4 Simple Ways to Fix Plex Streaming Problems

Plex streaming issues are particularly frustrating. And while setting up a Plex server is pretty straightforward, there are always times when you need to troubleshoot streaming issues with your Plex setup.

1. Restart your Internet connection and Plex server

Whenever you have network problems, restart your modem and router . This will usually fix the problem by clearing temporary data and starting over. Find your modem and router (if you have one), unplug them, wait 60 seconds, and plug them back in.

For Plex servers, shut down Plex Media Server and Plex services, then restart both, starting with Plex Media Server first and then Plex. You should also restart the device that hosts the Plex server.

2. Check again for any updates

After restarting your Plex server, you should also check for updates, which you can do from Settings.

• Click on your profile icon in the top right corner and go to Account Settings .
• On the left, under Settings, select General .
• Now, click Check for Updates . Plex will quickly scan and let you know if everything is okay.
• You should also update your Plex app if you're connecting from a console, stream box, or mobile app.

In addition to your server, you may also want to double check to see if any Plex plugins need updating. One of the best Plex plugins, WebTools-NG, is extremely helpful in keeping them updated.

3. Adjust stream settings

Network bandwidth and CPU can become a major bottleneck if no plugin can stream high-quality movies to multiple users. However, there are some handy tweaks you can make to your Plex streaming settings to fix any issues.

• Go back to Account Settings and under Plex Web , select Quality . Set Video Quality to something more manageable, like 1080p or even 720p. You'll also notice that quality is accompanied by Mbps, which is a good indicator of the internet speed needed to maintain a stable connection.
• Now, open the Settings tab and go to the Transcoder option . You need a fast enough connection to stream and your transcoder is working to format the media content so that users can enjoy it. This uses CPU.
• Start by clicking Show Advanced . For Transcoder quality , set it to Automatic . If you choose a higher speed, you may experience stuttering, while higher quality encoding will push your CPU harder. Keep the Transcoder default throttle buffer at 60 to ensure smooth performance.

In this case, you should also consider the hardware that will host your Plex library and server. You’ll need at least an Intel Core i3 (or AMD equivalent) and if you want to stream 4K content, you’ll need an Intel Core i7 (or AMD equivalent). If you want to be more specific, Plex recommends a CPU with a PassMark score of around 2000 for 1080p simultaneous transcoding (PassMark is a PC performance benchmark).

• 4K HDR file (50Mbps, HEVC 10-bit): PassMark score is 17000 (transcoded to 10Mbps 1080p)
• 4K SDR file (40Mbps, HEVC 8-bit): PassMark score is 12000 (transcoded to 10Mbps 1080p)
• 1080p file (10Mbps, H.264): PassMark score is 2000
• 720p file (4Mbps, H.264): PassMark score is 1500

You’ll also need at least 4GB of RAM. While 2GB is the minimum, large libraries need at least 4GB, and you’ll likely want more to keep Plex running smoothly.

4. Consider cutting back on some users

Finally, you should look at how many Plex users you have invited and start cleaning up. At the very least, remove anyone who hasn’t viewed anything in a while. You can do this by going to Manage Library Access in Settings . Click the X next to their name and they’ll no longer have access.

Additionally, under Limited remote video quality , you can limit the quality of your stream. For reference, an Internet connection capable of 25 Mbps is required to stream 4K and 5 Mbps for 1080p. Unless you’re ripping Blu-rays to your Plex server, 10 Mbps should give users enough bandwidth to have a stable connection, though you’ll see further reductions.

Additionally, Plex Pass subscribers can limit the number of streams that Plex users can stream. If you have a Plex Pass subscription, you can go to Settings > Network , where you can limit the number of streams that users can stream at once. It’s best to keep it to one or two at most.

Honestly, this is one of my favorite aspects of Plex. It’s easy to make a quick tweak here and there if you’re having trouble streaming. Just limit or adjust this and your loyal followers will be able to get back to enjoying your wonderful library.