Miya Pearson
Plex is smart software that makes playing movies, TV shows, and other media on your computer simple. However, it has been observed that the Plex server does not work if the computer goes to sleep. This issue has been faced by many users, and there are a few suggested workarounds, such as turning off the sleep mode function or using a Wake-on-LAN (WoL) app to wake up the computer when needed.
Can Plex Work if My Computer is Asleep?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plex Server Functionality While Computer is Asleep | Plex server won't work if the computer goes to sleep. However, some users have reported that it worked for them until it suddenly stopped. |
| Workarounds | Users can keep their computers running 24/7 or turn off sleep mode. Alternatively, a Wake-on-LAN (WoL) app can be installed on a phone to wake up the computer when needed. |
| Plex Media Server Access | If accessing content remotely, the server must be connected to the internet and signed in to Plex. |
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What You'll Learn
Plex server won't work if the computer goes to sleep
Plex is smart software that makes playing movies, TV shows, and other media on your computer simple. However, the Plex server will not work if the computer goes to sleep. Several users have reported that their Plex server used to work even when the computer went to sleep, but it has recently stopped working in sleep mode.
One possible solution to this issue is to set up a Wake On Lan (WoL) function. However, Plex does not support WoL functions, and there is no way for the Plex brokering servers to tunnel into your network to fire off a WoL packet if the Plex server is sleeping. As a workaround, you can use a Wake-on-LAN app on your phone to wake up your computer whenever you need to use Plex. Alternatively, you can set your computer to never sleep in the Windows power settings. If power/cost savings are important to you, you may want to consider running a NAS instead of your computer 24/7, as it will consume less power.
Another solution is to use NSSM to turn Plex into a service, so you don't have to log in every morning to get Plex to run. Additionally, you can set your screensaver to blacken or dim to prevent the computer from going to sleep. You can also adjust the settings to tell the PC not to sleep while the Plex Server app is running.
Please note that if you are trying to access your content remotely, such as using your phone when you are not at home, the server will need to be connected to the internet and successfully signed in and connected to Plex.
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Plex used to work during sleep mode but recently stopped
Plex is a smart software that makes playing movies, TV shows, and other media on your computer simple. It is important to note that the computer or device with the Plex server needs to be powered on and the server needs to be running for Plex to work.
Several users have reported that Plex used to work for them while their computer was in sleep mode, but it has recently stopped working in this mode. This issue seems to be related to updates in the Plex Media Server (PMS) software. Before the update, PMS used to prevent sleep mode only during playback. However, after the update, PMS prevents sleep mode even when there is no playback. This issue has been observed on Windows 10 devices, where the Plex Media Server does not allow the computer to enter sleep mode.
One possible solution to this issue is to override the Plex request to prevent sleep mode using the command "powercfg /requestsoverride process plexme~1.exe system" executed from an elevated command prompt. This command allows the computer to sleep when there is no playback and wakes up the computer when a Plex client is opened. Another workaround suggested by a user is to install a Wake on LAN (WoL) app on their phone and use it to wake up the computer whenever they need to use Plex. However, it is important to note that Plex does not officially support WoL functions, and there is no guarantee that this workaround will always work.
If you are unable to get Plex to work while your computer is in sleep mode, you may need to consider alternative solutions. One option is to turn off the sleep mode function on your PC, allowing it to run 24/7. While this may not be ideal in terms of power consumption, it ensures that Plex is always accessible. Alternatively, you can use a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device to run Plex, which consumes less power than a typical desktop computer.
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Plex server won't work if the device with the server is sleeping
Plex is smart software that makes playing movies, TV shows, and other media on your computer simple. However, the Plex server will not work if the device with the server is sleeping. This means that the device with the Plex server needs to be powered on and running for the Plex server to function.
Some users have reported that their Plex server used to run while their computer was in sleep mode but has recently stopped working when the computer is in sleep mode. It is important to note that Plex does not support Wake-on-LAN (WoL) functions, and there is no way for the Plex brokering servers to tunnel into your network to fire off a WoL packet if the device with the Plex server is sleeping.
To ensure that your Plex server is always running, you can turn off the sleep mode function on your device. Alternatively, you can set up a Wake-on-LAN (WoL) app on your phone to ping your computer and wake it up when you need to access your Plex server.
Additionally, if you are trying to access your content remotely, such as using your phone when you are not at home, the Plex server will need to be connected to the internet and successfully signed in to your Plex account.
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The computer with the server must be powered on and connected to the internet
Plex is a smart software that makes playing movies, TV shows, and other media on your computer simple. However, for the Plex Media Server to work, the computer with the server must be powered on and connected to the internet.
If you are trying to access your content remotely, such as using your phone when you are not at home, the server will need to be connected to the internet and successfully signed in and connected to Plex. This means that the computer or device with your server needs to be powered on, and the server needs to be running.
Some people prefer not to have their computers running at full blast 24/7, which is understandable, especially considering the potential electricity costs. However, this means that you will not be able to run your Plex server 24/7.
There are some workarounds to this issue. For example, you can turn off the sleep mode function so that your PC is on 24/7. Alternatively, you can use a Wake-on-LAN (WoL) app to wake up your computer when you need to access your Plex server. However, Plex does not support WoL functions, and there is no way for Plex brokering servers to tunnel into your network to fire off a WoL packet if the device that provides the tunnel (the Plex server) is sleeping.
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Alternatives to having the computer running 24/7
Plex Media Server requires the computer to be powered on and running. However, there are alternatives to having your computer running 24/7 to use Plex. Here are some options:
Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device:
Running Plex Media Server on a NAS device is a popular choice as it combines storage and server capabilities in one device. However, most consumer NAS devices have less powerful CPUs, which may not be suitable for transcoding content. Before choosing a NAS device, ensure it meets your specific usage requirements. While some NAS devices can be costly, they are more energy-efficient than a typical desktop.
Dedicated Computer or Server:
You can choose to run Plex Media Server on a dedicated computer or server, ensuring it remains powered on. This option provides flexibility in choosing your operating system and computer components. It is recommended to install all "critical" updates and service packs for your chosen operating system. Keep in mind that your computer's CPU needs to be powerful enough to handle transcoding, especially if multiple people will access content simultaneously.
Wake-on-LAN (WoL):
Although Plex does not support WoL functions, you can use a Wake-on-LAN app on your phone to remotely wake up your computer when needed. This way, you don't have to keep your computer running 24/7, but you will need to log in each time you want to use Plex.
Scheduled Power Management:
If you're comfortable with your computer running during specific times, you can use task scheduler tools to automatically shut down and wake up your computer at certain times. This way, you can save power while ensuring Plex is accessible during your preferred usage hours.
Alternative Media Servers:
If keeping your computer running 24/7 is not feasible or desirable, you can explore alternative media server software or services that may offer features similar to Plex. These options may provide different ways to manage power and sleep modes while still accessing your media content.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Plex will not work if your computer goes to sleep. The computer with your server needs to be powered on and the server needs to be running.
Yes, you can turn off the sleep mode function on your computer. However, this means that your computer will be on 24/7, which may not be desirable for some users due to power consumption and cost concerns.
Yes, one alternative is to use a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device, which typically consumes less power than a desktop computer.
If you want to access your Plex content remotely (e.g., using your phone when you're not at home), your server will need to be connected to the internet and successfully signed in and connected to Plex.
