that’s a different scenario.) I believe PIA provides an app-level whitelisting feature. Are you using the PIA VPN app, and can you exclude Plex? ---
**Author:** ![gibgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@gibgun](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gibgun)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/9 "2020-11-28T18:50:10Z")
The reason Plex isn’t in the exception list is because I have the split tunnelling set to ‘Allow all other apps’. Nothing Plex related is in the exception list. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/5/2/52b752941cfb4704fb8f7ee52fdd10db2f17c0c6.png) So while yes, I am using a VPN, the configuration is for all applications to not be routed through the tunnel, unless they are added to the exclusion list, Plex included. I did also try adding Plex as ‘Bypass VPN’, even though it would have already been covered under ‘All Other Apps’. Again…this is a setup I’ve had for some time, and has not caused users to be booted mid-movie, and not able to see the server, only for it to reappear again seconds or minutes later. Edit: Yes, using PIA VPN App. ---
**Author:** ![Volts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a5b964/32.png) [@Volts](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Volts)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/10 "2020-11-28T19:42:56Z")
Gotcha. OK, let’s redefine a few things: - You are using a VPN. - You are using split tunneling. - You’re excluding Plex from the VPN. (Trying to, anyway!) I’m suspicious of those inclusion & exclusion rules. They point to `.lnk` files instead of the applications or their directories. That may not work. I would expect to see .exe application files or their directories. (But PIA might be clever and “resolve” the .lnk.) I agree that the “All Other Apps : Bypass VPN” setting looks like it should apply to Plex. But I’m not confident that PIA bypass for Plex is _ **fully** _ functional. See this thread. It has some positive experiences. It also has a comment from PIA that it doesn’t work. There are other linked threads too. > [Private internet access; NEW EXEMPTION METHOD - #33 by SE56](https://forums.plex.tv/t/private-internet-access-new-exemption-method/486570/33) > “Plex does not work with split tunnel.” It mentions that the status on the Remote Access screen will become inaccurate. It also recommends configuring a manual port forward on your router, because the PIA VPN impacts UPnP. If Plex can’t be consistently excluded from the VPN tunnel, I would expect it to fail to register consistently with myPlex. The PIA suggestion to access your WAN address directly doesn’t mean that other Plex apps will work. ---
**Author:** ![Volts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a5b964/32.png) [@Volts](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Volts)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/11 "2020-11-28T19:47:50Z")
I think @SE56 has had good luck with split tunneling … but on Mac. That’s SO different I’m not sure it’s relevant. But maybe this will summon him and he’ll have advice. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gibgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@gibgun](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gibgun)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 8:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/12 "2020-11-28T20:02:22Z")
> The PIA suggestion to access your WAN address directly doesn’t mean that other Plex apps will work. You got it, friend. This was an afterthought as part of my tshooting. Plex would have previouslybeen included by definition under “All Other Apps”. Just to clarify, I am less worried about the accuracy of the GUI (something I have also noticed for years tends to be a little unreliable, even without VPN, Split Tunnelling or otherwise), and more about none of my users being able to use Plex currently. ---
**Author:** ![SE56](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/se56/32/222425_2.png) [@SE56](https://forums.plex.tv/u/SE56)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 8:07pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/13 "2020-11-28T20:07:45Z")
Well to chime in here, your exemption should be pointed at exe file as @Volts has pointed out. Now UPnP this can be a touchy subject, I have found on some consumer grade routers it can be troublesome. I would do a manual port forward, that my honest opinion. From a friend that has this working on Windows, he does not use Wireguard and Cloudfare DNS. So Open VPN Protcol and PIA DNS is confirmed. Too add I have found PIA MACE problematic so I have it disabled. ---
**Author:** ![gibgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@gibgun](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gibgun)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/14 "2020-11-28T20:09:34Z")
Also just want to add that there are a number of active and recent threads that are detailing experiences uncanny to my own, including the short time that users are online with good endpoint devices, getting forced to transcode when their Shield and bandwidth are perfectly fine, and again, had no issues prior to a couple weeks ago - these are all within the last day: > [@Plex Remote Access Gets Disabled](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-remote-access-gets-disabled/647368/6): > > Hello ChuckPa, Did you see anything in my logs? It seems the same started to happen again out of the blue. No change was made to the network setup, only Plex was upgraded. Now I cannot make it work again even by changing the listening port. > [@Remote access is not working](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-is-not-working/658842): > > Server Version#: Version 4.43.4 So as i’ve seen multiple post’s on people’s server’s remote getting disabled, mine doesn’t get connected at all It does change it’s indicator to connected for about 10 seconds, but if i refresh the tab or switch between 2 different tabs in the menu, it sets it to not accessible. I’ve tried all i could see, the port forwarding, the upnp (which did detect the server on default ports, but not the manually assigned one) I have run out of things to try. Does anyon… > [@Remote server keeps disabling for no reason](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-server-keeps-disabling-for-no-reason/657831/10): > > Yeah already started a new thread. Cheers. > [@Plserver offnie](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plserver-offnie/658365/5): > > (File removed) here are the server logs > [@Constantly Showing offline](https://forums.plex.tv/t/constantly-showing-offline/658492): > > Server Version#: 1.21.0.3616 Player Version#: It’s becoming beyond annoying. Server in android is constantly showing offline even though it isn’t. I have uninstalled multiple times, cleared cache and blah blah blah blah. I can access through [http://127.0.0.1:32400/](http://127.0.0.1:32400/) and am able to cast to my tv’s. The last sever update has seemed to destroy my ability to use this program. Any ideas on what is going on is appreciated > [@Plex Server Remote Access keeps toggling on and off](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-server-remote-access-keeps-toggling-on-and-off/658324): > > Server Version#:1.21.0.3616-d87012962 Player Version#: Hello all, I am having trouble with setting up remote access on my Plex server. I do not know much about networking so advice would be greatly appreciated. What happens is that my server will say that it is connected and then after a while, it will say that it is not connected. After a while, if I click retry, it will successfully connect but will drop back after a while. I think where my problem may stem is from the fact that my com… > [@Remote Access not working for some Android TV OS?](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-not-working-for-some-android-tv-os/656753): > > Server Version#: 1.21.0.3616-d87012962 OS: Windows 10 Pro version 2004 Remote Access works. Plex Pass subscriber. Hello I am having a strange problem with some players remotely. Two friends of mine are reporting that when they use the Plex app in their TV, most video files just time out. Some seem to play but it takes them maybe 1-2 minutes to beging playing. One is a Philips TV with Android TV system and the other one is a Mi Box with Android TV OS. But the TV and the MiBox are up-to-dat… ---
**Author:** ![gibgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@gibgun](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gibgun)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/15 "2020-11-28T20:11:11Z")
Thanks for chiming in. I had tried manual port forwarding prior to posting here, as well as disabling PIA MACE. Agreed on the .lnk exception, but considering I have the VPN set to allow everything to be public IP unless stated otherwise this shouldn’t make a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Volts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a5b964/32.png) [@Volts](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Volts)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/16 "2020-11-28T20:11:59Z")
I read almost _nothing_ into those threads. There’s always a stream of “can’t get remote access working” chatter. I don’t see any strong common element to them. ---
**Author:** ![SE56](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/se56/32/222425_2.png) [@SE56](https://forums.plex.tv/u/SE56)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/17 "2020-11-28T20:12:25Z")
There other functions with PMS than calling the mothership ---
**Author:** ![gibgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@gibgun](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gibgun)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/18 "2020-11-28T20:12:32Z")
Is it really chatter when loads of people are saying their setup was also fine before now? ---
**Author:** ![gibgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@gibgun](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gibgun)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/19 "2020-11-28T20:13:18Z")
I’m sorry can you provide some context to this? I’m not sure what you mean. ---
**Author:** ![SE56](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/se56/32/222425_2.png) [@SE56](https://forums.plex.tv/u/SE56)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593/20 "2020-11-28T20:14:26Z")
You have agents, plugins and more. Point it to the exe and be done with it [Next page](https://forums.plex.tv/t/remote-access-keeps-going-offline/658593.md?page=2)