Using Plex over home wi-fi

[itishappeningagain]

Hi! I’ve been using Plex for a few years, in a pretty basic way.

I have a Macbook Air, I plug in an external hard drive that has my media on it, and use the Plex for iOS app (client version 2025.18.0 (1109), platform version 18.5) to watch videos from my hard drive on my iPhone. I’m using Plex media server version 1.109.0.329-ea562b95.

As of last week or so, when I open the Plex app on my iPhone, tap Libraries, tap the video under Continue Watching, and tap Watch, I get the “Remote Watch Pass” pop-up, prompting me to “Choose your plan” etc.

I only use Plex while I’m at home and both my devices (MacBook Air and iPhone) are connected to my home wi-fi network. I contacted Plex support to ask if I need a Remote Watch Pass in this case, and they said:

“So long as the connection from the iPhone app to the server can be made on the local network, then you don’t need any Remote Watch Pass subscription. But you also should not have been prompted about one if your playback was local, which suggests that the app was only able to connect to the server over what was considered a “remote” connection.”

If anyone can advise, I’d appreciate it - thanks!

[FordGuy61]

Sequoia on Macbook Air? If so, see this reddit post: Reddit - The heart of the internet

@itishappeningagain

I’m using Plex media server version 1.109.0.329-ea562b95.

FYI, that is the version of the Plex Desktop app.

The Plex Media Server version is further down the screen: Settings → Server_Name → General. The current public version is 1.41.8.9834.

[ozsmac]

It might be an issue with your Mac Server having multiple network interfaces and Plex not auto selecting the right network as local.

Or perhaps something to do with a VPN on your Mac.

Good news, you can be explicit about what your local network is in the Plex Server settings, just head to Network, then look for the following and enter your local network/s.

PS - I can see a few references to this setting requiring a Plex Pass subscription, so it might not be an option. If that is the case, could I suggest that you do some testing with any additional networks or VPNs on the Mac disabled. Also just to confirm that your Mac and MacBook are on the same subnet?

[zavvy]

Turn off Private Relay in your iCloud settings. This fixed it for me.

[itishappeningagain]

Yes! Sequoia 15.3.2.

Thanks for this Reddit post - I do have a VPN, but I don’t have it turned on while using Plex. Like the OP, I am able to view my media if I go to: https://app.plex.tv/ on my iPhone, but if I click play on a video, I get the same “Remote Watch Pass” prompt to subscribe to a monthly or annual plan.

A few details about my iPhone wi-fi settings, in case it’s helpful:

• Limit IP Address Tracking - On
• Configure IP - Automatic
• IP Address - 192.168.2.30
• Subnet Mask - 255.255.255.0
• Router - 192.168.2.1

Thanks for clarifying - I am using the current public version (1.41.8.9834).

[itishappeningagain]

Thanks for this guidance! Unfortunately, it looks like I can’t see this setting.

I have VPNs disabled on my MacBook Air and iPhone.

Looks like both my MacBook Air and iPhone are on Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0.

Thanks for any additional troubleshooting you can provide! For now, I’m still getting the prompt to subscribe for the Remote Watch Pass…

[SE56]

Do you have your WiFi LAN IP Reserved / Static in your Router settings

[itishappeningagain]

Thanks! In my router settings, I have DHCP “on” and my router IP address is 192.168.2.1

Also in router settings, I’ve set my MacBook Air to a reserved IP type (192.168.2.10).

My iPhone’s settings:
Configure IP - Automatic
IP Address - 192.168.2.30

[ozsmac]

One more thing to check, if you open Plex in a browser or the desktop Plex apps, and go to the dashboard, what IP address is your Plex Server seeing your client coming from. I assume this will be 192.1568.2.30 for your iPhone, but worth checking to make sure. Here is my view of an item that is playing back, showing my IP address 10.1.1.162.

Here is where to find the dashboard

[itishappeningagain]

I didn’t get the pop-up prompt for the Remote Watch Pass for a month - but it’s back.

I just checked, and my iPhone and MacBook Air IP addresses are still the same as what I listed above.

I took a look at my dashboard, but it only shows “NOW PLAYING” and “Nothing is currently being played” - no IP address info.

Any thoughts on how to get Plex to go back to recognizing that I’m streaming on my local network? Thanks!