VPN is it really needed

Plex Players Mobile Devices
2

Two documents to review:


Let's start with some basic troubleshooting.

First, have you disabled Xfinity Advanced Security at your home? It can interfere with Plex remote access. See Troubleshooting Remote Access → Common Problems.

Second, what is displayed on the Plex Remote Access settings page?

  • Does it say “Fully Accessible Outside Your Network”?
  • If you’ve not done so, set Internet upload speed to 20 Mbps, and Limit remote stream bitrate to 20 Mbps or less.

Third, stream something remotely (phone on mobile net, etc), and monitor the system with Plex Dashboard → Now Playing + Expanded View.

Is the stream shown as local, remote, or indirect? It should be remote.

If indirect, it means remote access is not working correctly, and you’re connecting via Plex Relay, which is limited to 2 Mbps.

Fourth, check the Plex client settings. Many Plex apps have remote streaming limited to 2 Mbps. You’ll need to go into the app settings and increase it.