this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2025

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Plex has paywalled my server! (lemmy.giftedmc.com)

submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

259 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I tried testing a movie from my home server in plex through firefox and repeatedly got this message, even after reloading.

I knew that they had paywalled the apps on mobile and streaming from outside the network but now they have also blocked watching your own movies through your own hardware.

I do get the point that making software should be able to sustain people but I dont see the move of plex as a fair thing to do. Yes, they have made great software but taking your home server hostage feels like the wrong move.

Even a pop up that says "we need you to donate please" would have been fine. make it pop up before every movie, play donation ads before any movie but straight up disabling the app is kinda cruel.

Anyway, i have switched to jellyfin and it is insanely good. please give it a try. you can run it alongside plex with not issues (at least i had none) and compare the two.

In any case, good luck. Let me know if you need help.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

As was stated on the first post you made about this, it's a dns or nat reflection issue.

Plex sees you accessing it through your external IP address, and not through your lan IP.

I had a similar problem, and had to roll back some nat changes I made, and now it's working fine again.

Meanwhile, free remote streaming works fine if you have a proper VPN setup. I just tested it, and was able to stream to my phone, through the Plex app, over my tailscale VPN, and I do not have Plex pass on the server or on my phone...

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

I did not make a "first" or "second" post about this. This is it.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Threads like this are why people don't use open source. It sounds like a reality-denying anti-intellectual one-size-fits-all cult in here. This is also like half the threads about Linux. Just armies of tech bros who couldn't put themselves in someone else's shoes if their life literally depended on it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Plex server isn't open source.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

If people choose not to use software that's open source because of the way people talk on some thread.. were they intellectually thinking about their own best interests? It's like no longer enjoying a show because some fans did something cridge - anything popular enough will have weirdos (from someone's perspective).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (3 children)

The way people act while advocating for something does in fact affect the efficacy of their advocacy whether they want to admit it or not.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What about switching to Jellyfin?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

Already done. Thanks for the suggestion though. :)

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Plex has pay walled FREE servers streaming to FREE clients only.

If you have a plex watch pass (for client) you're good and can stream from any server. If you have a plex pass (for server) any one can stream from your server. But you have to have one or the other.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

And I just tested streaming from my free server to my free phone while said server is at my house, and my phone is with me at work.

Works fine over a VPN.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Yep, VPN will allow you to be on the same local network, and they're only pay walling remote play.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago (3 children)

For software I like made by people getting paid, I was happy to pay the one time fee. It's really good, secure, and downloads are fast now.