# Using Plex on one device only, without transcoding and without internet **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-windows, player-windows, plex-htpc\ **Created:** [June 27, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/using-plex-on-one-device-only-without-transcoding-and-without-internet/845742 "2023-06-27T16:49:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SkylerWolfe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/skylerwolfe/32/10375_2.png) [@SkylerWolfe](https://forums.plex.tv/u/SkylerWolfe)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/using-plex-on-one-device-only-without-transcoding-and-without-internet/845742/1 "2023-06-27T16:49:12Z")
TLDR - If I have a weak Win10 PC that is capable of direct playing a media collection, is it safe to assume that I can also install PMS on that PC and then use the desktop app (on the same PC) to successfully play the media? Longer version - We own a small property that is located somewhere that has only phone hotspot internet access, so using my main home Plex server remotely for that location is not possible. I have an old htpc that has a weak 4th gen i3 Intel processor (4gb ram???), but it has an nvidia gpu that can play the 1080p hevc media that I have on an external hard drive. I am able to play the media fine through Kodi, but I must say I don’t like the Kodi interface as the customization of the home page and libraries is lacking compared to what I can do with Plex. If I will not be transcoding audio or video, is it silly to think I could install PMS on that PC and play the media through the desktop app without internet access? Or might PMS have a significant hit on performance when running both? I can just install both and try. ---
**Author:** ![SkylerWolfe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/skylerwolfe/32/10375_2.png) [@SkylerWolfe](https://forums.plex.tv/u/SkylerWolfe)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/using-plex-on-one-device-only-without-transcoding-and-without-internet/845742/2 "2023-06-27T23:53:23Z")
It seems to work. I did have to learn how to setup a subnet “mask” in order to allow use of a plex app on the device when not connected to the internet (apparently avoiding authorization). ---
**Author:** ![SkylerWolfe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/skylerwolfe/32/10375_2.png) [@SkylerWolfe](https://forums.plex.tv/u/SkylerWolfe)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/using-plex-on-one-device-only-without-transcoding-and-without-internet/845742/3 "2023-06-28T02:17:22Z")
nm it didn’t work right for Plex HTPC apparently. It still really, really wants me to be connected to the internet 😞 It does almost always work with Plex for Windows, but that app doesn’t give MCE remote control, which is inconvenient for a TV. Maybe I’ll have to try to go back to Kodi and it’s terrible interface and see if I can fix it. Lame. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/using-plex-on-one-device-only-without-transcoding-and-without-internet/845742/4 "2023-09-26T02:18:06Z")
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