Plex gives you a central place to find and access all the media that matters to you. From personal media on your own server to free on-demand movies and shows, live TV, podcasts and web shows to music streaming, you can enjoy it all in one app on any device.
And getting started is very easy:
First, if you only stream third-party content (movies and shows, live TV, podcasts, web shows, TIDAL music), you’re good to go as soon as you have an account. Simply install an app on your phone, smart TV or computer or simply open our web app in your browser!
If you want to set up your own personal media server to store your own content, there are a few more (easy!) steps required to get it up and running.
How do I get Plex working?
First, install Plex Media Server on a computer (or compatible NAS device) where your media/movies are stored. Add media libraries by content type and let Plex do the rest. Cataloging, adding art and information is done automatically.
With the media server installed, you can then install the Plex app on virtually any device (phone, tablet, smart TV, streaming device, gaming console, PC, or any web browser) and stream and play all of your media on those devices. Sit back and enjoy.
Is Plex free?
Streaming your own media with Plex is free on most devices. The Plex Media Server component is free, as is Plex Player for Windows, macOS and streaming boxes. Media playback on iOS and Android devices requires an in-app purchase to remove restrictions. Plex also offers a subscription that adds more features like live TV and DVR recording.
What file formats does Plex support?
Plex Media Server supports all popular media files. For videos and movies, Plex can play ASF, AVI, MP4, MPEGTS, MPEG, MKV, AVI, MOV, DIVX and WMV. It also supports 4K/UHD video. For music you can choose from AAC, ALAC, E-AC3, MP3, M4A, FLAC, WAV and WMA. Finally, for images including JPG, PNG, RAW, TBN.
How does it work?
- Install and run Plex Media Server on a computer (or compatible NAS device or Nvidia Shield) that stores and manages all of your media across movie, TV show, home video, music, and photo libraries.
- Add media libraries by content type and let Plex do the rest – cataloging, adding images and information – everything happens automatically.
- Install and open the Plex app on virtually any device – smartphone, tablet, smart TV, streaming device, gaming console, PC or any browser.
- Wherever you are, press play, sit back and enjoy your media as it streams to your device from the Plex Media Server.
What can I do with Plex?
- Share home videos from your Chicago Mac with Grandma on her Roku in France.
- Stream music from your PC in London to your iPad while traveling in Tenerife.
- View photos on a SoHo LG Smart TV while they’re stored in your Brooklyn brownstone.
- Set up your own DVR, record your favorite shows and games via wireless signal and watch them anywhere!
- Link your TIDAL account and integrate your personal library with TIDAL’s 60 million titles.
Which media and devices work?
Plex supports these media file types
- Plex Media Server supports all popular media files:
- Movies, TV shows and home videos: MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, DIVX and more
- Music: MP3, M4A, FLAC, WMA and more
- Photos: JPG, PNG, RAW, TBN and more
Compatibility with Plex Media Server
Plex Media Server is supported on computers with all major operating systems as well as NAS devices:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Nvidia Shield
- Netgear Nighthawk X10 router
- Many popular NAS devices such as QNAP, Synology, Netgear, Drobo and more
Use Plex on these devices
Plex apps work with all market-leading devices and brands:
- Browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari
- Mobile apps: Android, iOS
- Tablets: Android and iOS
- Desktop/Laptop Computers: macOS, Windows
- Smart TVs: LG, Samsung, Hisense, VIZIO and Roku TV
- Streaming devices:
- Amazon Alexa
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android TV
- AppleTV
- Chromecast
- Facebook portal
- Roku
- Sonos
- Game consoles: PlayStation and Xbox
In addition to running the Plex web app in a browser, desktop computer users can also run dedicated player apps. This is aimed at users who want to use Plex in their HTPCs or have a “home theater” experience. It offers advanced audio and video playback features to give you the best possible experience.
Enjoy your videos, movies, TV shows, music and photos anytime, anywhere.
Run Plex Media Server on your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer and stream to your iOS or Android device. Do you have multiple TVs in your home? No problem, Plex also works on Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Android TV, Xbox, PlayStation, VIZIO and many newer smart TVs. Plex is even available on most network storage devices.
Make your media beautiful
Plex gives you a simple interface for organizing all of your media: your movie and TV collection, your music library, and all your photos and home videos. Plex enriches your media library by adding descriptions, plot summaries, posters, and album covers. Enjoy your media on any TV in the home or on any mobile device on the go.
Plex keeps track of your media
Recently added content appears front and center, so you can immediately see what’s new. Plex also knows what movies and series you’re currently watching, so you can easily pick up where you left off or play the next episode.
High quality SSL certificates for all media servers
We’ve partnered with DigiCert to provide you with high-quality SSL certificates for your media servers, free of charge. Your media server can communicate securely with your devices thanks to world-class encryption. It’s like having your own secret service protecting your data end-to-end, preventing hacks, attacks and snooping.
Plex home theater
For those of you who have your own computer for your TV, Plex Home Theater honors your personal videos, music and photos and gives them the stage they deserve. Simply download Plex Home Theater on your dedicated computer and the free Plex Media Server on your home computer, then sit back and enjoy.
The new home of your music
Music on Plex is accessible everywhere and beautifully presented. With support for almost all audio formats, all your music gets airtime. Once set up, you can listen (and even watch!) your music anywhere, on anything, and even share access to your music libraries with your friends. Recent improvements include Vevo music videos and Gracenote functionality, which improves your music library metadata.
Playlists for endless entertainment
Create custom music or video playlists to suit any occasion based on mood, genre, collection and more. You can even import existing iTunes playlists, ratings, track counts, and other details! Playlists are currently available on most platforms, but we’re working hard to make them available to everyone as quickly as possible.
Share your media with friends and family
Easily share media with friends so you can discover and enjoy more content together. Share precious memories with distant family members by sharing your vacation photos and home videos. Now you can also see what your friends are streaming from your collection, as everyone gets their own view of your library.
What’s new
- Plex Server has been updated to 1.43.5.11029
- Plex Player has been updated to 1.115.0.426
- Plex for Android has been updated to 10.17.0.868
- Plex Home Theater has been updated to 2.58.0.1076
Update: CVE details and active exploitation
As promised in the original post, here are the CVE details of the issues fixed in Plex Media Server 1.43.3.
Taken together, these issues allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute code with the privileges of the Plex Media Server process. Plex Media Server 1.43.3.10861 and later are not affected.
These vulnerabilities are actively and extensively exploited. A public proof of concept was released on October 16th.
Since then, there have been widespread attacks on Internet-facing servers that were not updated. Compromised servers were running cryptocurrency miners and proxy software that routes other people’s traffic through the victim’s Internet connection.
If your server is older than 1.43.3.10861 and is accessible via the Internet, assume that it may be compromised.
What you should do:
- Update now. Make sure your server is running on 1.43.3.10861 or newer: Open Plex Web, go to Settings → General and check the version shown. For update instructions for each platform, see the original post above.
- Look for signs of compromise:
- Processes started by Plex Media Server that you don’t know, especially names like myawesomeproxy, mylovelyminer or x12345.
- Unknown .so or .dll files in Plex Codecs folder.
- Outgoing connections to Proxystream.st or persistent high CPU usage while not playing.
- If you find one of these or can’t rule out a compromise:
- Rebuild the server from a clean install rather than reusing the old Plex data directory. At a minimum, delete everything in the Codecs folder and check Preferences.xml for any transcoder options that you didn’t set.
- In your Plex account settings, sign out of all devices and change your Plex password.
- Treat anything that could reach the Plex service account as potentially exposed, such as: B. Provisioned shares and credentials stored on the same computer or VM.
- If you don’t need remote access, turn it off in Settings → Remote Access. Avoid forwarding port 32400 directly unless you need it.
