It will also prioritize streaming services that you are subscribed to, with free options listed before any paid or rental options. When this option is enabled, genre information from Last.fm will be used instead of embedded metadata. 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. When you purchase through our links we may earn a commission. Once installed and set up, a Plex Media Server can automatically organize all your files on your computer. Choose "Select Type" on the left side of the screen, if it isn't selected by default. 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. Best of all, your Plex library can also be shared with other Plex users, making it an ideal way to give friends and family members access to your media without having to upload all of it to a third-party cloud service like Google Drive or iCloud. Plex: A Media Server for Streaming EverywhereKodi: A Media Center ApplicationPlex vs. Kodi: Which Should You Choose?Install Both for Free (or Try an Alternative Instead). 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. Determine whether or not the Cinema Trailers feature will be available and active for this library. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. 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. This can include the title, release year, cast list, description, trailers, and movie poster for the movie. Repeat for the TV Shows library and folder. Most of the time it works as intended, but every once in a while you may find a movie that's missing its poster art, has been misidentified, or references the wrong video file. These include ad-supported and public domain content, plus a large number of streaming live TV channels. Thank you for helping us improve our articles. 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. The library will keep track of what youve watched and organize content by season. Just like Plex, Kodi can scrape the web and build a detailed library of content including cover images, descriptions, ratings, and more. You can also manually specify a public port if you need to enable port forwarding. Step 1: Simply download the appropriate installer and follow the instructions. However, it's still good practice to keep every library in its own folder. Click, Once youve added all the source folders for this library, click, Enable the main setting under Settings > Server > Library. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Best. Bestmovies on Netflix. 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. Highlight a Row Using Conditional Formatting, Hide or Password Protect a Folder in Windows, Access Your Router If You Forget the Password, Access Your Linux Partitions From Windows, How to Connect to Localhost Within a Docker Container, How to Run Your Own DNS Server on Your Local Network. If a librarys language is set to French, for example, the French plot summary, etc., will be downloaded when available. Tip! Select the library the media you wish to update is located in from the left hand navigation panel. However, since this feature is still in beta, it might not be available on your device yet. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. Step 3: Then, configure your Plex Media Server to respond to those remote access requests. Plex covers all the major players, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and many of the smaller, niche services, too, so you should have no problem adding your favorites. As in, all artists showing. Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know. Do not use the root of your drive as a folder location. The recently-added Discover section in Plex shows you the new and trending content from all your streaming services, like Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and more. Choose the basic type of media this library represents. If you're the one running the server, it can start to eat up your computer's resources or become a chore to manage. 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. It will also import your ratings, the date you added the music, as well as play and skip counts for tracks in your library. Do you have a lot of movies, photos, and audio files on your computer? That means you will have to set up each Kodi device as though it were the first time. (Plex Pass required), When a red band trailer is available, use that when adding a trailer to your library. The clients are typically free, but occasionally, Plex charges a small amount to download them. Typically, users group them by movies and TV shows, but you can divide them up however you want. Google's Music Services Explained, How to Use Discord to Stream Jackbox Games With Your Friends. Follow him on Twitter or Instagram. {{navSearchSanitizedItem( item, 'title' )}}. PCMag supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownerships. Plex has two choices for setup. 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. You will generally find the one for your specific device in the online download store for that platform. Jebusfreek666 1 yr. ago This page is community-driven and not run by or affiliated with Plex, Inc. If you are considering installing Kodi, we recommend looking over our Kodi explainer to learn how to safeguard against cyberattacks or any other potential problem that might occur with third-party add-ons. It will cause problems. https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-experts-guide-to-managing-your-plex-server, How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files, How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac, an increasing number of home internet users do, how Plex prefers you name your files here, Plex Asks All Users to Change Their Passwords Due to a Data Breach, Netflix's Crackdown on Password Sharing Is Confusing Subscribers, Cast Away: How to Connect Your Android Phone to Your TV, How to Prepare Your Digital Life for Your Death, YouTube Music or Google Play Music? Plex is a media server solution that runs in one location and is accessed using client apps, a web interface, or DLNA. In layman's terms, that means it will convert any media in your libraries into a format that's compatible with the client device. : Customizations are associated with the particular browser instance. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. These short descriptions can give you an idea of what a movie or episode is about. You can find all the movies and shows saved in your Watchlist by navigating to the Plex home page and selecting Watchlist at the top of the screen. Youll find a constantly changing lineup of movies and shows to watch. window.videoEmbeds = window.videoEmbeds || []; There are several useful tricks and tools buried in the Plex server application's settings that can help you keep things organized and the content flowing. Select your E: drive and select the Movies folder. Enabling this option will attempt to import your music playlists from iTunes. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. A window will pop up with space to edit the title and other info. Once you set it up to include all the streaming services you subscribe to, as well as a ton of other free and smaller niche services, you'll be able to see what's streaming across them all in one place. Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks. There are a few ways you can influence what appears on your Home screen and where it appears. If you cant access the new Plex features, check out our list of the best streaming devices for any budget. Theyre both a great way of putting an old computer youre no longer using to good use. Every client device possesses different capabilities, which means each Plex client also possesses different capabilities. 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). This option requires that iTunes be installed in the default location on the computer running Plex Media Server. All you need to do is log in with your Plex username and password and pick what you want to stream. There are no premium passes required to unlock functionality but, by the same token, this functionality is a bit more limited. 3. However, theres one small catch: Plex has a preference for how different file types are named. He's been writing technology explainers and how-tos since 2020, but he's tinkering with computers and other tech since childhood. and our IPS vs VA vs TN: What Type of Computer Monitor Should You Get. Lastly, Kodi is a completely free and open-source solution. This is how it can tell the difference between Aladdin (1992) and Aladdin (2019) and give each the proper artwork. The Poster tab here will let you pick which thumbnail and background image you'd like to use. If you skip this screen, you can also add them later by going to Settings > Streaming Services on any device. Theres no harm in trying both to see which suits your usage best. We'll take it from here. However, it doesn't always get it right. When available, those popular tracks are displayed on the artists page. Access and search all your streaming services with Plex Discover, How to enable remote access and library sharing. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Choose the library type from the selection. There's also a seven-day free trial period. What about Kodi versus Plex? You candownload and install Plex Media Serveron a large number of devices, including desktop computers (Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD) andnetwork-attached storage drives. This setting determines whether content from this library will be included in global search or not. When you try to stream from a remote device, if you can't make a direct connection to your computer (because you're routing traffic through a VPN), Relay will do as it says on the tin and relay the stream to your device. 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. To mitigate the damage, the Plex server lets you set limits on how much of your bandwidth streams can use. Doing so has two big advantages: First, Plex can automatically transcode any music files that Sonos cant play like hi-res FLAC files so you can enjoy your full music library. ID3 tags for MP3 files.). 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. (Available when using the Plex Premium Music agent.). 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. }); Tip! Once you select it, you will see the new Add to Watchlist button or just a bookmark icon below the title and description. 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. Kodi is free forever, while Plex has a generous . You've already provided feedback for this article, thank you. Take Screenshot by Tapping Back of iPhone, Pair Two Sets of AirPods With the Same iPhone, Download Files Using Safari on Your iPhone, Turn Your Computer Into a DLNA Media Server, Add a Website to Your Phone's Home Screen, Control All Your Smart Home Devices in One App. This information comes from a variety of sources including IMDb, The Movie Database, The Internet Video Archive, and even Wikipedia. Plex is a powerful media application that lets you stream the movies and TV shows you have on your computer to any of your devices and even share your library with friends. Click Next, add the folders with the media files. For example. 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. (Plex Pass required). 1996-2023 Ziff Davis, LLC., a Ziff Davis company. Use the Edit option in the sidebar to allow you to pin and unpin (or reorder) the sources. Though both are solid choices, there are some notable differences that can help you decide between them. 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. Since we launched in 2006, our articles have been read billions of times. 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. This way, you can search for something to watch without switching back and forth between different apps. Select Libraries under the Manage section of the settings menu. Basic Plex has no cost. Plex Pass provides unhindered access to streaming via mobile apps, hardware transcoding, local downloads, themes, additional users, the ability to use Plex as a DVR, local Plexamp offline music listening, lyrics, and more. (Plex Pass required), When available, include additional extras that have subtitles matching your librarys language. Agents take the information from the Plex Scanner, then search local media and internet sites for metadata about the media. For questions and comments about the Plex Media Server. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. When a Plex client connects to the Plex server, it tells the server what those capabilities are. Both will scan and organize your media for you, download covers and descriptions, and present it in an eye-catching manner. However the moment your needs become more demanding, youre probably going to want to run your server on a desktop or laptop. 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. How to show my library directly on the Home (front) screen. Since Kodi is a self-contained solution, youll need to put in a bit of extra work to sync your library across different instances. mgithens1 . Thats accomplished by managing the recommendations for that particular library. Open up Plex Media Server on your server device (laptop, desktop, etc). For each Plex user you invite, you can choose which server (if you have more than one) and which libraries (movies, TV, etc.) Settings related to the current Agent may also be exposed here. Looks like you already left that comment. Whats the Difference Between a DOS and DDoS Attack? Kodi is free forever, while Plex has a generous free plan. The default Scanner is automatically selected when you create the library but you can change it if necessary. You can also record live TV using Kodis PVR abilities. 1. How to watch local channels on your Roku device, How to use Netflixs secret category codes to find what you want to watch, Plex Arcade brings classic Atari console titles to your TV for $5 per month. If you run your own Plex Media Server, you likely want to have all your own personal media libraries pinned. If your server machine isnt powerful enough to handle this conversion process, you may be told that the movie cannot be played. From the navigation sidebar, youll be able to choose which source to view, if you have access to more than one. {{navSearchSanitizedItem( item, 'title' )}}. Read on to discover how to unlock your favorite local streams. For every kind of file (movies, multi-part movies, TV shows that have multiple seasons and episodes, etc. A Plex Pass subscription includes free access to all clients (more on Plex Pass below). Plex has a wide range of client applications to choose from. You can also use Plex via a web interface using a standard browser if youd rather. : While these settings are exposed for the library, the selected values will take effect for all libraries using that agent. The unofficial add-ons can also leave you vulnerable to undesirable third parties, including malware, hackers, and snoopers. Step 5: To quickly check that everything is as it should be, click the Home button in the web app interface. Best shows on Netflix Depending on the file type youre playing and the formats supported by your client, this can take a lot of power on the servers side. Open ports on Plex with PureVPN's Port forwarding Add-on 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. ago. This way, you can search for something to watch without switching back and forth between different apps. 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. You've already provided feedback for this article, thank you. 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. 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