Guide: Setting Up Plex Media Server on Raspberry Pi 4

Setting up a Plex Media Server on a Raspberry Pi is a great way to centralize your media collection and stream it to various devices around your home. However, there are quite a few steps to consider, and depending on your specific setup, there are options to tailor the process. Let’s explore this thoroughly.

The first step is to ensure that the Raspberry Pi has the necessary hardware and software environment for Plex. Plex Media Server is relatively lightweight in terms of software, but the Raspberry Pi’s hardware (especially the CPU and RAM) can become a bottleneck if you’re trying to stream high-resolution content or use features like transcoding.

Let’s also consider the version of the Raspberry Pi being used. Ideally, a Raspberry Pi 4 is the best option because it has:

A faster processor capable of handling Plex’s tasks better.
More RAM, which is helpful for caching metadata and handling multiple streams.
USB 3.0 ports for faster external storage access.
Dual HDMI output (though Plex itself won’t use this directly).

I’ll assume we’re working with a Raspberry Pi 4 or newer. If you’re using an older model (like a Pi 3), it might still work but with limited performance, especially if you’re streaming to multiple devices or dealing with 1080p+ content.

The Steps For Installing Plex On Raspberry Pi:

1. Prepare Your Raspberry Pi For Plex

Before diving into the software, let’s ensure the hardware is ready and the Raspberry Pi is running a suitable operating system.

Hardware You’ll Need:

Raspberry Pi 4 (recommended) or newer.
Power Supply: A reliable 5V, 3A power adapter for the Pi.
MicroSD Card: At least 16GB for the operating system. A high-speed card is preferable.
External Storage: An external USB hard drive or SSD to store your media files. Ideally, use USB 3.0 for faster performance.
Ethernet Cable (optional): For better stability, especially during streaming. Wi-Fi works, but Ethernet is recommended.
Case with Cooling: Plex can push the Raspberry Pi’s CPU, so a case with active cooling (fans) or passive heatsinks is helpful.

Install the Operating System:

The most common OS for a Plex Media Server on a Raspberry Pi is Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) because:
- Plex is available for 64-bit architectures, and this OS is optimized for Raspberry Pi hardware.
- The Lite version (without a desktop environment) is lighter and faster, perfect for a headless server.

Steps to install the OS:

Download Raspberry Pi Imager from the official Raspberry Pi website.
Use the Imager to flash Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit Lite) onto the microSD card.
After flashing, insert the microSD card into your Raspberry Pi and boot it up.

2. Set Up Raspberry Pi OS

Once the Raspberry Pi boots, you’ll need to configure it. Since we’re using the Lite version, most of this will be done via the command line.

Initial Setup:

Login with the default credentials: Username: pi
Password: raspberry (You’ll be prompted to change the password—choose a strong one.)
Update the OS to ensure everything is up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

4. Install additional tools that might be helpful:

sudo apt install curl wget -y

5. Set up SSH (if you’re managing the Pi remotely):

sudo raspi-config

6. Navigate to Interfacing Options > SSH and enable it.

3. Install Plex Media Server

Now comes the heart of the setup—installing Plex itself. The official Plex Media Server is available for Debian-based distributions, which includes Raspberry Pi OS.

Add the Plex Repository:

First, we need to download and install Plex Media Server. To ensure we’re getting the latest version, we’ll use the official repository.

Download the latest Plex package:

wget https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-media-server-new/1.32.5.7349-8f4248874/debian/plexmediaserver_1.32.5.7349-8f4248874_arm64.deb

(Note: Replace the link above with the latest version from Plex’s website. Visit Plex Downloads to find the correct URL.)

2. Install the package:

sudo dpkg -i plexmediaserver_*.deb

3. If there are missing dependencies, fix them:

sudo apt install -f

4. Enable and start Plex Media Server:

sudo systemctl enable plexmediaserver sudo systemctl start plexmediaserver

4. Access the Plex Web Interface

Plex Media Server is now running on your Raspberry Pi! To configure it, you’ll need to access its web interface.

Find your Raspberry Pi’s IP address:

hostname -I (The first part of the output is your IP address, e.g., 192.168.1.100)

2. Open a browser on your computer and navigate to:

http://<your-pi-ip>:32400/web Example: http://192.168.1.100:32400/web

3. Log in with your Plex account or create one if you don’t already have it.

4. Follow the setup wizard to:

Name your server.

Add media libraries (movies, TV shows, music, etc.).

Scan and organize your media.

5. Add Media to Your Server

Attach External Storage:

If you’re using an external hard drive or SSD to store your media:

Plug the drive into one of the USB 3.0 ports on the Raspberry Pi.

Mount the drive:

List drives to find the external drive’s location:

lsblk

Create a mount point:

sudo mkdir /mnt/media

Mount the drive (replace sda1 with your drive’s identifier):

sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/media

Add it to /etc/fstab for automatic mounting at boot.

Point Plex to the media directory in the web interface.

Add Network Storage (Optional):

If your media is stored on a NAS or another computer, you can use SMB or NFS to access it. Install the necessary tools:

sudo apt install cifs-utils

Then mount the network share and add it to Plex.

6. Optional Configuration and Tweaks

Enable Hardware Acceleration for Transcoding:
- Hardware acceleration can improve performance during video playback, but it requires a Plex Pass (premium subscription).
- To enable, go to Settings > Transcoder in the Plex web interface and turn on hardware acceleration.
Set Up Remote Access:
- If you want to access your Plex server outside your home network, enable Remote Access in Plex settings.
- You may need to configure port forwarding on your router (default port: 32400).
Install a VPN (Optional):
- If you’re concerned about privacy or want to access geo-restricted content, set up a VPN on your Raspberry Pi.
Update Plex Regularly:
- Plex doesn’t update itself automatically on Raspberry Pi. To update, repeat the download and installation steps for the latest package.

7. Control and Enjoy

Now that Plex is running, you can stream your media to any device with a Plex app installed. Popular Plex clients include:

Smart TVs.
Streaming devices like Roku, Fire Stick, or Apple TV.
Mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Web browsers.

Summary

To set up a Plex Media Server on a Raspberry Pi, follow these steps:

Prepare Your Raspberry Pi:
- Use Raspberry Pi 4 or newer for the best performance.
- Install Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit Lite) using the Raspberry Pi Imager.
Install Plex:
- Download the latest Plex package from Plex’s website.
- Install the package with dpkg and start the Plex service.
Access Plex Web Interface:
- Open http://<your-pi-ip>:32400/web in a browser.
- Log in with your Plex account and configure your server.
Add Media:
- Connect and mount an external drive or network share with your media files.
- Add the media directories in Plex’s settings.
Optional Enhancements:
- Enable hardware acceleration for transcoding (requires Plex Pass).
- Set up remote access by configuring port forwarding.
- Install a VPN for privacy if needed.

Once set up, use Plex apps on your devices to stream your media. Plex is a powerful, versatile tool, and with proper setup, your Raspberry Pi can handle it like a pro.

FAQ

What is the minimum Raspberry Pi for Plex server?

The minimum Raspberry Pi model recommended for running a Plex server is the Raspberry Pi 4, though a Raspberry Pi 5 is preferable for better performance.

How much does a Plex server cost?

How much does a Plex server cost? Plex is free to download and use. Plex Pass is a subscriber program ($4.99 per month, $39.99 per year, or $119.99 for a lifetime subscription) that offers exclusive Plex server features to members like offline Plex library viewing and live TV DVR support.

Will Plex server work without internet?

Plex Media Server can work without internet, but with limited functionality:

What works without internet: