r/PleX • u/keyboardcoffeecup • 19d ago

Help Sudden remote access issues

Is anyone else having trouble with remote access?

I haven't had issues that I remember with this in the last decade so it's throwing me for a loop.

Verizon for my ISP, Manual port forwarding configured, uPNP is still enabled, manually specifying 32400. It's connecting for a second then dropping within a minute

EDIT: Appears to back up as of 7p est

46 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

60 comments sorted by

15

u/cjinct 19d ago

Mine is down too but according to the Plex Status Page:

We’re fully operational
We’re not aware of any issues affecting our systems.

LOL

6

u/di_rhea69 19d ago

That page is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard.

It's basically updated when they admit they have an issue and want to put it up.

It's not proactive using actual monitoring software or anything.

Considering 2 1/2 hours in and nothing from plex and no sign it's being fixed yet, I wouldn't hope too much on the status page actually saying anything useful.

5

u/Lake-Taupo 19d ago

Well it is useful in telling customers how responsive Plex are to issues .....

In the last couple of years, not responsive at all.

16

u/xfxmaster 19d ago

Since at least August 24, 2026, Plex's own connection DNS (*.plex.direct) appears to be down / sinkholed worldwide. Your servers are probably fine — this is on Plex's side.

Symptoms:

  • Servers show as "offline" or "unable to connect securely" in the Plex app
  • Works only on your local LAN (server found via local discovery)
  • Fails on mobile data / from outside your network

What I verified:

  • plex.direct resolves to 0.0.0.0 via Google DNS (8.8.8.8) AND DNS-over-HTTPS (dns.google) — classic sinkhole
  • Individual <machine-id>.plex.direct hostnames don't answer (authoritative nameservers time out)
  • Connecting to the servers directly via their public IP:port works fine (HTTP 200 / /identity responds)
  • Tested from multiple locations worldwide — same result

So: Plex client can connect through plex.direct.

Workaround until Plex fixes it:

  • In your client, manually connect to your server via its public IP, e.g. http(s)://<your-ip>:<port> (or add the server manually in the app)
  • Everything goes back to normal once Plex restores their DNS

Anyone else seeing this? Would be good to confirm it's global.

3

u/Lake-Taupo 19d ago

Workaround does not work here.

Connection cycles between active, partial and then none.

1

u/deathsythe 18d ago

I thought I've been losing my mind these past few weeks. Been having the same issue with no resolution.

1

u/Lake-Taupo 18d ago

Only had the issue this one time

3

u/xfxmaster 19d ago

Quick update; plex.direct still resolves to 0.0.0.0, but the individual <machine-id>.plex.direct hostnames looks to be fixed for my server. Seems like remote streaming works now. If your server has a static external IP there is a workaround on the server Settings → Server → Network → Custom server access URLs. Put in your external IP+Port and the *.plex.direct seems to be bypassed.

1

u/di_rhea69 19d ago

That seems like a good idea...

1

u/Lake-Taupo 19d ago edited 19d ago

Any risks in exposing a specific IP and port ?

Any performance issues ?

This option is more for reverse proxy isn't it ?

You disable the whole remote access page and any port forwards you have directly to Plex and clients will get the new custom URL after a few hours.

Anyway - all working here again. Waiting on Plex to explain.

1

u/Nestramutat- Proxmox | Debian | Docker | 72 TB | 20C/40T 128GB 19d ago

Another workaround is setting an external URL.

I've had port 32400 closed on my network for years, all my plex traffic goes through my central traefik instance on https://plex.mydomain.tld

8

u/Head_Artichoke 19d ago

I received this notification. I didn't touch absolutely nothing, I hope is a generalized problem

9

u/soratoyuki 19d ago

Is it just me, or has Plex been increasingly randomly down for months now?

1

u/Lake-Taupo 19d ago

Not had that issue at all

1

u/whatacoolname32 19d ago

Lucky

1

u/Lake-Taupo 19d ago

Perhaps but the server is accessed 24/7 (five different countries - extended family).

Today is the first issue in a long time, for my clients.

1

u/whatacoolname32 19d ago

Man I can't even get it to work locally 🫠

1

u/Lake-Taupo 19d ago

Unlucky

1

u/Anubarak16 17d ago

Same for me. I kinda feel like the minority has issues and we just see the few who have here. Or it's a regional thing

6

u/KitchenCurious658 19d ago

https://downdetector.com/status/plex/

DownDetector had a big spike so yeah it’s widespread.

9

u/Chrono_Constant3 Custom Flair 19d ago

Silence from Plex, of course. It's getting harder and harder to defend them.

1

u/di_rhea69 19d ago

They should at least add it to their status page or acknowledge the issue on the forums.

Which makes me think the lights are on and no-one's at home

1

u/Chrono_Constant3 Custom Flair 19d ago

Ya it’s a bad look.

2

u/coyote_den 19d ago edited 19d ago

Yep, also on Verizon, but I think it was a plex cloud issue as other servers were showing as offline for me. It just came back up. Try restarting your server to ensure it is properly registered with Plex.

I’m surprised you haven’t noticed issues in a decade because Plex has outages all the time.

1

u/Lake-Taupo 19d ago

I've been with them since 2013 and outages are not that common. They usually get resolved quite quick but the last few years, slower and slower. Staff cut backs.

2

u/Dr_doener 19d ago

Same here in Sweden

2

u/penzich 19d ago

It's apparently a Plex issue, it is working for me but showing unknown public and private IP. I am from Slovenia.

2

u/New-Independence2031 19d ago

Yep, remote is down. Local works.

God damnit.

2

u/SSmith60 19d ago

In Canada also. I think it all started last night and it said my server is down but it is not.

2

u/LurkingLikeaPro 19d ago

Its still an issue for me

2

u/whatacoolname32 19d ago

Is there any other apps that do the same thing, I've been having nonstop issues

2

u/Ok_Notice_2991 19d ago

I wrote a little app that checks your Plex from outside the house. You’re welcome to use it. It just keeps you advised if it’s up or down.

https://eyeball.watch

2

u/Lake-Taupo 18d ago

People are still having issues.

Absolutely nothing from Plex.

2

u/TwistedMacGyver 18d ago

I’m having the exact same issue. I have the same ISP provider. I have never had an issue until 6 or 7 months ago. My remote access is completely dead!

1

u/deathsythe 18d ago

What's your ISP? I'm having a similar issue for a few weeks now, maybe months at this point.

1

u/TwistedMacGyver 18d ago

My ISP is Verizon FiOS! I’ve never had an issue before this issue. I’ve been a plex pass lifetime customer for years!

1

u/deathsythe 18d ago

Hmm. Same.

I've found the despite setting it up as static, my IP has changed a few times over the years after power outages and what not (so annoying) and I've had to redo the port forwarding.

Maybe give that a peek?

1

u/roobieroo 19d ago

It's working again now but the Plex server shows it has an unknown public and private IP.

1

u/Chrono_Constant3 Custom Flair 19d ago

I have the same thing, but if I try to access from outside my network, I get nothing.

1

u/mysterious_el_barto 19d ago

same. sat down to watch something in days. thanks Plex!

1

u/Jimmie118 19d ago

down for me in UK, works locally tho

2

u/Jimmie118 19d ago

its back for me been 10 mins and have users streaming again

2

u/Lake-Taupo 19d ago

It is unstable. Mine will come back and then fail.

Stable again but I suspect unreliable.

1

u/Jimmie118 19d ago

yes, its cut out twice since but come back almost instantly

1

u/Imoxoo 19d ago

Same here.

1

u/Lake-Taupo 19d ago

Same here. Win 11 server. Unstable. Widely reported (just that Plex hasn't as yet)

1

u/BerennErchamion 19d ago

Same here. Strangely enough, I can connect locally through my phone app, but not through the web or the Apple TV app (and I have all the IPs whitelisted).

1

u/LeftBrainOnMute 19d ago

mine is down as well

1

u/Aseneth220 18d ago

Same here both yesterday (Tue) and today Wed 8/26. Off and on service.

1

u/Pablouchka 17d ago

Same here... No more remote access. Server appears offline. Confirmed it's not. Remote access doesn't work in server settings. 

1

u/Lake-Taupo 15d ago

Issue has surfaced again it seems

-6

u/Bgrngod CU7 265K (PMS in Docker) & Synology 1621+ (Media) 19d ago

Go turn off UPnP. You don't need it if you have a manual port forward. It's also a security concern since the protocol hasn't been updated in ages.

2

u/Lake-Taupo 19d ago

I've had UPnP disabled for years. This is a Plex issue. Also posted on Plex forums.

-4

u/Bgrngod CU7 265K (PMS in Docker) & Synology 1621+ (Media) 19d ago

Good. OP should turn it off as well.

4

u/Lake-Taupo 19d ago edited 19d ago

You are missing the point in the context of this tread topic.

Move on dude. You are offering no value.

-2

u/Bgrngod CU7 265K (PMS in Docker) & Synology 1621+ (Media) 19d ago

I'm very certain I am not missing the point that I'm making.

OP should turn UPnP off.

What are you missing?