# Why can't block Plex through firewall?
**URL:** https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-cant-block-plex-through-firewall/912289
**Category:** General Discussions
**Created:** [April 8, 2025, 2:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-cant-block-plex-through-firewall/912289 "2025-04-08T14:32:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@fkir91](https://forums.plex.tv/u/fkir91)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2025, 2:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-cant-block-plex-through-firewall/912289/1 "2025-04-08T14:32:02Z")
I have a strange situation. Plex is running nicely on my Asustor NAS. I can watch movies locally and remotely. PMS and all my media are on the NAS. Now, I want to watch movies only locally unless a remote IP is authorized. So I had the brilliant idea to block all internet unless a specific IP or subnet mask are authorized. So I activated NAS firewall. Despite this, I can still watch new movies remotely through an unauthorized IP/subnet through Plex! As far as I can tell, other software can’t reach the NAS.
F.
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### Author:  [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-cant-block-plex-through-firewall/912289/2 "2025-04-08T14:49:35Z")
[Plex relay](https://support.plex.tv/articles/216766168-accessing-a-server-through-relay/) connection.
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### Author:  [@Divideby0](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Divideby0)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2025, 2:57pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-cant-block-plex-through-firewall/912289/3 "2025-04-08T14:57:12Z")
Disable it, specifically. Plex uses online authentication for account access, and Plex can piggy-back on that initial authentication connection to do an emergency relay session. It’s restricted to a really low bit-rate, but it might allow a connection still if enabled.
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### Author:  [@fkir91](https://forums.plex.tv/u/fkir91)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2025, 4:22pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-cant-block-plex-through-firewall/912289/4 "2025-04-08T16:22:09Z")
That makes sense. I will try Tautulli with an access plugin.
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### Author:  [@fkir91](https://forums.plex.tv/u/fkir91)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-cant-block-plex-through-firewall/912289/5 "2025-04-08T18:05:32Z")
Update: I can confirm that disabling the relay feature blocks access to the NAS. I will explore other options as I need that feature.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-cant-block-plex-through-firewall/912289/6 "2025-07-07T18:05:48Z")
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