Something has changed?

Plex Media Server
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Server Version#: 1.43.0.10467-2b1ba6e69
Player Version#: multiple

My Plex Media Server has been stable for years. I have a NAS with my libraries on it, a Windows 11 laptop that runs the Media Server. I have a Lifetime Plex Plus Pass.

I connect to my Plex account using my Windows 11 laptop (not the server), my Android TV, an LG Smart TV, an Apple TV, and my iPhone.

I have used this setup for years, and have not consciously changed anything (though I suspect someone somewhere has made a software “improvement” that is the source of my troubles).

As of right now, almost every device is claiming that it is not able to use my libraries. The only exception is the server-laptop. It can access my libraries just fine.

I can access the files on the NAS from all of the above devices, so to my mind the issue is Plex, or the Media Server laptop. I appreciate any help with figuring this out!

Devices no longer connect to Plex server - HELP!
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You have one laptop computer running Plex Media Server (PMS) and using network connected shared drives on the NAS for the library directories, correct?
You aren’t running Plex on the NAS itself, the NAS is just storage, correct?

You have a 2nd laptop, an Android TV, an LG TV, ATV and iOS device and only the 2nd laptop is able to access Plex normally? Are you using Desktop app or Plex Web (local or app.plex.tv?) to access it?

Just checking assumptions to clarify. :slight_smile:

If so, that setup adds some complexity to your environment and sounds like primarily a communication issue, which could be a number of factors, or the PMS server just got a bit of a hangup (sic transit gloria mundi … essentially, everything breaks eventually and I like having an excuse to throw out a latin tech support catchphrase I haven’t been able to use in years yay).

To get started, the easiest thing to do first is reboot some devices. Reboot the laptop running PMS and reboot your router\modem\wifi would be my advice. There could be DNS caching involved that impacts the clients that can’t find your laptop or NAS shares and restarting PMS can sometimes help if there’s a hangup there. In particular what makes me think this is that credentials can be cached on your laptop because it has a longer cache cycle for that authentication than the other client devices (Roku has a long cache too but most others don’t). Just a guess though. :slight_smile:

I’d also recommend throwing the server logs up here in this topic: https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250417-plex-media-server-log-files/ — it’ll help a lot.

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Thanks for the info Insomnic_1. One tech support to another, let’s get this solved.

The only statement in your original re-hash that was wrong was regarding the working device. Laptop number 1, the server, was the only one that saw my library.

Following best practices, I had rebooted all my devices prior to reaching out for support, to no avail. Following best practices, I rebooted them again because it always works for Tech Support even if it doesn’t for the individual. This brought some devices back, but not all of them (which in my mind makes the situation even weirder). Now, the iPhone and both laptops (browser-based for both, no app) can reach the library. However, the Android TV, LG TV, and Apple TV are all still unable.

Logs are at the following link:

LINK

1 Like
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Gotcha. I wasn’t sure about the laptop references so that clears that up (and to me points to communication\dns\routing something or other involved more clearly).

So with your results, that makes me think DNS still - it’s always DNS - is involved somewhere particularly after some devices are working and some aren’t. Dunno how much of that is local vs remote\internet (since Plex checks in online it’s an aspect).

On Roku, sometimes you have to pull the power entirely to clear some caches on the device; the reboot on Roku is pretty soft. I wonder if you might have to do the same with the clients that are still acting up to get that DNS cache to clear up. Might be worth a try?

I’m crap at reading Plex logs - never quite got the hang of it - so hopefully one of the reps or more knowledgeable community folks might be able to pull that up for the server and considering your results, you might also grab logs from the clients that aren’t connecting too help with that aspect as well: https://support.plex.tv/articles/201869908-log-files/

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I took a quick look at the server log files.

It appears to be an issue with the clients (or their network connection), not the Plex server.

Double check their network configuration. Also, do you have any other routers, wi-fi extenders, etc. on the network? If so, check their configuration as well.

On both Windows PCs, make sure the network interface is Private, not Public. Win10: Settings → Network & Internet → Properties. Should be similar for Win11. If you change the setting, reboot the PC.


The only Plex client mentioned in the log files is Microsoft Edge on the server itself.
From Plex Media Server.log: Feb 02, 2026 19:29:49.025 [12120] DEBUG - [Req#77] [Now] Device is Microsoft Edge (Microsoft Edge).

Plex is seeing SSDP broadcasts from some devices - router, sound bar, and NAS - but not from Plex clients. It should see SSDP broadcasts from the Android TV and Win 11 laptop if they are on the network (This is from the device itself. The Plex client app is not involved.)


On the Windows 11 (non-server) PC, try a simple connectivity test. Bring up a command window and see if you can ping the Plex server. c:\ping 192.168.2.189.

You should also be able to ping the router at 192.168.2.1.

If that works, then from the PC, point a private/incognito browser window at the server and see if you can login. http://192.168.2.189:32400/web (or use https if secure connections are required).


Some unrelated FYIs (since I was looking at the logs…)

  1. It appears the server PC has an Ethernet port. You would be better served using it if possible. With media on a NAS, it doubles the traffic on the Wi-Fi network when streaming if the server is on Wi-Fi. It won’t matter for low bitrate files, but it can cause issues if streaming multiple high bitrate media such as 4K HDR remuxes.

  2. You’ve an invalid path, \\mynetwork, in one of your libraries (Movies?). You should remove it.

Feb 02, 2026 19:29:35.579 [11652] DEBUG - LibraryUpdateManager will start watching \\mynetwork
Feb 02, 2026 18:59:46.861 [18708] WARN - Filesystem error (boost::filesystem::last_write_time: The specified path is invalid [system:161]: "\\mynetwork") during scanning: 161 in "\\mynetwork"
Feb 02, 2026 18:59:46.861 [18708] ERROR - We got an error scanning in \\mynetwork
Feb 02, 2026 18:59:46.861 [18708] WARN - Scanning the location \\mynetwork did not complete
  1. Plex Media Server is scanning iTunes artwork, not just the music files.
    Feb 02, 2026 18:59:54.024 [18708] DEBUG - Scanner: Processing directory C:\Users\<username>\Music\iTunes\Album Artwork (parent: yes)

This causes Plex to needlessly scan several thousand extra directories (5000+) with every library scan. If possible, refine which folders are added to the music library.

EDIT…

  1. Log Files

Stop Plex Media Server. Navigate to the Plex Data Folder. In the /Logs/Installer Logs directory, there are 1000+ files dating to 2020. The last Plex Media Server log is from 2023. Delete everything prior to 2026 (there are no 2025 files).

This will shrink the size of the log zip file. You can then upload it directly to the forum and not need to use a cloud drive.

1 Like
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Me too, except on on Windows 11

Me too, except I use a Windows 11 PC Desktop for my Plex Server. All my other devices cant find my library.

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Thanks folks for the friendly, helpful tips.

I unplugged the televisions and Apple TV, and restarted them. Lo and behold, we’re in!

Special thanks to FordGuy61 for the extra tips. If it’s ok, I have some followups…

  1. I completely understand. The NAS serves other purposes (shocked scandalized gasps?), so this architecture is the best for all our purposes (also, since I don’t really have any 4K files).
  2. Removed. Thanks for the heads up!
  3. Is there a way to exclude a specific subfolder from a library? The Album Artwork is a subfolder of my larger “Music” folder.
  4. Done, and with my thanks! I had suspected something was up when I took a peek myself at my monster log relative to that of other users.
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#1. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” :slight_smile: Just be aware of it in case it becomes an issue in the future.

#3. You may be able to use a .plexignore file.

See Special Keyword File/Folder Exclusion.

In the ...\Music\iTunes folder, create a file named .plexignore. Make sure it does not have an extension such as .plexignore.txt or similar.

Add these lines (see example in support document):

# Ignore directories called "Album Artwork"
*Album Artwork/*

The stop & restart Plex Media Server. Give Plex a couple of minutes to fully start then pull the log files. If it works, in Plex Media Server.log, the log entries about scanning the Album Artwork directory will not be present.


FWIW, on my PC, Album Artwork is separate from the media folders. All the media files are in subfolders in the iTunes Media directory. I add the Music subdirectory to a Plex library.

In iTunes Settings → Advanced Preferences, I’ve checked the boxes to Keep iTunes Media folder organized and Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library. This keeps all media separate from artwork and other settings files.

C:\Users\username\Music\iTunes
   \Album Artwork
   \iTunes Media
      \Music  <-- all iTunes music is in this directory
      \TV Shows
      \Audiobooks
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I want to thank you guys. I ended up ripping apart my wired network in my office and I found the issue. I was using an old Asus router as a switch (It has an internal setting to do so) , but somehow (And I haven’t touched it in years) it reset itself to a router and created a separate network for my desktop. I have no idea how it happened, and I disconnected it and everything seems fine now. (I have to buy another switch for some devices now.)

Again, thank you all!