You need to reclaim your server, but don't dare to touch the Windows Registry

General Discussions Tips, Tricks & How-Tos
1

Warning:

During these steps your Windows Plex server will be removed from any plex.tv account it has been connected to.
The result will be that you won’t be able to acess it normally, unless you re-claim it.

So you have been told to perform this procedure https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/ in order to solve a problem accessing your server – but doing so requires you to edit the Windows Registry.

I can understand that this can be a daunting task, if you have never worked with the registry before. You probably also have been told elsewhere, to rather not touch the registry.

There is a less dangerous way to achieve the desired result:

  1. Close/Exit/Quit Plex server using its task tray icon
  2. open the Windows editor notepad.exe
  3. copy the full content of this window into the clipboard (you can use the icon which appears on mouse-over in the upper-right corner to do this):
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Plex, Inc.\Plex Media Server\PlexOnlineHome]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Plex, Inc.\Plex Media Server\PlexOnlineMail]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Plex, Inc.\Plex Media Server\PlexOnlineUsername]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Plex, Inc.\Plex Media Server\PlexOnlineToken]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Plex, Inc.\Plex Media Server\PreferredNetworkInterface]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Plex, Inc.\Plex Media Server]
"PublishServerOnPlexOnlineKey"=dword:00000001
"ManualPortMappingMode"=dword:00000000
"LogVerbose"=dword:00000000
"secureConnections"=dword:00000001
  1. paste the content of the clipboard into notepad.exe
    Don’t change it in any way! Don’t add to, nor remove anything from it.
  2. save this text file to your desktop (or some other place where you can find it easily)
  3. change the filename extension of this file from .txt to .reg
  4. double click on this .reg file with your mouse
    A warning will appear, that this file will cause changes in the registry.
    That’s exactly what it is designed to do.
    Confirm/Allow it.
  5. Start Plex server using its icon in the Start menu

Your server is now “unclaimed” (i.e. not connected to a plex.tv user account).

You need to claim it again. Please refer to this link for a guide on how to do it:

After reclaiming your server, you might need to restart your Plex clients, so they take notice of the refreshed server.
Some clients need you to “Switch Users” / Sign Out + Sign In before you can resume normal operation.

There are additional server preferences being reset by the .reg file.
If you have intentionally modified them before, you might want to re-check:

  • Settings - Server - Remote Access - ‘Show Advanced’ - “ Manually specify public port”
    You need to re-enable this if you created a manual “port forwarding” in your router configuration for Plex.

  • Verbose logging is disabled.
    Keep it that way, and re-enable it only after explicit request by Plex support. And even then only temporarily.

  • Secure Connections are reset to “Preferred”
    This is intended to help users regaining control of their server, if their local DNS resolver is applying “DNS rebinding protection” (or other shenanigans which prevent secure connections)

6 Likes
2

I followed these instructions, reclaimed my server, and now I get this message:

“Not authorized
You do not have access to this server”

3

If you performed the password reset procedure, this is very much expected.
All device tokens (i.e. permission to access the server/account) haven been retracted during this. That includes clients.

You’ll have to sign out and back in all your Plex clients as well.
The plex web app is a client as any other. It is strictly separate from the server.
Use the “Sign Out” link under your avatar picture in the upper, right corner.

4

image

Does the program finish or is this the last step?

I have tried to log out and relogging but still having the same issue.

5

Hmmm…

You are the second person with this issue :frowning:

Please see a DM from me

6

I followed Method 2. I did steps to 8. Which calls for me to open the plex app from the start up menu, now the plex will not load or open what can I do to fix this.

7

My server was fixed by the method 2. by me restarting windows and deleting a short cut plex app. I was then able to finsh the last steps and now plex is up and running. :slightly_smiling_face:

8

Well my severs out again :roll_eyes:

9

Method 1 was fixed some time ago, and only affected an edge case.

Sorry I forgot to update this thread about that

10

3 posts were split to a new topic: Can’t claim server

11

THE same with me

12

Lovely!! You are a genius. Thanks a lot, really appreciate it!!!

13

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen stopped the app to run.

14

Method 1

15

3 posts were split to a new topic: Can’t claim my Mac server

16

!!!-ATTENTION-!!!

The localhost IP address http://127.0.0.1.32400/web is typed incorrectly. There’s a period between the IP and the port when it should be a colon > http://127.0.0.1:32400/web
Changing this is how I was able to get this registry fix to work.

17

Thank you! Sorry about that.
I’ve corrected it above.

1 Like
18

Good deal.

Is this a fix Plex will be able to build into the program itself?

19

Method 2.2 worked for me.

20

Thank you. 2.2 is the way to go