Unable to set my claim token

Plex Media Server
1

Server Version#: 1.41.7.9823-59f304c16 - Ubuntu PC x86_64 - build: linux-x86_64 debian
Player Version#: 4.146.0
Linux version: 24.04.2 LTS (Noble Numbat), language: en-US

The cliff notes, I’ve passed PLEX_CLAIM via systemd override and even started the server manually with the env set, and it still won’t register to my Plex account (no token in Preferences.xml).

In the logs I see:

Jun 08, 2025 23:47:58.617 [139391388514960] DEBUG - Waiting for server condition to be signaled.
Jun 08, 2025 23:47:58.617 [139391284857656] DEBUG - [HCl#4] HTTP requesting GET https://plex.tv/api/v2/release_channels?X-Plex-Token=

Tried running:

sudo -u plex -E bash -c 'export PLEX_CLAIM="claim-xxx"; /usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex\ Media\ Server'

But this initially failed due to wrong $HOME, writing to /home/ubuntu/...
Retried with:

  sudo -u plex -H bash -c 'export PLEX_CLAIM="claim-xxx"; /usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex\ Media\ Server'

Server launched, but still no token persisted in Preferences.xml

MUST be something simple, but I’m tearing my hair out. It’s on a basic EC2 instance.

Permissions issue perhaps?

… HELP :frowning:

2

Small update, I’ve tried to nuke the install and do everything from the root user, with still no luck:

  • Clean uninstall (apt remove, purge /var/lib/plexmediaserver, /etc/plex, etc.)
  • Fresh install from .deb: plexmediaserver_1.41.7.9823-59f304c16_amd64.deb
  • Ran binary manually as root with env var:
export PLEX_CLAIM="claim-XXXX"
"/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex Media Server"

Waited several minutes
Still no PlexOnlineToken, PlexOnlineUsername, or PlexOnlineMail in:

/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Preferences.xml

No errors in logs except:

libusb_init failed

(which is harmless)

I’ve tried this same process dozens of times. Server starts fine, serves the web UI, but shows as unauthorized.

Any tips on forcing claim, or deeper logs to verify token exchange?
Thanks in advance — this has been driving me nuts.

3

I had something similar happen when I moved my PMS over to a new hard drive. What I did was copy the current Preferences.xml file to a backup.
Removed current Plex:
sudo dpkg --remove ‘current .deb file name’ (Libraries remain intact.)
Delete the current Preferences.xml from the server (Or just rename it to a backup).
Run an install of the current plexmediaserver…amd64.deb. This installs a clean Preferences.xml.
Reboot. Plex now saw my server as unclaimed.
Used the Plex-Web GUI - Settings → General → Clicked the “CLAIM SERVER” button. Continued with the Claim. In your case where this current version seems to be the cause of the problem, I would downgrade to an earlier version. I’m on 1.41.3.9314 and reluctant to upgrade any time soon.

4

Perform the steps described in the “On a Different Network” section of the basic server installation document to claim your server:

https://support.plex.tv/articles/200288586-installation/#toc-2

5

Another user running Server Version#: 1.41.6.9685 arm64 found a solution:
https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-library-suddenly-not-showing-despite-working-yesterday-and-no-system-changes/921146/55

6

It was me. But I’m not sure that fix will work for this issue as the claim token did appear in my Preferences.xml. Instead the server simply failed to show up in my settings despite it appearing at Plex’s end - but apparenlty it looked odd. But it would be worth a go.

7

With the container stopped,

sudo ./UserCredentialReset.sh -p "path/to/Preferences.xml"

It will ask for the claim token.

Help in the README.md

8

It might be a DNS issue. You might trying changing your DNS settings to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

9

This was genius.

Set up the tunnel on my windows box and claimed and set up from there.

Many thanks!!!

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10

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