Getting Started With Plex Media Server on Raspberry Pi

Plex is an interesting streaming media service. Like Netflix or Prime Video, there are a few shows and movies you can watch after creating an account (it’s free!). But the best feature is that you can host a Plex server on your Raspberry Pi, add your own files to it, and watch them from any device, even remotely. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to set this up.

Plex offers a Debian package for ARMv8 and ARMv7 that can be installed via an installation script on Raspberry Pi OS. The Plex server hosts media files and allows access to them from any device (computers, iPads, smartphones) all over the world.

Let’s start directly with the server installation, and I’ll explain the basics along the way.

If you’re new to Raspberry Pi or Linux, I’ve got something that can help you right away!
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Plex Media Server Installation on Raspberry Pi

Are you new to what it means to host your own media server? If so, check out: Raspberry Pi as a Media Center: Complete Guide for Beginners!

Here are the required steps to install Plex Media Server on your Raspberry Pi:

• Install a compatible operating system (any Debian based distribution).
• Install Plex using the official installation script.
• Launch Plex and log in.

Install Raspberry Pi OS or Ubuntu

The easiest way to install Plex Media Server on a Raspberry Pi is to use a Debian-based distribution, as Plex offers packages for these systems. So, using Raspberry Pi OS or Ubuntu seems a great choice.

Plex Media Server is a service, so you don’t need a desktop environment. Using a minimal or server version of these distributions is totally fine if it works for you.

I won’t give more details here, as I have complete guides on how to install Raspberry Pi OS or Ubuntu on this website. You are welcome to check them if you need a step-by-step procedure to do this.

By the way, if you are using Ubuntu, you might want to check out this other tutorial I wrote on how to install Plex on Ubuntu Server, which will be more applicable to your system.

Before going further, just make sure to configure the Internet connection (LAN or Wi-Fi) and do the system updates. Enabling SSH or VNC on the Raspberry Pi, and following this tutorial from your computer can also make it easier, but it’s not mandatory.

Plex Media Server Installation

Recently, Plex has made installation easier for Rapsberry Pi users by providing an official installation script. The best thing about this new method is that Plex will automatically get updated whenever you do a regular system update with APT.

Open a terminal, and enter this command to install Plex Media Server:
curl -LsSf https://repo.plex.tv/scripts/setupRepo.sh | sudo bash

When the script asks, answer ‘yes’ to both questions, because that’s what we want to do!

This script will handle everything for you: adding the official repository, installing the package, and starting the Plex service automatically on boot. You’re done, easy peasy.

Alternate Installation Option: There’s a Docker version of Plex Media Server, if you really want to install it that way. You can find more details on this page. I find it harder to install than this Debian package, so I won’t give more details about it in this tutorial.

If you have no idea what Docker is, you should probably start by reading my complete guide about it here, and our guide to Docker Compose might be helpful as well.

First Access to Plex Media Server

Plex comes with a web admin panel that can be accessed locally. We’ll use it to create your Plex account (or log in if you already have one), and link the server to your account.

Note: If you want to see these steps in action, I have a video on setting up Plex just for community members. Join here to watch, and get access to 30+ other lessons for Raspberry Pi along with many other benefits!

Web Interface Access

On a distribution with a desktop environment, Plex will now appear in the main menu.
On Raspberry Pi OS, it’s under the “Sound & Video” category.

The shortcut will open this URL in your web browser:
http://localhost:32400/web

So, if you don’t have a desktop environment, or want to use your PC instead, just visit:
http://<IP>:32400/web

Create a Free Account

The first step will be to sign in with a Plex account:

Don’t worry if you don’t have an account yet, you will be able to create an account if needed.
Fill the form with your email and create a password (or use your existing account on Google, Facebook, or Apple).

Once logged in, a welcome wizard shows up, explaining how the Plex Media Server Works:

Click on the bottom button to move forward.
You’ll be offered to get a Plex Pass for advanced features, but you don’t need it for now. Close the pop-up to skip it.

On the Server Setup screen, you can then choose a name for your server, and add your media if needed. I’ll get back to this later, so you can just continue with the defaults if you’re lost:

Once completed, you’ll then access the full interface of Plex, looking like this:

Plex Introduction

As I explained previously, even if you don’t have any local files, you can already use Plex to watch free movies and shows. It’s a great way to save money using your Raspberry Pi.

But you don’t need a Raspberry Pi for this, so I guess that’s not what is interesting to you.
Adding a Raspberry Pi (or another device) as a server, allows you to add access to this server remotely.
It’s like having your own media files inside your Netflix account.

You can browse the interface to see all the default features you get with your new Plex account. I recommend starting with the settings (key icon in the top-right corner), to adjust your preferences (language, stream quality, etc.).

You can also use advanced features, like linking other streaming services (Netflix, Prime, etc.) or use webhooks to link your smart devices to Plex (dim the lights when you start a movie is the example they give).

Stream Local Files in Your Plex Account

So, how do you use your Raspberry Pi to stream local files into your Plex account?
Well, it’s not very complicated, so let’s find out.

The main issue I received while testing this on Raspberry Pi relates to file permissions.
The Plex server runs with the “plex” user, while you’re using a different primary user on your system (like ‘pat’ or whichever one you created on first boot).

If you store all your files under /home, let’s say in a “Movies” subfolder, then Plex won’t have access to them. If you use a USB drive to store your files, you will have the same issue. Raspberry Pi OS will auto-mount the drive, giving access to your username only.

To fix this issue, the first step is to make sure you grant access to both users.
For example, you can create a new folder outside /home, and add permissions for everyone (or at least Plex and your main username):
sudo mkdir /opt/plex_files
sudo chmod 777 /opt/plex_files
This will give everyone all privileges for this folder. This is not the best practice, but in most cases it’s not a big deal, and it’s the easiest way.

Then, move all your media files to this folder. You can do it with the file explorer, or in command line too. For example:
mv /home/<username>/Videos/* /opt/plex_files/

Note: Using a USB drive for your library location is a bit more complex. I recommend reading this tutorial first, to learn how to mount your USB drive and give it the correct permissions.

Once your files are stored in a directory that you and Plex have access to, adding these files in the Plex interface is pretty straightforward:

• Open the Plex web interface.
• In the left menu, click on “More” and hover on your server name.
• Then click the “+” icon to add a new library.
  
• Select the library type, and give a name to this library.
• Then browse or type the files location (/opt/plex_files in my example).
• Click on “Add Library” to complete this step.

It will add a new entry below your server name, with the library you just created. And you’ll get access to the files that you put in the corresponding folder:

What’s nice is that you have now access to these files from everywhere, any device, as soon as you log in to your Plex account. I will show you in the next part how to access your account from any computer, smartphone or tablet.

Note: As of this latest update, Plex has removed remote streaming of your local files for free. It now requires one of their premium plans.

What I do when I’m not at home is connect to my self-hosted VPN server. This lets me access my local IP and watch my media on Plex. Check out our guide to WireGuard if you want to learn how to do this.

Install Plex Player on Other Devices

Once Plex Media Server is installed, your account is created and your local files are added to the interface, you can now use the Plex service from anywhere.

I tested it on my computer and smartphone, and it works really well. Here is how to do the same thing depending on the device you use.

On a PC: Windows / Linux / macOS

From a computer, the easiest way would be to access Plex from your web browser.
Just go to plex.tv and sign in. You won’t need to install an app, and you’ll get direct access to your account, with your Raspberry Pi available in the left menu (click “More>” if it doesn’t show up).

The interface is almost the same as before, so you shouldn’t be lost. I didn’t test it, so I don’t know if it uses the Internet connection when you access it this way. If you have a slow internet connection, it’s probably better to access your Plex server locally. You can do this by browsing to the Raspberry Pi’s local IP address directly instead.

If you want to use an app instead, the Plex player can be installed on your PC.
Go to this page, select your operating system and download the corresponding file from there.

Smartphones and Tablets (Android / iOS)

Plex is also available in your smartphone’s app store. Whether you are using Android or an iPhone, you’ll be able to easily find it. The interface looks similar to all the other formats, with almost the same features. You can even link your local files if you have a Premium pass.

Smart TV and Consoles

Plex is also available on other devices, like smart TVs, game consoles, and VR devices. If you want to use Plex and stream files from your Raspberry Pi on those devices, check their app store, or download the installer from the official website.

You can also use Plex with the Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast or Android TV (which can run on another Raspberry Pi by the way, as explained in this article).

Overall, Plex is an interesting app if you are looking for a useful project to do with your Raspberry Pi. It’s free, and it works well, even with a cheap device like a Raspberry Pi.
LibreElec and OSMC are great tools for local files only, but Plex adds another set of features to that kind of project. I also recommend reading my guide about Jellyfin on the same theme.

Also, I just want to address a special thanks to György Tamás Vizi, who is one of my “True Fans” on Patreon. True fans get nice perks, like access to the website without ads and behind-the-scenes content. It helps me a lot, so thanks for your support!

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