Server Version#: 1.43.2.10687
iOS Player Version#: 2026.9.0
Hi folks, I’ve been struggling with this for about a year now, circling back every couple months trying to figure it out but have not yet been able to find a solution anywhere that works for my situation:
I have a Windows-based Plex server and the libraries (Movies, TV, and Audiobooks with Prologue) are shared with multiple friends and family, and I have had no issues whatsoever with static IP and port forwarding remote access settings in most scenarios: Smart TV apps and web browsers on other PCs and Mac computers work perfectly as intended. My problem comes specifically with iOS devices - their apps and even trying to use the Safari/Firefox Plex Web workaround on both my iPhone and iPad while on external networks can sometimes see the libraries, but cannot connect for playback. It is only mobile Apple devices (no Android devices available for testing) that do not work.
I can access my libraries and watch/stream both video and audiobooks over a cellular data connection on my iPhone no problem (WiFi only on my iPad that only works on home network), but I cannot access my libraries when connected to any external WiFi network.
My Remote Access and Network settings are:
- Fully Accessible Outside Your Network (green check)
- Manually specified port: 32400
- Internet Upload Speed: 1000 Mbps (fiber - based on speedtest.net results)
- Client Network: IPv4 & IPv6
- Secure Connection: Preferred
- Enable Local Network Discovery: Enabled
- Treat WAN IP As LAN Bandwidth: Enabled
- Enable Relay: Enabled
- Webhooks: Enabled
iOS device settings:
- iCloud Private Relay: Disabled
- Plex App Local Network: Enabled
These devices/apps again work fine when I’m on my home WiFi network, only when on WiFi trying to use Remote Access do I have any issues, which is supremely frustrating given that all other non-iOS devices are working perfectly without issue. I’ve seen references to tying to use Tailscale to set up a VPN specifically for Plex use but I don’t want to have to change my entire network setup again for these two devices and I also don’t know how Tailscale would work with TV apps and since most of the people I share with are having no problems on Smart TVs, I don’t want to create more problems trying to solve this one specific iOS issue.
I’m definitely not a super user when it comes to Networking but I can YouTube my way through it when needed, but I am completely baffled here. The only thought I have is that it is something specifically with Apple and their Apps environment that just does not want to play well with anything, but I really hope I can find a solution. Any assistance here will be appreciated, and if there is more information required to help me troubleshoot, I will try to provide it. Thank you!
Edit to add: I am a Plex Pass subscriber.
Edit to edit: I didn’t realize until afterwards that my username was tagged with that information. Oops.
