Heres Plexs support page that discusses the minimum requirements; its a good place to start. From the navigation sidebar, youll be able to choose which source to view, if you have access to more than one. He's been writing technology explainers and how-tos since 2020, but he's tinkering with computers and other tech since childhood. Create, organize, and store your collections. A window will pop up with space to edit the title and other info. Intel CPUs Might Give up the i After 14 Years, Windows 11 Has More Widgets Improvements on the Way, WordTsar Is Reviving the 80s WordStar Writing Experience, 2023 LifeSavvy Media. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. For each Plex user you invite, you can choose which server (if you have more than one) and which libraries (movies, TV, etc.) Every client device possesses different capabilities, which means each Plex client also possesses different capabilities. Camera upload: Wirelessly sync the photos you take on your mobile device to Plex so that theyre a snap to view on all of your Plex clients. The server will remember where you left off in a track. The default Scanner is automatically selected when you create the library but you can change it if necessary. Here's how to get remote access working across your Plex-powered hardware. You can also manually specify a public port if you need to enable port forwarding. It will also pull in results from your own personal media library, Plex's AVOD library, trailers, theatrical releases, and more. Setting up an iPad for our daughter and I'd like to pin a few of the movies she always likes to the home screen rather than having her search. Tim Brookes is a technology writer with more than a decade of experience. The universal watchlist is a helpful tool as well, eliminating the need for you to keep separate lists on each of your services you can keep them in one place. Fortunately,Plex has a bounty of client applications available for most modern systems. That means you will have to set up each Kodi device as though it were the first time. As you browse the music on your server, Plex automatically finds matches from Tidal to show you tracks or albums you might be missing and related artists and genres. Best of all, your Plex library can also be shared with other Plex users, making it an ideal way to give friends and family members access to your media without having to upload all of it to a third-party cloud service like Google Drive or iCloud. Theyre both a great way of putting an old computer youre no longer using to good use. Plex pulls multiple versions of each that you can choose from, or you can upload your own if you don't like any of them. Best. Thank you for helping us improve our articles. If you want to have one collection of movies you share, and another you don't, give them separate folders. The most common way to fix library mistakes is to rename your files. mlbarratt. If youre not a fan of maintaining a highly connected, centrally managed media library that clients stream from, then Kodi is for you. Click on the Settings icon in top-right corner of the Plex web interface. If you only plan to watch one video at a time and youre not planning to share your Plex library with other users, an inexpensive NAS or a Shield TV might do the trick. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Plex allows you to add a single library to multiple folders, a handy way to add movies across several hard drives. Once thats done, tell your friends and family to create a free Plex account(s) and then tell you the email they used to create it. Downloads for Windows, macOS, Linux Desktop, Direct Play, Direct Stream, Transcoding Overview, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information / Opt-out of Targeted Advertising. Most users wont need to alter the Advanced options, but theyre available when necessary. Plex is a media server solution that is hosted on a single machine, somewhere on your local network. However, since this feature is still in beta, it might not be available on your device yet. Just like Plex, Kodi can scrape the web and build a detailed library of content including cover images, descriptions, ratings, and more. However the moment your needs become more demanding, youre probably going to want to run your server on a desktop or laptop. One of the most powerful features of Plex is the ability to configure the Plex server for remote access. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. For questions and comments about the Plex Media Server. Web shows are video episodes of varying lengths created by publishers like GQ, Popular Science, and others. The clients are typically free, but occasionally, Plex charges a small amount to download them. The Poster tab here will let you pick which thumbnail and background image you'd like to use. Step 3: Then, configure your Plex Media Server to respond to those remote access requests. Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks. You can also do things like share your library or watch content with other people over the internet. Gather data from Last.fm about which tracks for particular artists are most popular. Maybe you move it toward the bottom of the sidebar. Settings to control actual playback are available in the Plex apps themselves. This will adjust the playback for all users in the Watch Together session. Using theentry you can pin new items to appear in the main navigation sidebar area (By default, new items will be placed at the end of the list). To create a library, launch the Plex Web App then: Tip! The default Agent is automatically selected when you create the library but you can change it by clicking the dropdown and selecting the one you want. But not everyone wants to keep a powerful PC running continuously. As weve mentioned, there is a Plex client for just about every device on the market. https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-organize-your-plex-media-library. When you find a movie or TV show that you want to stream, just select one of your streaming services from the list under Watch from these locations. Plex can recognize a variety of filenames to identify what movie or show a file is, but the closer you adhere to its preferred naming conventions, the better. But since they come from third parties, you can end up with spoilers in your descriptions. (Plex Pass required), When a red band trailer is available, use that when adding a trailer to your library. Your recording capacity is limited only by the hard drive space on your Plex server, and all of your recorded shows will be presented with the same easy-to-use interface as the rest of your library. Tip! If you want to ease the burden on your server even more, you can do some of that work ahead of time by making use of Plex's Media Optimizer(Opens in a new window). Update Your Plex Media Server: It's easy to fall behind on Plex updates and bug fixes. How do I play Plex files on my TV or other devices? Movies that consist of only a single file can all be in the same folder, but TV shows, or any movie that comes with extra datalike posters or subtitlesshould be given their own subfolders. Use Code EEROINSTALL, The best streaming services to replace your cable, the best streaming devices for any budget, Disney Plus Day Announced with Special Deals and New IMAX Mode, YouTube TV Now Supports 4K, Offline Downloads, and More, Low-Cost Ways To Save Money on Your Electricity Bills, How to Make Your Ring Video Doorbell Battery Last Longer, The Best Free Apps for Your Fire TV Stick. If you are considering installing Kodi, we recommend looking over our Kodi explainer to learn how to safeguard against cyberattacks or any other potential problem that might occur with third-party add-ons. I can add this library to the home screen using the Plex app for TVos but I greatly prefer Infuse, but cannot seem to add this folder to the favorites list. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. When Plex scans your library, it uses specific naming conventions to look up data about your movies. There are two ways to go about this and both can be found in the Plex web app's settings section under Remote Access: With these limits in place, you should be able to keep your server from overly taxing your home internet. and our PCMag supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownerships. In the Plex web app, hover over an item in your library and click the pencil Edit icon. Determine whether or not the Cinema Trailers feature will be available and active for this library. mgithens1 . When you stream a movie from your computer at home to your phone, it eats up data. Plex says the new Discover section and other features will be available on Roku, Apple TV+, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, iOS and Android mobile devices, smart TVs, game consoles, and at www.plex.tv. Naming schemes depend on what type of media you're naming. When available, it can be displayed on the artists page. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. All Rights Reserved. Fortunately, Plex also gives you the tools you need to dive into your library and clean it up. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Read More: The best streaming services to replace your cable. It's worth diving into Plex's documentation for both movie files(Opens in a new window) and TV shows(Opens in a new window) for some of the more nuanced exceptions, such as if a movie is split across multiple files, or for handling TV shows with standalone specials, like Doctor Who. Many popular NAS devices, such as QNAP, Synology, Netgear, Drobo, and. The critical difference is that it goes about the actions differently. Edit them out. There is no way for you to synchronize settings from one device to another easily. This means you can watch your locally stored movies, music, and everything in between directly on your Roku just like you watch movies on Netflix without using any connecting cables. To vote if this article was helpful, please sign in with your plex account. That sounds great, but transcoding isn't without its downsides. Since Kodi must be installed on a device thats plugged directly into your TV, youll be able to use this device for different things. Depending on the file type youre playing and the formats supported by your client, this can take a lot of power on the servers side. Step 6: If they dont look quite right at first, wait a few minutes, as it can take time for Plex to find all of the relevant info. Upcoming concert information can be gathered from Last.fm. Step 5: Put your movie files in a folder and back to Plex. Step 5: To quickly check that everything is as it should be, click the Home button in the web app interface. Cinema Trailers, Extras, & Related Albums, Direct Play, Direct Stream, Transcoding Overview, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information / Opt-out of Targeted Advertising, Ensure that the correct Plex Media Server is selected within the settings menu, Select Libraries under the Manage section of the settings menu, Choose the library type from the selection, Name the library and choose the language to use for information gathered from the internet. This means you only need to run a single server somewhere on your network, even on a computer you already use that lives in your study or is completely hidden from view like a NAS device. A sufficiently fast Wi-Fi network (routers and devices that support 802.11ac are best) can work too, but youll need excellent signal strength to support streaming in 4K/HDR. Plex is software that you can use to store, locate, and access all of your media in one place. If you do the above correctly, scanning your media with Plex should automatically result in a well-organized library of accurate metadata. Though Plex is free to download, some features require Plex Pass or a one-time fee. Plex Arcade costs $5 per month, but Plex Pass subscribers get a $2 discount, bringing the price down to $3 per month. Choose the library type from the selection. You can also record live TV using Kodis PVR abilities. Related Page: Video Preview Thumbnails. Follow him on Twitter or Instagram. Kodi is an endpoint for your media that needs to run on a device thats connected directly to your main TV (or projector). Step 1: Simply download the appropriate installer and follow the instructions. Podcasts are the same idea, but for audio-only. To vote if this article was helpful, please sign in with your plex account. You can find all the movies and shows saved in your Watchlist by navigating to the Plex home page and selecting Watchlist at the top of the screen. 2015 Shield TV, 2015 Shield TV Pro, and 2019 Shield TV Pro but not the 2019 Shield TV. It might sound tedious, but it's a habit that will pay off in the long run. But an even bigger benefit for music fans is the way Plex integrates Tidal with your personal music library. Before you start streamingor sharing your library with otherstake a moment to refine your collection. When you try to stream from a remote device, if you can't make a direct connection to your computer (because you're routing traffic through a VPN), Relay will do as it says on the tin and relay the stream to your device. To add a movie or TV show to your Watchlist, select a magnifying glass icon in the top-left corner of Plex and search for it. Plex has much more detailed step-by-step instructions on this process here(Opens in a new window). By default, items in your sidebar will be arranged with sources from your preferred server listed first, followed by other sources located in the More section. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Click this and a small window will pop up with boxes you can edit. Once the wizard has completed, we can move on to the . If you cant access the new Plex features, check out our list of the best streaming devices for any budget. You can plug the gap with DLNA/UPnP streaming on older devices or use the Plex web interface, but the server arguably works best if your client has a dedicated app available. Plex Arcade will initially feature a 30-game selection of Atari's library of 2600 and 7800 console games, including titles like Centipede, Missile Command, Lunar Lander, Food Fight, and Gravitar. Highlight a Row Using Conditional Formatting, Hide or Password Protect a Folder in Windows, Access Your Router If You Forget the Password, Access Your Linux Partitions From Windows, How to Connect to Localhost Within a Docker Container, How to Run Your Own DNS Server on Your Local Network. If disabled you can only search the library when in the libraries screens. The Plex server uses a process called transcoding to make all of your media playable on any device. Our mobile apps allow you to easily modify what appears on your Home screen, which sources of media are available, and how to arrange the available sources. You've already provided feedback for this article, thank you. There is also a huge library of community-maintained add-ons that add all sorts of features, from online streaming services to music visualizations and beyond. The recently-added Discover section in Plex shows you the new and trending content from all your streaming services, like Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and more. Once selected, you will enter the Lobby and see all the friends who have joined and whose status is Ready. Privacy Policy. IPS vs VA vs TN: What Type of Computer Monitor Should You Get. Thank you for helping us improve our articles. This way, you can search for something to watch without switching back and forth between different apps. seinman 5 mo. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. {{navSearchSanitizedItem( item, 'title' )}}. Your media is stored on and streamed to devices you control, and traffic is encrypted along the way. PCMag supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownerships. Note: Recently, Plex had a data breach. If you already know what you want to watch, the Plex Universal Search feature will now show you which streaming services have the content youre looking for. Note: The Scanner and Agent settings are not available when using a Premium type music library. Under Settings, click "Remote Access." If you see a check mark, remote access is enabled. And if that isn't enough, Plex also operates its own ad-supported, free streaming video service known as Plex Free Movies and TV, which can be accessed alongside your personal media, as well as live TV and DVR features you can access with the Plex Pass subscription. For more information, please see our Step 3: You can store your movies, music, and other files anywhere you like, in as many different folders or hard drives (both locally or on network shares) and Plex will keep everything organized. Select the icon associated with the type of content you want to add. Looks like you already left that comment. However, it doesn't always get it right. To play a file, simply mouse over the thumbnail and click the Play button. I found the option to edit the home screen, but when I "pin" my library, it just shows "added recently", instead of the whole library. Both Plex and Kodi are available to download and try out for free. The individual files should then be named with the show name, plus SXXEYY, where "XX" is the season number and "YY" is the episode number. Step 2: The web app is your main way of configuring the Plex server, but it also doubles as a way to look at your library and play your files on your computer. Theres no harm in trying both to see which suits your usage best. So it shouldn't be possible for anyone to snoop on what you're doing unless they gain access to your devices. Both are compatible with a huge range of devices, and both are capable ofmaximizing compatibility via DLNA/UPnP streaming. You candownload and install Plex Media Serveron a large number of devices, including desktop computers (Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD) andnetwork-attached storage drives. But if youre a Plex Media Server user, you can access it through the same interface as your private library of content theres no separate app to download or install. If you have a huge library of TV shows and movies. Plex provides numerous perks and minimal restrictions to help you manage and centralize your media library. These can be locally attached internal or external drives or network locations like Windows SMB shares and NASdevices. We select and review products independently. If you want to set up a personal media server to house all your files, there are a few more steps. Then choose your subscriptions and select Done or Save Changes if it appears at the end. The Plex Media Server is smart software that makes playing Movies, TV Shows and other media on your computer simple. Use the original titles for all items, regardless of the library language. How to show my library directly on the Home (front) screen. The library type in Plex is listed as 'Other Videos' since Plex won't recognize it as a TV Shows folder. Without a Plex Pass, all server transcoding is handled by the Plex software, but this option lets you use your PCs additional hardware power to assist in that task, making it much smoother. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The options available will vary depending on the type of library you selected. The simplest solution is an automatic feature known as Relay(Opens in a new window). To choose which source you wish to view/access, you simply choose from the navigation sidebar if the item has been pinned to your sidebar (if the source has not been pinned, it can be found by selecting More from the sidebar). For example, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End would be sorted before Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest despite coming after it in the series. If you have a lot of files, renaming them doesnt have to be a manual process: macOS has a great, built-in file-renaming function, as does Windows 10. Youll find a constantly changing lineup of movies and shows to watch. While it once seemed like a gimmick, co-watching content online is now a much-in-demand activity. Its next to the compass icon. In the "Add Library" window, select "Movies" and click "NEXT". Maybe you only want movie and TV content pinned on one device, but on a different device, youd prefer quick access to music and the free TV streaming Plex provides. Head to the official Plex website and download the version you want. : While these settings are exposed for the library, the selected values will take effect for all libraries using that agent. Bear in mind that these solutions are not guaranteed to work. Step 4: The Plex Media Server will automatically scan all of the directories you identified during the setup process, and you can choose how often it scans those locations for changes. Poster/Background: There are two images that will show up in your librarythe poster for the movie/episode, and a background image that will appear in some apps. You can sign up for a free account, or just use a guest account and start streaming now. In the settings for your Plex Media Server, you can choose which particular rows related to that library will appear on a home screen. Hosting a Plex server can be taxing on your internet service. To change the Scanner, click the dropdown and select the one you want to use. If you'd rather stream from a single local server to numerous local or remote devices, Plex is the better choice. The first option on this page . What Is a PEM File and How Do You Use It? Your subscription has been confirmed. Do you subscribe to a number of streaming services? Previously known as Xbox Media Center and later XBMC, Kodi places great emphasis on making its UI fluid and presenting your media in a slick and functional way. If a librarys language is set to French, for example, the French plot summary, etc., will be downloaded when available. Plex is focused tightly on the media experience and includes a library of movies and TV shows that are ready to stream. If you have an existing account but haven't logged in recently, when you next log in, you will be required to update your password. Since Kodi is a self-contained solution, youll need to put in a bit of extra work to sync your library across different instances. There are two images that will show up in your librarythe poster for the movie/episode, and a background image that will appear in some apps. Best shows on Netflix Click, Next, add the folders with the media files. On top of this, Plex comes with content thats completely free to access. However, this can take up a lot of processing power. Free access to Plex client apps: Never pay for another client app again. Once youve selected the library type, youll be able to change the name and language. If you have a Tidal subscription, you can add it to Plex. Each library has a language that controls the information gathered from the internet. If youd like to be able to access your library away from your home network, Plex makes it easy to do so. However, theres one small catch: Plex has a preference for how different file types are named. Lastly, Kodi is completely free and open source. Sign up for Tips & Tricks newsletter for expert advice to get the most out of your technology. If your server machine isnt powerful enough to handle this conversion process, you may be told that the movie cannot be played. Youll first need to set some general information for the library. Plex will automatically pull this information into your library, making it easy to browse titles without leaving the app. Step 3: A Watch Together session will now appear on the top of your app's home screen. Continue through the prompts as Plex asks you how to customize your home screen. As in, all artists showing. Thank you for helping us improve our articles! Related Page: Cinema Trailers, Extras, & Related Albums. After you have done that, press the Add Library button and select Movies and press Next. The recently-added Discover section in Plex shows you the new and trending content from all your streaming services, like Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and more. This information comes from a variety of sources including IMDb, The Movie Database, The Internet Video Archive, and even Wikipedia. Thats where the ability to customize things comes in. Note, this will create a separate video file that will exist on your server. When that happens, there are things you can do to make sure your library looks clean. Installing the server software on a PC or NAS can turn your home or office into a connected hub that can stream all kinds of. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. For example: Including the full name of the movie and the year it was released will help ensure that when Plex scans your library, every movie gets its proper metadata. Plex allows you to access all your streaming services with Plex Discover. Heres everything you need to know about how to use Plex. Navigate to /mnt/unionfs/Media/Movies, and then click the "ADD" button. Within that screen, you can add additional users for the people who live with you, as well as giving access to friends via the Shared Libraries option. How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files, How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac, What to Do When Your Apple TV Remote Stops Working, 20 Things You Didn't Know Your Google Chromecast Could Do, The Best Media Streaming Devices for 2023, Cast Away: How to Connect Your Android Phone to Your TV, How to Prepare Your Digital Life for Your Death, YouTube Music or Google Play Music? Step 2: Next, configure your router to send remote access requests to the machine on your network that hosts your Plex Media Server. He watches way too many movies and definitely has one to recommend that you haven't seen. It can also augment your collection of movies, TV shows, and music with a huge amount of related content from sources around the web, like movie posters and album art, details on cast and crew members, episode descriptions, original air dates, and much more. Step 3: Select Libraries under the Manage section. : Customizations are associated with the particular browser instance. Episode titles are metadata that Plex can pull from various sources. Select the folders where your content is located. If you skip this screen, you can also add them later by going to Settings > Streaming Services on any device. Kodis interface is beautiful and functional out of the box, but its also highly customizable with downloadable skins. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. These allow you to access your Plex library and browse information about what youre watching (like movie descriptions and ratings) using the signature Plex UI. You will generally find the one for your specific device in the online download store for that platform. By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Hardware-accelerated streaming: This is a big one for those who want the best transcoding performance. You should see your movies, music, and any other media you added during setup beginning to populate, along with their respective poster or album art. The best thing you can do to make sure your Plex library looks good is to name and organize your files in a way that Plex likes.