# Windows server cannot be reclaimed after password change — HTTP 401

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/windows-server-cannot-be-reclaimed-after-password-change-http-401/941545>\
**Category:** Plex Media Server\
**Tags:** server-windows\
**Created:** [August 11, 2026, 2:01am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/windows-server-cannot-be-reclaimed-after-password-change-http-401/941545 "2026-08-11T02:01:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sichelstiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@sichelstiel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/sichelstiel)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 2:01am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/windows-server-cannot-be-reclaimed-after-password-change-http-401/941545/1 "2026-08-11T02:01:38Z")

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Server Version#:1.43.3.10861-07dfddaeb  
Player Version#:Plex Web 4.160.0

\<IHello Plex Support,

My Plex Media Server, named “Bob-Home,” became unavailable immediately after I changed my Plex account password.

Server details:  
• Windows 11 64-bit desktop  
• Plex Media Server runs on the desktop  
• Media files remain present and accessible on external drive P:  
• Plex Web previously showed Bob-Home as unreachable  
• Plex Media Server appears as running in Windows Task Manager  
• Local Plex Web at [http://127.0.0.1:32400/web](http://127.0.0.1:32400/web) opens, but the libraries show “No content available” / “Media server not found”

Troubleshooting already completed:  
• Restarted the computer and Plex Media Server  
• Confirmed the P: drive and media files are present  
• Signed in locally with the new Plex account password  
• Reinstalled the current Windows 64-bit Plex Media Server version over the existing installation, without uninstalling or deleting Plex data  
• Following Plex’s password-change recovery instructions, I removed the stale PlexOnlineMail, PlexOnlineToken, and PlexOnlineUsername values from:  
HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\Software\Plex, Inc.\Plex Media Server  
• After restarting Plex Media Server, it still does not reclaim/connect.  
• A local claim-token request returned “401 Unauthorized.”

I have attached a ZIP of the current Plex Media [Server logs.](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250417-plex-media-server-log-files/)

Please advise how to reclaim/reattach the existing Bob-Home server without deleting its existing Plex library database, metadata, artwork, watch history, or media files.

Thank you.f providing [server logs](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250417-plex-media-server-log-files/) please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only [debug logging](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201643703-reporting-issues-with-plex-media-server/#toc-1) should be enabled\>

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 5:16am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/windows-server-cannot-be-reclaimed-after-password-change-http-401/941545/2 "2026-08-11T05:16:19Z")

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The server has an access token as well. Changing the password, while having filled the check box is invalidating all access tokens – and that includes your server(s).

See [You need to reclaim your server, but don't dare to touch the Windows Registry](https://forums.plex.tv/t/you-need-to-reclaim-your-server-but-dont-dare-to-touch-the-windows-registry/809720/1)