Some years ago I made a point of making the recommended settings adjustments in my Plex server (on MacOS) to ensure that I could play content locally in my home over WiFi in the event of an Internet outage. Such outages were once rare but we’ve been having a lot of them lately. I’ve recently noticed that Plex no longer works on any device in my home (Roku, FireTV, mobile devices) without Internet access. I cannot even bring up the server page in a browser on the same machine running the server by typing localhost:32400/web during an internet outage.
I looked up the settings to fix this (since it has been so long since I made these adjustments), and it looks like the requirement is simply to go to the Advanced network settings and under “List of IP addresses and networks that are allowed without auth” put the entire range of my home network. When I checked into this (once the internet came back, of course), it was already filled in with “192.168.5.1/255.255.255.0.” My home network definitely uses the 192.168.5.x range, and I understand that to be the proper syntax.
I’m confused. Is there something else that could be wrong? I know I was successful in setting this up in the past as I’ve definitely used Plex locally during Internet outages, but it’s been a while. I just figured that some software update or another reset the settings, but it looks to me like it’s set up correctly.
Any advice? I really rely on Plex to work in the home when there’s nothing else available.
I don’t know, but I can’t imagine it would. Why would a reference to an external site work while there is no internet connectivity, when linking to a local (at my house) server wouldn’t work?
My internet connection is up and running fine now, obviously. But I cannot test out any possible solutions without nixing my connection (such as by temporarily turning off my modem). I don’t want to put my household through this unnecessarily, so I’m hoping for someone to make a suggestion or two here that I can try.
Are your players that play your content (in settings) … do they allow you to connect on same network without auth? I have mine set up like you do in the server (although I’m on windows)…but in addition to that, I had to go to the Plex Players (in my case Roku) and select to connect without authorization on the same network… Without that, even though the server is set up correctly, it won’t work without internet… But I’m not sure how this works with other players… Perhaps something updated in the players and it went back to default
Now that sounds like it’s worth investigating. As I’m sitting here I’m looking at the settings on my FireTV (which is weird). The only thing I see that seems relevant is “Allow Insecure Connections.” The options are “Never,” “Always,” and “On Same Network.” It’s currently set to “Never,” so that could be the issue on this particular TV (FireTV is the built-in operating system). My other TVs all use Roku so I’ll check them out later—presumably there’s a similar setting option.
Again, I’ll have to disable my home internet connection to really test this. But I still don’t understand why I couldn’t access even the server’s control page on a web browser. I mean, it just refused to load using localhost addressing. I suppose that the player in a web browser is an instance of a Plex app with its own settings. So I could adjust that, too, I suppose. But that doesn’t give me confidence. Over time with browser updates, etc the setting could get lost. This is not something I’m going to remember to reset all the time. The point is that Internet outages are fairly rare, but when they happen I really need Plex to work. If internet is out, so is streaming TV service, and my HD antenna comes in through Plex as well.
I couldn’t remember the exact phrase… but I have mine set to allow insecure connections on same network…I physically had to change it… It was on “never” allow insecure connections. If it’s on NEVER, that is very likely the problem. It sounds like your server is set up correctly just not the players…You had said this had worked before, which would mean your players were already set to allow insecure connections…but sometimes we may get a new device or there is an update and the setting changes…Hopefully that’s your problem and it will work next time your internet goes out…
Yes, I unplugged my ISP’s modem and after making these changes it basically worked. Thing is, on all my Rokus the setting was already on “allow on same network.” So still don’t know why I couldn’t get those to work the other day during a 24+ hour internet outage.
Plex really needs to simplify this. On the one hand I love all the advanced functionality of Plex. I’ve had a lifetime Plex Pass for many years. But I’ve been using Plex a long time—as in, way back when its only function was basically playing your media over your home network. I’ve seen them add remote functionality, live TV, DVR, integrated music services and device syncing, trailers, photo albums and God knows what all else. I sort of miss the simpler days.
Hmmm. Not sure why it wouldn’t have worked if those settings were already on allow on same network. I’m trying to remember when I started using Plex. I want to say maybe 2015 or so…talk about a huge learning curve… I still DREAD the day I have to change my server (which is the same server since day 1)…
The using Plex without internet was a lifesaver a couple of times in the past when the net was out for several hours and it totally worked on both our Roku Ultra’s. Here’s hoping next time my net is out I don’t have any issues. LOL
