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. If you skip this screen, you can also add them later by going to Settings > Streaming Services on any device. Secondly, if you have two Sonos systems in different homes, Plex lets you access your personal music library in both locations something Sonos cant do on its own. Adjust the order of the sources in your sidebar to help make sure the content you want easy access to is near the top of your Home screen. For TV shows, things get a little more complicated. One of the most powerful features of Plex is the ability to configure the Plex server for remote access. Plex's Watch Together feature allows users to watch their favorite movies and TV shows with friends. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Choose the basic type of media this library represents. What about Kodi versus Plex? 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. Determine whether or not the Cinema Trailers feature will be available and active for this library. Though Kodi doesnt use a separate server and client structure, you can still stream your library around the house by enabling DLNA/UPnP streaming within your Kodi settings. Youll find all sources available under the More option in the sidebar. and our When this option is enabled, genre information from Last.fm will be used instead of embedded metadata. There's just one problem. To create an optimized version of a file, click the drop-down menu in the Plex web app for any movie or show and choose "Optimize" From there, you'll see a window like the one above. You will now see /mnt/unionfs/Media/Movies in the text box (don't click "ADD LIBRARY" yet). Once installed and set up, a Plex Media Server can automatically organize all your files on your computer. Bear in mind that these solutions are not guaranteed to work. 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. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. The guide provides a thorough understanding of the possible legal ramifications of using those third-party add-ons. Fortunately,Plex has a bounty of client applications available for most modern systems. Both Plex and Kodi are available to download and try out for free. Many of Plexs best features are available for free, but there are some premium features that you can only access if you have a Plex Pass subscription. Make an appropriate folder and put your media in that, such as D:/Movies. Plex Arcade costs $5 per month, but Plex Pass subscribers get a $2 discount, bringing the price down to $3 per month. {{navSearchSanitizedItem( item, 'title' )}}. and our You can also choose theMoreentry to view additional items or to pin them to the sidebar. And while the selection is nothing like what youd find on a paid service like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, there are some great B-movies, Hollywood classics, and hidden gems to be discovered. For example. You should now be familiar with how to use Plex. Plex is a different kind of streaming service. Plex is a media streaming service that can stream the local files on your computer or server directly to your Roku or any other supported device. If you have access to multiple Plex Media Servers, you will then be prompted to select a preferred server as well as the initial sources to display in the Navigation Sidebar. You can specify one or more content locations. This option requires that iTunes be installed in the default location on the computer running Plex Media Server. Plex Media Library. Under Settings, click "Remote Access." If you see a check mark, remote access is enabled. Thank you for helping us improve our articles. Unfortunately, many of the most popular titles for these consoles, like Pac Man, Space Invaders, Joust, and Donkey Kong are not among the available games at launch. Click this and a small window will pop up with boxes you can edit. One limitation here is that there are only a few types of compatible devices. For the Plex Media Server, you will need to pick a device on which to install and run it. Fortunately, Plex also gives you the tools you need to dive into your library and clean it up. You can then select a source and you can then move it up or down in the list to order things as desired by dragging the three lines to the left of each source up or down. Kodis interface is beautiful and functional out of the box, but its also highly customizable with downloadable skins. Pin Media To Home Screen : r/PleX - Reddit 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: Next, configure your router to send remote access requests to the machine on your network that hosts your Plex Media Server. 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. Jebusfreek666 1 yr. ago Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. Many users experienced improved streaming services and speeds when they paired Kodi with a VPN. He is currently a full-time contributor to Digital Trends' Audio/Video section. 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. Content in the folders must prepared like the exampleslinked on the Add folders tab. 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. It can find matches from among all of your connected libraries, subscriptions, and services, including your movies, music, and TV shows, free content from Plex Movies and TV, web shows and podcasts, and Tidal. Click "BROWSE FOR MEDIA FOLDER". If youre a frequent downloader of new media, you can set it so that Plex automatically updates its library any time it detects a new file has been added. 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. Thank you for helping us improve our articles. Upcoming concert information can be gathered from Last.fm. Plex allows you to choose . 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Not all TV shows fit neatly into the above format, so Plex has naming conventions for other formats(Opens in a new window), like miniseries, specials, or date-based late night talk shows. Similar in many ways to free, ad-supported services like the Roku Channel, Plex Free Movies and TV is both an add-on to your personal Plex experience and a standalone service. When you click "Add Library" you'll need to nominate a media type (like Movies or TV), then click on the "Add Folders" button. If youre not a fan of maintaining a highly connected, centrally managed media library that clients stream from, then Kodi is for you. This way, you can search for something to watch without switching back and forth between different apps. Plex will scan any subfolders in any folder you include in a library, but making sure that TV shows and movies are separate ensures that What We Do in the Shadows the movie won't end up in the same library as What We Do in the Shadows the television series. These include ad-supported and public domain content, plus a large number of streaming live TV channels. If you have a huge library of TV shows and movies, Plex is one of the best ways to manage and stream it to all your devices. 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. If you pin the Playlists to the home page, they do get arranged like the Continue Watching row, where the last one you used is first. Let's dive in. If you run your own Plex Media Server, you likely want to have all your own personal media libraries pinned. Kodi doesnt work on Roku, Amazons Fire TV, or Apple TV without a significant amount of heavy lifting to install and use it. But in the past few years, Plex has also added a massive library of over 50,000 paid and free movies, over 250 free Live TV channels, and additional features that set it apart from most other streaming services. 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. That sounds great, but transcoding isn't without its downsides. You candownload and install Plex Media Serveron a large number of devices, including desktop computers (Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD) andnetwork-attached storage drives. How to Organize Your Plex Media Library | PCMag As the name suggests, it's a gaming service, but unlike similar products from Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Nvidia, Plex Arcade is focused (for now) on giving subscribers access to classic Atari console titles from the 1980s. Here's how to clean up your Plex media library to make sure everything is in order. If you have a device that lacks a dedicated client app Plex includes DLNA/UPnP streaming which expands streaming capabilities to a huge number of devices that support the standard (particularly older smart TVs). We select and review products independently. Eric Ravenscraft is a freelance writer and tech nerd working out of the geek capital of the world, Atlanta, Georgia. However, it's still good practice to keep every library in its own folder. No Internet is required. How to Use Cron With Your Docker Containers, How to Use Docker to Containerize PHP and Apache, How to Pass Environment Variables to Docker Containers, How to Check If Your Server Is Vulnerable to the log4j Java Exploit (Log4Shell), How to Use State in Functional React Components, How to Restart Kubernetes Pods With Kubectl, How to Find Your Apache Configuration Folder, How to Assign a Static IP to a Docker Container, How to Get Started With Portainer, a Web UI for Docker, How to Configure Cache-Control Headers in NGINX, How to Set Variables In Your GitLab CI Pipelines, How to Use an NVIDIA GPU with Docker Containers, How Does Git Reset Actually Work? Want quick access to your playlists? ID3 tags for MP3 files.). Those with Dolby Atmos home theater systems may want to read our how to know if youre getting Dolby Atmos sound guide, as it contains some considerations for Plex users who want to ensure they get Dolby Atmos support. Kodi doesnt come with any media and youll instead need to add libraries for music, movies, TV shows, and photos. Continue through the prompts as Plex asks you how to customize your home screen. Depending on what device you are using, selecting a streaming service will open the app or website directly, so you can start watching it right away. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Alternatively, you can run some combination of the two since theres an official Plex add-on available for Kodi. 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. If you cant access the new Plex features, check out our list of the best streaming devices for any budget. Every client device possesses different capabilities, which means each Plex client also possesses different capabilities. Plex has much more detailed step-by-step instructions on this process here(Opens in a new window). If you specify multiple locations, content will all be consolidated together for your library. Tip! The default Scanner is automatically selected when you create the library but you can change it if necessary. If youre looking for an all-in-one media center and emulator, Kodi is hard to beat. Customizing Plex Web | Plex Support They're also neatly arranged in some helpful categories, such as Trending, New, Coming Soon, and more. Here's how to get remote access working across your Plex-powered hardware. Then choose your subscriptions and select Done or Save Changes if it appears at the end. Watch Together is supported on the following devices: Step 1: To start Watch Together, select a movie or show you want to watch in your Plex app, and then select the Three dots / more button, followed by Watch Together. You can also record live TV using Kodis PVR abilities. When you hover over the thumbnail, you'll see a pencil icon in the lower-left corner. Looks like you already left that comment. If you would like to completely reset your sidebar navigation and home screen configuration, this can be done by: Selecting this option will direct you back to the Plex Web Setup screen, where you will be prompted to select a server, media providers, and customize your navigation sidebar. 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. Using a VPN is just good practice on the internet these days. With Plex, you can also access two other kinds of free streaming media: web shows and podcasts. 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. Cookie Notice As far as the Plex Client Player goes, you can run the client app on just about any device thats out there, so the odds are good that you already own a compatible one from web browsers to Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, or various smart TVs. Each library has a language that controls the information gathered from the internet. Since Kodi is a self-contained solution, youll need to put in a bit of extra work to sync your library across different instances. : While these settings are exposed for the library, the selected values will take effect for all libraries using that agent. Thats accomplished by managing the recommendations for that particular library. Read more Jordan Gloor is Technical Editor at How-To Geek. If disabled you can only search the library when in the libraries screens. 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. You've already provided feedback for this article, thank you for helping us improve our articles. Select the icon associated with the type of content you want to add. How to use Plex Media Server to watch all of your media 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). 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. Follow him on Twitter or Instagram. You can also just select the Start button to start immediately. 10 Best Plex Plugins That Are Worth Using in 2023 - PUREVPN Its a versatile application that includes free streaming content, syncs across your devices with a simple login, and has relatively few limitations, like the shortlist of incompatible file types. 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. You can log in to your Plex account and stream your media over the internet from anywhere. You can use Settings > Manage > Libraries to add a row of library specific playlists to the homepage. If you've got a Roku streaming device, or if you're considering picking one up, the popular gadget offers several backdoor portals to some of the greatest local-area content, including news, weather, sports, and more. Kodi is free forever, while Plex has a generous . Your subscription has been confirmed. By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Technically, yes. window.videoEmbeds = window.videoEmbeds || []; Free access to Plex client apps: Never pay for another client app again. You can organize your own personal media files, such as pictures, music, and videos, as well as streaming services to watch movies, TV series, podcasts, and other online content. How to Check If the Docker Daemon or a Container Is Running, How to Manage an SSH Config File in Windows and Linux, How to View Kubernetes Pod Logs With Kubectl, How to Run GUI Applications in a Docker Container. To solve this, Plex recently announced a new feature to help you find any content on all your streaming services in one place. How to Fix Plex's Broken Offline Downloads Feature For each Plex user you invite, you can choose which server (if you have more than one) and which libraries (movies, TV, etc.) You can expand this selection with a broad selection of plugins. Once you update Plex to the latest version, you will be presented with a list of streaming services that you can add. Unlike iTunes, Plex can read just about every media file format you can think of. The server is used to both store and stream media to other client devices on the network. However, if you're already using a VPN for other purposes, this can help you make Plex play nicely with it. Playing that track in a supported app will then resume from where you left off. For more information, please see our Whereas you might run Plex on a server thats tucked away in a cupboard, Kodi works best on a dedicated home theater PC (HTPC) or similar. 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. Your Plex adventure starts by installing the Plex Media Server software on your chosen machine. 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. 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. 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. To create a library, launch the Plex Web App then: Click to open the settings menu Ensure that the correct Plex Media Server is selected within the settings menu Select Libraries under the Manage section of the settings menu Click Add Library Choose the library type from the selection Move her approved movies to a folder, make a library from that folder, and then add the new folder to your existing library for you to use. If you only want to stream third-party content, you can open an account, download the app on your device of choice, and you are good to go. If you have more than one streaming service, you know how frustrating it can be to find something good to watch. You can always skip this step Plex will still let you access and play your files even if they arent named using Plexs conventions, but it may have a hard time identifying what the file is, so you may not get all of the rich data from the web that makes using Plex so enjoyable. But there are some important differences that you can use to guide your decision. With Kodi, theres no server software all of its functions are self-contained in an app you download and install on a compatible device. All Rights Reserved. Step 3: A Watch Together session will now appear on the top of your app's home screen. It will also pull in results from your own personal media library, Plex's AVOD library, trailers, theatrical releases, and more. 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. How to Customize the Plex Mobile App - Home Screen, Multiple Libraries You've already provided feedback for this article, thank you. Additionally, there isnt a customer support option, so if you run into any issues, theres nobody to help with troubleshooting, so you have to figure it out on your own. Thanks for your feedback, add a comment here to help improve the article, Plex Now Lets You Add All Your Streaming Services In One Place, Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Save $99 on eero Pro 6 + Install. It takes a bit of fiddling to get this set up correctly because youll need to adjust your routers firewall settings, but once its configured, youll be able to use the Plex client on your phone or tablet to stream your personal media library from anywhere in the world including live TV and recorded shows, if you have that enabled. Further reading, New on Netflix Before you start streamingor sharing your library with otherstake a moment to refine your collection. 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. There's no way to . PCMag supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownerships. Most users wont need to alter the Advanced options, but theyre available when necessary. 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. In the "Add Library" window, select "Movies" and click "NEXT". 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. Use the Browse for Media Folders button to open a dialog where you can browse to the location or enter the path. Your options are: Movies, TV Shows, Music, Photos, or Other Videos. Choose any quality and bandwidth limitations you want to put on the new version. Read More: The best streaming services to replace your cable. If you dont see this option on your home screen, you might need to update the Plex app to the latest version. You can find details about how Plex prefers you name your files here(Opens in a new window). So your most frequently watched playlists are generally early on the list. Lastly, Kodi is a completely free and open-source solution. Both will scan and organize your media for you, download covers and descriptions, and present it in an eye-catching manner. Plex is simple-to-use software that brings together all your different types of media, and it also is pretty easy to install. Heres everything you need to know about how to use Plex. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Keep an eye on your inbox! Select your E: drive and select the Movies folder. Step 2: Once the Watch Together session is going, you can then select the friends you wish to join you. Plex adds streaming discovery, search, and watchlists - Digital Trends Including, but not limited to: Title: Editing a film or series title will change the name of the movie as it's displayed in your library. Does anyone know of a way to pin specific media to the home screen? These are available for the major desktop operating systems but also most smart TVs, set-top boxes like the Apple TV and NVIDIA Shield, mobile platforms like Android and iPhone, and even VR headsets. Both Plex and Kodi are available to download and try out for free. If you have a Plex Pass subscription, you can also let these users download and sync your content to their devices and upload their photos to your server. Have Plex Your Way | Plex The Plex Media Server is smart software that makes playing Movies, TV Shows and other media on your computer simple. How To Use Plex With Your Roku [2023] - BlinqBlinq Podcasts are the same idea, but for audio-only. (Available when using the Last.fm agent.). And sharing your library with other people can also slow down your home internet speeds. Open up Plex Media Server on your server device (laptop, desktop, etc). Enjoy Deep Control of Rows from Personal Libraries For folks who run their own Plex Media Server, you can have even more control over which rows will appear on an app home screen for a particular pinned personal media library. 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. On top of this, Plex comes with content thats completely free to access. 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 shows on Netflix Keep in mind, playing a movie this way wont necessarily show you what it will look like on a device like an Apple TV or Roku. Its really just meant as a way to check that the file will indeed play. For Apple TV, for instance, its in the App Store. There's no way to do that, at least that I'm aware of. He's invested in the Apple ecosystem, with experience covering Macs, iPhones, and iPads for publications like Zapier and MakeUseOf. In minutes, your media collection goes from being a series of files and folders to a Netflix-like experience that you control. Thank you for helping us improve our articles! Plex adds a new artwork-centric option to its visual experience By Simon Cohen August 19, 2021 Plex, the company that gives folks a way to easily manage and access their personal library of. In our case, we select "TV Shows", the library that . Step 1: Run the Plex Media Server on your computer, or compatible NAS device, or others. This way, you can search for something to watch without switching back and forth between different apps. elemId: 'video-container-63nwkYZAn5', Privacy Policy. How do I play Plex files on my TV or other devices? 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. (Plex Pass required), When available, include additional extras that have subtitles matching your librarys language. You could, for example, use Steams Big Picture Mode to play games in your living room (run them natively or connect your gaming PC using Steam Link) or use an app like Playnite to bring launchers like the Epic Game Store and GOG together under one TV-friendly interface. Both are compatible with a huge range of devices, and both are capable ofmaximizing compatibility via DLNA/UPnP streaming. You need to already be friends to invite someone, but you can simply send them a friend request on Plex. The options available will vary depending on the type of library you selected. Therefore, we recommend Plex for those of you who want to organize and retrieve your media. Click "Add Content." The Add Library window appears. Click, Once youve added all the source folders for this library, click, Enable the main setting under Settings > Server > Library. Plex adds game-streaming as paid add-on, completely botches the landing

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plex add library to home screen