Herbie Murray
Plex Media Server is smart software that allows users to play movies, TV shows, and other media on their computers. While some users have reported that Plex used to work for them when their computers were in sleep mode, others have encountered issues with Plex not functioning properly when their devices are sleeping. This inconsistency in behavior may be due to various factors, such as the specific hardware and software configurations of the computers running Plex. To ensure uninterrupted access to Plex and its content, it is recommended to keep the computer running. However, some workarounds, like Wake-on-LAN (WoL) and scheduled tasks, can be explored to manage Plex functionality with sleep modes.
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What You'll Learn
Plex server won't work if the computer goes to sleep
Plex Media Server is smart software that makes playing movies, TV shows, and other media on your computer simple. However, the Plex server won't work if the computer goes to sleep. Several users have reported that their Plex server used to run while the computer was in sleep mode, but it suddenly stopped working when the computer was put to sleep.
One possible solution to this issue is to use Wake-on-LAN (WoL) to wake up the Plex server from sleep mode. WoL is a feature that allows a computer to be turned on or woken up from sleep mode by sending a special network packet called a "magic packet" to the sleeping computer's network adapter. However, Plex does not support WoL functions, and there is no way for the Plex brokering servers to tunnel into your network to send a WoL packet if the Plex server is sleeping.
Another solution is to set up a scheduled task to turn on the Plex server at a specific time. This can be done using the Task Scheduler in Windows or similar tools on other operating systems. For example, you can set the task scheduler to shut down the computer at 12:30 AM and use BIOS to wake it up at 7:00 AM. Alternatively, you can use an app on your phone to wake up the Plex server when you want to use it.
It's worth noting that some users have reported that their Plex server works fine while the computer is in sleep mode, while others have experienced issues. It may depend on various factors, such as the specific hardware and software configuration of the computer running the Plex server.
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Plex Media Server is resource-intensive
Plex Media Server is smart software that makes playing movies, TV shows, and other media on your computer simple. However, it is also very resource-intensive. One user reports that their CCleaner recommends putting it into sleep mode when they are using their PC, but when they do this, they can no longer access Plex on their TV.
There are several ways to work around this issue. One user suggests using the Task Scheduler that is built into Windows to automatically launch Plex at a certain time every day. Another user recommends using NSSM to turn Plex into a service, so that you don't have to log in every morning.
If you want to be able to wake up your Plex server from sleep mode, you can use Wake On LAN (WoL). This can be done with an app on your phone, or by setting up a DDWRT router to run a script that looks for a ping to the server to run the WoL handshake. However, Plex does not support WoL functions, and there is no way for them to tunnel into your network to fire off a WoL packet if the Plex server is sleeping. Additionally, WoL will not work if the device providing the tunnel is also sleeping.
One user reports that they have given up on trying to get their Plex server to sleep and wake up, as their server draws so little power with the hard drives shut down that it's not worth the effort.
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Plex doesn't support Wake-on-LAN (WoL) functions
Plex Media Server is a resource-intensive application. When a computer goes into sleep mode, the Plex Media Server may become inaccessible. To resolve this, you can set up Plex to allow Wake-on-LAN (WoL) to remotely wake your PC. However, Plex does not support WoL functions.
WoL has been a historically unreliable technology. It can malfunction due to poor support or configuration issues with the router, NIC, BIOS, or OS. It is also challenging to troubleshoot. Sleeping a server is also notoriously buggy, and some services may crash after the machine wakes up because they cannot access something that didn't start up as expected.
To enable WoL for Plex, you can use a NAS device that supports WoL or follow guides available online. These guides suggest using port 32400, the port that Plex uses, and sending a "magic packet" to wake the server. However, some users have reported issues with changing the port number for Plex, which breaks remote access.
Additionally, some users have suggested using a dd-wrt flashed router or another always-on device to get WoL to work remotely. Another solution is to use a cron job to wake and put the machine to sleep at specific times. While these workarounds may help, they are not officially supported by Plex, and users may encounter issues or require additional troubleshooting.
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Plex server can be set to turn on at a pre-set time
Plex Media Server can be set to turn on at a pre-set time using the Task Scheduler that is built into Windows. This can be accessed under Settings > Server > Scheduled Tasks in the Plex Web App. Here, you can create automated tasks to run at specific times, such as starting and stopping the Plex Media Server.
For example, if you want Plex to automatically launch at 5 PM every day, you can create a scheduled task to start the PlexMediaServer.exe file at that time. This can be found in C:\Program Files (x86)\plex\plex media server. By storing the commands to stop and start Plex in .bat files, you can create scheduled tasks to run them at your desired times.
Additionally, Plex has numerous maintenance tasks that are performed via Scheduled Tasks, which you can also customise. By default, these tasks start at 3 AM and end at 6 AM, occurring every three days or every week. These include creating a backup of your core SQL database file, which can help protect against corruption.
Overall, by utilising the Task Scheduler and Scheduled Tasks features, you can set the Plex Media Server to turn on and off at pre-set times, customising it to your daily routine and preferences.
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Plex server can be accessed remotely
Plex Media Server is smart software that makes playing movies, TV shows, and other media on your computer simple. The Plex Media Server will attempt to set up Remote Access for you unless it is disabled. If Remote Access is currently disabled, you can use the “Enable Remote Access” button to trigger your server to try to configure a connection.
To set up a Plex Media Server and access it remotely, you can follow these steps:
- Install the Plex media server.
- Visit its web interface by opening your internet browser and navigating to localhost:32400/web/.
- Select your preferred login method and log in to your Plex account.
- Choose your preferences for activity sharing and click Finish.
- On the "How Plex Works" page, click "Got it!".
- Enter a name for your Plex media server and click Next.
- Remove any pre-configured media libraries by clicking the "X" button next to them and then click Next.
- Select Done.
- Open your Plex media server web interface to import your media content.
You can also access your Plex Media Server remotely by using a VPN. This allows you to access your home network as if you were at home, no matter where you are. Additionally, if you are manually forwarding a port, ensure that you know the external port number you are forwarding. You will need to forward the external port to the internal port 32400 for the internal IP address of the device running the Plex Media Server.
It is important to note that if your computer is in sleep mode, you may not be able to access Plex on other devices. A simple solution is to schedule Plex to automatically launch at a specific time each day.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Plex Server will not work if your computer goes to sleep. However, you can use Wake On LAN (WoL) to wake up your computer from sleep mode.
WoL is a feature that allows a computer to be turned on or woken up from sleep mode by a network message.
To set up WoL, you will need to enable it in your computer's BIOS and network adapter properties. You may also need to install a WoL app on your phone.
Yes, you can use the Task Scheduler in Windows to automatically turn on Plex Server at a specific time.
