# Unable to activate new server after changing systems **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-windows\ **Created:** [July 14, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-activate-new-server-after-changing-systems/925948 "2025-07-14T21:34:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![abhawo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@abhawo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/abhawo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-activate-new-server-after-changing-systems/925948/1 "2025-07-14T21:34:00Z")
I’m having trouble claiming my Plex Media Server to my account. No matter what I try, the server shows as **“Not authorized”** or **“Server settings unavailable”** , and it doesn’t appear under my account at [https://plex.tv/devices](https://plex.tv/devices). * * * ### Background: I previously had a Plex server installed on this machine, but it was never properly removed or deauthorized. I believe this may have left behind an orphaned or “ghost” server entry tied to my account, which is now interfering with the new installation. * * * ### Troubleshooting I’ve Done: - Completely removed all traces of the old Plex installation: - Uninstalled the application - Deleted all data from: - `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server` - `%APPDATA%\Plex` - `%APPDATA%\Local\Plex` - Installed the **latest Plex Media Server version** available from the website - Attempted to claim the new server via: - Standard browser-based login (`[http://localhost:32400/web`]([http://localhost:32400/web`](http://localhost:32400/web%60))) - Claim token via CLI: `Plex Media Server.exe -claim https://plex.tv/claim?...` - Manual edits to `Preferences.xml` with `PlexOnlineToken` and `PlexOnlineHome` - Verified that my network is unrestricted and the server can access `[plex.tv](http://plex.tv/)` * * * ### Log Snippet: Here’s the consistent error I see in the logs (`Plex Media Server.log`): ```auto Jul 13, 2025 23:09:12.774 [0x000020fc] ERROR – MyPlex: Error 401 requesting JSON from: https://plex.tv/api/v2/server/users/features Jul 13, 2025 23:09:12.774 [0x000020fc] WARN – MyPlex: Error 401 Unauthorized (unauthorized) on /api/v2/server/users/features ``` The server can still reach other Plex endpoints like `/pins` (returns HTTP 200), so the connection itself is working — but this 401 error seems to block account linking. According to my research it is likely that there is still a “ghost” of my old server on the Plex side that is preventing this new one from registering ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 5:08am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-activate-new-server-after-changing-systems/925948/2 "2025-07-15T05:08:39Z")
> [@You need to reclaim your server, but don't dare to touch the Windows Registry](https://forums.plex.tv/t/you-need-to-reclaim-your-server-but-dont-dare-to-touch-the-windows-registry/809720/1): > > Warning: During these steps your Windows Plex server will be removed from any plex.tv account it has been connected to. The result will be that you won’t be able to acess it normally, unless you re-claim it. So you have been told to perform this procedure [https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/) in order to solve a problem accessing your server – but doing so requires you to edit the Windows Registry. I can understand that this c… ---
**Author:** ![MovieFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@MovieFan](https://forums.plex.tv/u/MovieFan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 5:40am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-activate-new-server-after-changing-systems/925948/3 "2025-07-22T05:40:56Z")
> [@abhawo](#): > > Manual edits to `Preferences.xml` with `PlexOnlineToken` and `PlexOnlineHome` Plex on windows doesn’t use this. What did you edit? The settings are in the registry. ---
**Author:** ![dbirch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f19dbf/32.png) [@dbirch](https://forums.plex.tv/u/dbirch)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 11:53am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-activate-new-server-after-changing-systems/925948/4 "2025-07-22T11:53:34Z")
Can you post a copy of your [server logs?](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250417-plex-media-server-log-files/) It may provide more insight on what is going on. ---
**Author:** ![abhawo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@abhawo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/abhawo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 1:14pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-activate-new-server-after-changing-systems/925948/5 "2025-07-22T13:14:14Z")
I had to go through the cmd token claim after this but the registry edit did the trick. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 1:14pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-activate-new-server-after-changing-systems/925948/6 "2025-10-20T13:14:29Z")
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