This is your guide to watching movies and shows on Plex. Keep it handy for the first week or two. After that you won't need it.
$0 · no subscription, no adslibrary grows over timehiccups = my end, text me
I
Act one
What is this, exactly?
Think of Plex as a private Netflix. Instead of coming from a big company, everything streams from a computer at my house. I collect the movies and shows, and Plex is the app that plays them on your TV or phone.
A few things follow from that:
→It costs you nothing: no subscription, no ads.
→The library grows over time. New stuff shows up as I add it, and you can request things too (more on that below).
→Since it all comes from one computer in one house, it can occasionally hiccup. When it does, the fix is almost always on my end, so just let me know.
II
Act two
One login, and the Kids libraries
Your whole family shares one login, which I've already set up. Inside, the library is split into sections:
→Movies and TV Shows hold everything, including plenty made for grown ups.
→Kids Movies and Kids TV are the family safe zone. Every title in them is one I've placed there deliberately, so anything a kid finds while browsing those two sections is fine to press play on. When kids have the remote, those are the sections to be in.
One trap to avoid
The Plex app has an "add profile" feature, like Netflix profiles. Skip it. A profile created there cannot see my library at all, and the app will just look empty. Everyone stays on the main profile. If you want this type of option, let me know. It will require an upgraded account.
III
Act three
Getting signed in
You never need to sign up for anything. You just need the Plex app and the email and password I gave you.
Scene 1 · Apple TV or smart TV
1Open the app store on the TV and search for Plex. It's free. Install it and open it.
2The TV will show a short code and ask you to visit plex.tv/link.
3On your phone, open a web browser, go to plex.tv/link, sign in with the email and password I gave you, and type in the code from the TV.
4The TV signs itself in a few seconds later. You only do this once per TV.
Scene 2 · iPhone or iPad
1Install the Plex app from the App Store.
2Open it and sign in with the same email and password.
3If it asks you to pay or "unlock" the app, don't. You can skip past that screen. Watching this library is free.
The app you're looking for
Black square, amber chevron, named "Plex". Free on every app store.
IV
Act four
One time setup on each device
After signing in on a TV (Apple TV or smart TV app), do this once so the picture looks its best:
1Open the Plex app's Settings.
2Find Video Quality.
3Set the internet or remote streaming quality to Maximum or Original.
Some versions of the app default to a blurry setting that looks rough on a big TV. My server handles the heavy lifting either way.
On an iPhone or iPad, leave the quality settings alone. The defaults keep you from burning through cellular data.
On devices only used by kids, we can set the app's home screen to show only the Kids sections, so the grown up stuff isn't part of their browsing at all. That setup takes two minutes per device; let me know if you want help with it.
V
Act five
Finding something to watch
→The home screen shows rows like Continue Watching and recently added titles. Scrolling those rows is usually all you need.
→To browse a section, look for Movies, TV Shows, Kids Movies, or Kids TV in the menu on the left.
→There's a search (magnifying glass) if you know what you want.
VI
Act six
What's in the Kids sections
The Kids sections are organized into shelves so you don't have to guess what fits:
Calm & Kind
The gentlest stuff, for the littlest viewers.
First Adventures
Classic family movies and shows, light and easy.
Bolder Stories
For kids ready for a little more excitement.
For Older Kids
PG-13 territory, best for tweens and up.
VII
Act seven
Requesting new stuff
If something you want isn't in the library, you can request it and it downloads to my server automatically.
2Sign in with the same Plex email and password you use to watch.
3Search for the movie or show you want.
4Click Request. For TV shows, pick the seasons you want.
5Use the default 1080p quality. It downloads high quality 1080p, and you won't be able to tell the difference between it and 4K.
Movies usually show up within a few hours, shows can take a little longer. You'll see them appear in the library like everything else.
One favor
If you want more than 3 seasons of a show, text me first so I can make sure there's enough space on my server. Full series of long running shows get big fast.
VIII
Act eight
When something goes wrong
Short version: you cannot break Plex. If anything acts up, text me. Here's what the common hiccups look like:
●spinning wheelVideo pauses to buffer. Give it a minute, or press pause for 30 seconds and resume. If it keeps happening all evening, let me know.
●unable to connectOr an empty library. The server is probably asleep or restarting. Nothing on your end is wrong. Text me and try again later.
●library looks emptyBut everything else works. The app probably wandered into a profile (see the trap above). Switch back to the main profile, or text me.
●title "unavailable"That title is being reorganized behind the scenes. Mention it to me and it'll come back.
●no sound / wrong languageWhile a video plays, there's a settings icon where you can pick the audio track. Or just text me the title and I'll sort it.
The one rule
Be kind. Don't rewind. Text me.
If you're ever stuck for more than a couple of minutes, just text me. This is my hobby, I like fixing it, and nine times out of ten it's a 30 second fix on my end.