# How to set up a Plex media server and access it remotely
## Introduction
[Plex](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200288286-what-is-plex/) is a powerful media server software tool that allows you to organize, watch, and access your personal media files from various devices. You can use Plex to conveniently manage various types of media — for example, videos, pictures, and music.
Self-hosting a media server, such as Plex, can be empowering because you are in full control of your files and don’t have to upload them to the cloud. However, if you want to access your media while away from home, you would need to resort to setting up [port forwarding](https://nordvpn.com/blog/port-forwarding/). While opening up ports in your firewall may not be too difficult, it can leave your home network vulnerable to malicious attacks.
With the use of Meshnet, you can connect your Plex media server and all client devices to a single virtual network. This configuration allows you to [remotely access](https://nordvpn.com/meshnet/remote-access/) your media from any device without exposing the server to outside connections.
This article contains instructions on how you can set up a media server using Plex on desktop devices and use Meshnet for secure remote connections.
## Before you begin
To use Plex as a media server, you are required to have a Plex account. You can create a free account on the [Plex sign-up page](https://www.plex.tv/sign-up/). Alternatively, you can use your Google, Facebook, or Apple account.
## Installing Plex media server
First, you need to install the Plex software on the device that you will use as the media server.
{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Windows" %}
To install the Plex media server on Windows:
1. Visit the [Plex downloads page](https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/).
2. Download the Plex media server installer for Windows.
3. Follow the instructions provided by the installation wizard.
4. Click **Finish** to complete the installation and launch the Plex media server.
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="macOS" %}
To install the Plex media server on macOS:
1. Visit the [Plex downloads page](https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/).
2. Download the Plex media server installer for macOS.
3. Extract the downloaded ZIP archive by double-clicking it.
4. In Finder , drag and drop the **Plex media server** app to the **Applications** folder.
5. Launch **Plex media server**.
6. From the menu bar, click the Plex icon and select **Open at login** to start the Plex media server with each system reboot.\
\
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="Linux" %}
{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**
In this article, Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS distribution is used as an example.
{% endhint %}
There are various methods available for installing the Plex media server on a Linux machine. Depending on your setup, you may choose to install Plex using a graphical package manager, such as Ubuntu Software, or directly from a terminal window.
### Method 1: Using Ubuntu Software
Take the following steps to install the Plex media server using Ubuntu Software:
1. Open **Ubuntu Software**.
2. In the upper-left corner, click the search icon.
3. In the search field, enter `plexmediaserver` and select the matching result.
4. Click **Install**.
### Method 2: Using the terminal
Take the following steps to install the Plex media server using the terminal:
1. Open **Terminal**.
2. Run the following command to download and import the GPG key for the Plex downloads repository:
5. To ensure that Plex is started with each system reboot, enable its daemon process with this command:
sudo systemctl enable plexmediaserver
6. Run the following command to add the automatically created `plex` user to your user group.
sudo usermod -aG $USER plex
7. Restart your device.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}
### Access the Plex dashboard
Once the Plex media server has been installed, you can start the setup process by visiting its web interface.
1. Open your internet browser and navigate the following URL:\
`localhost:32400/web/`
2. Select your preferred login method and log in to your Plex account.
3. On the **How Plex works** page, click **Got it!**.
4. Enter a name for your Plex media server, clear the **Allow me to access my media outside my home** checkbox, and click **Next**.
5. Remove the pre-configured media libraries by clicking the X button next to them. Click **Next**.
6. Select **Done**.
## Adding media libraries
Upon finishing the server setup, you can freely navigate and customize your media server. Currently, you have not imported any media content to your server. You can choose to import locally stored media or shared media, such as network shares.
### Add locally stored media
To add media content that is stored on the server:
1. Open your Plex media server web interface.
2. In the upper-right corner, click the Settings button.\
\
3. On the left, under **Manage**, click **Libraries**, and select **Add library**.
4. Select the type of media for this library. You can enter a custom name or leave the default one. Click **Next**.
5. Click **Browse for media folder**.
6. In the **Add folder** pop-up window, select the folder containing your media files. Alternatively, you can enter the folder’s path. Click **Add**.
7. Click **Add library**.
You should see a new entry for your added media location on the Libraries page.
{% hint style="success" %}
**Tip**
If content from your media library is not available after adding it, restart your computer.
{% endhint %}
### Add shared media
Asides from locally stored media, you can have [network shares from your network-attached storage](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/~/changes/1En9yEoSh1cmyjIBsnEk/how-to/remote-files-media-access/remote-openmediavault-nas) (NAS) devices or [shared folders from your Meshnet peer devices](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/~/changes/1En9yEoSh1cmyjIBsnEk/how-to/remote-files-media-access/set-up-folder-sharing). Media stored on such mediums must first be mounted to the operating system and only then can they be imported to the Plex media server.
{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Windows" %}
Instructions for mounting network shares on Windows can be found in the [Mount a network share section](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/~/changes/1En9yEoSh1cmyjIBsnEk/how-to/set-up-folder-sharing/configure-and-access-shared-folders-on-windows#mount-a-network-share) of the "Configure and access shared folders on Windows" article.
After mounting the shared drive, follow the steps from the [Add locally stored media](#add-locally-stored-media) section to import your remote media files to your Plex media server.
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="macOS" %}
On macOS, the shared location is mounted automatically after you connect to it. To connect to a network share on macOS, refer to the [Access shared folders](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/~/changes/1En9yEoSh1cmyjIBsnEk/how-to/set-up-folder-sharing/configure-and-access-shared-folders-on-macos#access-shared-folders) section of the "Configure and access shared folders on macOS" article.
After mounting the shared folder, the path to it will be as follows:
```bash
/Volumes/
```
**Example**
```bash
/Volumes/RemoteVideos
```
After mounting the shared drive, follow the steps from the [Add locally stored media](#add-locally-stored-media) section to import your remote media files to your Plex media server.
{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**
Upon restarting your Mac, you'll need to reconnect to the network share. Until you do so, the media content will be visible but unplayable.
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="Linux" %}
Instructions for mounting network shares on Linux can be found in the [Mount a network share ](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/~/changes/1En9yEoSh1cmyjIBsnEk/how-to/set-up-folder-sharing/configure-and-access-shared-folders-on-linux#mount-a-network-share)section of the "Configure and access shared folders on Linux" article.
After mounting the shared drive, follow the steps from the [Add locally stored media](#add-locally-stored-media) section to import your remote media files to your Plex media server.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}
### Enable automatic library updates
If you regularly expand your media library, manually initiating a library scan each time can be tiresome. To avoid this, you can enable automatic library updates.
1. Open your Plex media server web interface.
2. In the upper-right corner, click the Settings button.
3. On the left, under **Settings**, click **Library**.
4. Select the **Scan my library automatically** checkbox.
5. Scroll down and click **Save changes**.
Now your media library should be updated automatically each time there are any changes to its content.
## Allowing Meshnet connections
Since Meshnet IP addresses are using a different subnet than standard [local area networks](https://nordvpn.com/blog/what-is-lan/) (LANs), devices in your Meshnet running Plex applications cannot automatically discover the media server. However, Plex allows you to specify custom URLs that are used for server discovery. You can use this option to provide your Meshnet details and enable connections to your media server over Meshnet.
1. Open your Plex media server web interface.
2. In the upper-right corner, click the Settings button.
3. On the left, under **Settings**, select **Network**.
4. In the **Custom server access URLs**, enter the following string replacing `` and `` with your media server’s Nord name and Meshnet IP address, respectively:\
\
`http://:32400/,http://:32400/`\
\
**Example**\
`http://secret.meerkat-atlas.nord:32400/,http://100.111.78.165:32400/`
5. Click **Save changes**.
## Accessing your Plex media server over Meshnet
With your Plex media server fully set up, you can access it over Meshnet to watch your media content remotely.
### Method 1: Using an internet browser
A convenient method to access your Plex media server from any device without installing additional software is via an internet browser.
1. Copy the Nord name of your Plex media server from the NordVPN app.
2. Open your internet browser.
3. In the URL field, paste the copied Nord name followed by `:32400/` and press **Enter**.\
\
**Example**\
`secret.meerkat-himalayas.nord:32400/`
4. Log in to your Plex account.
Upon logging in, select your media library from the menu on the left. All of the content from the selected library should appear.
### Method 2: Using the Plex app
Another way to use access your Plex media server is by using the Plex app on each individual device.
{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Windows" %}
#### Install Plex for Windows
To install Plex on Windows:
1. Visit the [Plex downloads](https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/#plex-app) page.
2. Download the Plex for Windows app.\
\
3. Open the downloaded installer file.
4. Follow the installation wizard instructions to install Plex.
#### Connect to your media server
After installing the Plex app:
1. Launch **Plex**.
2. At the top of the page, click **Sign in** and select **Sign in** once more.
3. Log in to your Plex account and close the browser window.
4. Select the preferences for your media and click **Finish setup**.
5. From the menu on the left, click **More**.
6. Select your added media library.\
\
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="Android" %}
#### Install Plex for Android
You can download and install the Plex app for Android from [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.plexapp.android\&hl=en_US).
#### Connect to your media server
After installing the Plex app:
1. Launch **Plex**.
2. Tap **Sign in**.
3. Log in to your Plex account.
4. Select your layout preferences and tap **Let’s go**.
5. In the upper-left corner, tap the menu icon and select your added media library.\
\
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="iOS" %}
#### Install Plex for iOS
You can download and install the Plex app for iOS from the [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/plex-stream-movies-tv/id383457673).
#### Connect to your media server
After installing the Plex app:
1. Launch **Plex**.
2. Tap **Sign in**.
3. Log in to your Plex account.
4. On the **Plex needs local network access** screen, tap **Continue**\
\
5. Tap **OK** to grant local network access to the Plex app.\
\
6. Select the preferences for your media and tap **Continue**.
7. In the upper-left corner, tap the menu icon and select your added media library.\
\
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="macOS" %}
#### Install Plex for Mac
To install Plex on macOS:
1. Visit the [Plex downloads](https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/#plex-app) page.
2. Download the Plex for Mac app.\
\
3. Extract the downloaded ZIP archive by double-clicking it.
4. Drag and drop the **Plex** app to the **Applications** folder.
#### Connect to your media server
After installing the Plex app:
1. Launch **Plex**.
2. At the top of the page, click **Sign in** and select **Sign in** once more.
3. Log in to your Plex account and close the browser window.
4. Select the preferences for your media and click **Finish setup**.
5. From the menu on the left, click **More**.
6. Select your added media library.\
\
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="Linux" %}
#### Install Plex for Linux
To install Plex on Linux:
1. Open **Terminal**.
2. Run the following command to install the Plex app:
```
sudo snap install plex-desktop
```
#### Connect to your media server
After installing the Plex app:
1. Launch **Plex**.
2. At the top of the page, click **Sign in** and select **Sign in** once more.
3. Log in to your Plex account and close the browser window.
4. Select the preferences for your media and click **Finish setup**.
5. From the menu on the left, click **More**.
6. Select your added media library.\
\
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}
, drag and drop the **Plex media server** app to the **Applications** folder.
