I’m kind of news to this so please excuse me if this post is not flawless.
I began using Plex Media Server a couple of months ago.
I was first n Windows 11, but after a while I decided to switch to Ubuntu because my Remote Access connection kept dropping randomly no matter what I was doing (I checked online, tried several suggestions, turned Defender’s firewall completely off, turned off my NordVPN after testing split tunnelling first, fowarded public and private ports, changed the default public port, restarted my router and modem, restarted my server, restarted my computer, tried with several clients).
I ended up deciding to install Plex Media Server on Ubuntu instead. I was working good, I had very few issues with remote connection dropping over 2-3 months. However having to change every software I’m used to work with became a huge hassle over time. Also, I couldn’t use NordVPN properly because the only version of the app available for Linux is 1.0 so I had to work with command prompt and didn’t have access to almost all the functions. In particular, I couldn’t use split tunnelling so I had to chose between using my Plex server or use other apps and services that necessitate my VPN to be turned on.
Because of that, I decided to give another shot to Windows 11 so I recently reinstalled everything on a bran new Windows 11 installation. For a week or two, everything was working fine, but yesterday I started having the same old “no remote access” issue.
I feel like I’ve read everything related to remote access and tried the suggested fix without success and I just cannot pin point where the issue is coming from.
If the remote access indicator starts green and turns red after a couple of seconds, it is lying to you. It was not on and then turned off. It was never on. The indicator is misleading. It’s just not well implemented.
Thanks for that precision, it confirms what I saw on forums. Howerver, puting aside that faulty feature, sometimes the server is accessible from a remote location, but it would stop randomly… at first I thought maybe it had to do with Windows having a pending update, but it doesn’t seem to be related.
This is most likely where it says a double NAT situation, this is rarely and internal network issue it more than likely that your ISP issue you with an IPV4 address but as these are now limited (run out of them) ISP’s are using NAT to direct traffic to your home router, As far as the internet is concerned though you are using the same IP address as many others on the same network, so as Plex updates your IP address to its cloud to allow remote access it only sees the shared IP address, so when it tries to connect it cant find your actual IP address as that is hidden on the internal side of the ISP network.
Think of a network within a network
Your device connects to your router with and internal address 192.168.*********
Your router connects to the ISP and gets an IP address on their internal network 92.38.******
Your ISP connects to the internet with its own IP address 102.89.*******
Plex tries to connect to 102.89 address on port 32400 or whatever one you use but cant find your server as its IP address is not actually 102.89******* it the 92.38 address which might also be dynamic (meaning it can change each tiem your router re-syncs with you ISP).
Year ago when there were plenty of IPV4 address this was not and issue as the chances are your router had an internet facing IPV4 ip address that may stay the same for ages or change but it didnt really matter as it was directly connected to the internet.
No ISP use CGNAT carrier grade network address translation, which means it has rule on it own network to rout traffic form its own external IPV4 address to you internal IPV4 address on its own network.
This is the most likely issue for remote access not work aside from you own internal firewall possibly blocking it.
If you look up whats my IP you will probably have and IPV6 address (which is fixed and stupid long) you can then add this into the custom URL section on the Settings page under network
It should look like this https://2a0e:cb4:13:d300:107:4b867:9622:67c7.******.plex.direct:32400 just find your IPV address and paste it inbetween // here and .plex.direct:32400 (the 32400 is the default port plex uses)
You then need to go to the top of the page and tick the enable IPV6 support
I use this method and it does work but can take a few attempts to connect up as I think it use the IPV address it sync first before trying the custom URLS.
Hope this helps
Its all in the help command on the Plex forums and stuff just serach CGNAT Plex or similar
Well… I called my ISP and had a very unpleasant conversation with some arrogant tech guy. I exposed the issue but he was adamant my ISP doesn’t use CGNAT. Furthermore, they do not use ipv6 so they cannot give me an ipv6 address. I tried disabling Plex relay just to check what would happen because I seamed to be able to access my server remotely through it, but now I just can’t access it at all. I checked again my 32400 port is forwarded, I confirmed with some website it was, I turned off windows defender, turned off defenders firewall, turned off NordVPN (even though I was using split tunneling for Plex anyways). I just don’t get why it doesn’t work. I tried looking at some file in the logs I downloaded, but I don’t even know where or what to look for in order to debug the issue. I don’t get why it was working on Linux, but it’s not on Windows 11… I don’t want to go back to Linux because it limits what I can do with my computer…
To rule out your ISP, who are they? I find it hard to think believe they are not running CGNAT as many are haivng to do so to accomodate more new customers.
You could try tethering to your phone directly with the firewall off. you might also need to create a firewall rule to allow inbound traffic on that port.
I take it you are only running one router too.
Best thing to look at it turn on debug mode and then try enabling remote access and then wait till it turns red again then stop the debug mode and look at the logs, its worth clearing them first so its easier to find the details on just what you want it. If its doubly NAT it does normally tell you as such.
Does the remote access external IP address match to a google of whats my ip?
Also check that your rotuer if port forwarding to you laptop on the network as that might need a rule so that any inbound traffic is forward to your laptops IP (also best to fix it onthe intenral network) You could also try putting you laptops IP (fixed is best) into the DMZ on the router so its techically outside of the firewall and exposed, I wouldnt do this all the time but its handy to test.
