Remote Access on macOS

Accessing Your Plex Server Remotely on macOS

Stream your media library from anywhere with secure remote access on your Mac.

Understanding Remote Access

Remote access allows you to:

  • Stream anywhere - Watch your content on the go
  • Share with family - Let friends and family access your library
  • Mobile streaming - Use Plex apps on phones and tablets
  • Hotel/travel viewing - Entertainment away from home

macOS Network Configuration

Check Your Current Network

# View network interfaces
networksetup -listallnetworkservices

# Get current IP address
ipconfig getifaddr en0

# Check routing
netstat -rn | head -20
  1. Open System Preferences → Network
  2. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
  3. Click Advanced → TCP/IP
  4. Change “Configure IPv4” to Manually
  5. Set:
    • IP Address: 192.168.1.100 (choose an unused IP)
    • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
    • Router: Your gateway address

Port Forwarding Setup

Default Plex Port

Plex uses port 32400 by default for remote connections.

Router Configuration

  1. Access your router’s admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1)
  2. Find Port Forwarding or NAT settings
  3. Create a new rule:
    • External Port: 32400
    • Internal Port: 32400
    • Internal IP: Your Mac’s static IP
    • Protocol: TCP

Test Port Access

# Install nmap if needed
brew install nmap

# Test if port is open locally
nc -zv localhost 32400

# Check from external (use online port checker)

macOS Firewall Configuration

System Firewall

  1. Open System Preferences → Security & Privacy
  2. Go to Firewall tab
  3. Click Firewall Options
  4. Ensure Plex Media Server is allowed

Terminal Commands

# Check firewall status
sudo /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --getglobalstate

# List allowed apps
sudo /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --listapps

# Allow Plex specifically
sudo /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --add /Applications/Plex\ Media\ Server.app

Plex Remote Access Settings

Enable Remote Access

  1. Open Plex Web App → Settings → Remote Access
  2. Enable “Manually specify public port”
  3. Set to 32400 (or custom port)
  4. Click Retry to test connection

Verify Connection

Check for the green checkmark indicating successful remote access.

Dynamic DNS Setup

If your ISP assigns dynamic IP addresses:

Using No-IP

# Install No-IP client
brew install noip

# Configure with your account
noip2 -C

# Start the service
sudo noip2

Using Duck DNS

  1. Create account at duckdns.org
  2. Add your domain
  3. Update script:
#!/bin/bash
curl -s "https://www.duckdns.org/update?domains=YOURDOMAIN&token=YOURTOKEN&ip="

Add to crontab:

*/5 * * * * /path/to/duckdns-update.sh

SSL/HTTPS Configuration

Enable Secure Connections

  1. Go to Settings → Network
  2. Enable “Secure connections” = Required
  3. Custom certificate domain can be configured

Let’s Encrypt with Plex

Plex provides automatic SSL through their servers. For custom domains:

# Install certbot
brew install certbot

# Generate certificate
sudo certbot certonly --standalone -d yourdomain.duckdns.org

VPN Considerations

Using Plex with VPN

If you use a VPN:

  1. Split Tunneling - Exclude Plex from VPN
  2. VPN Server - Set up your own VPN to access home network
  3. Port Forwarding - Some VPNs support port forwarding

WireGuard Setup (macOS)

# Install WireGuard
brew install wireguard-tools

# Generate keys
wg genkey | tee privatekey | wg pubkey > publickey

# Configure
sudo nano /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf

Bandwidth Management

Upload Speed Settings

  1. Settings → Remote Access
  2. Set “Limit remote stream bitrate”
  3. Configure based on your upload speed:
    • 10 Mbps upload → 8 Mbps limit
    • 20 Mbps upload → 15 Mbps limit

Quality Settings for Remote

Adjust streaming quality for remote users:

  • Maximum - Full quality (needs fast connection)
  • 2 Mbps 720p - Good for mobile
  • 4 Mbps 1080p - Balanced quality

Troubleshooting Remote Access

Common Issues

“Not available outside your network”

# Check if port is being blocked
sudo lsof -i :32400

# Verify Plex is running
pgrep -l "Plex Media Server"

# Check system log
log show --predicate 'process == "Plex Media Server"' --last 1h

Double NAT Issues

If you have modem + router:

  1. Set modem to bridge mode, OR
  2. Forward port on both devices

Network Diagnostics

# Trace route to Plex servers
traceroute plex.tv

# Check DNS resolution
dig plex.tv

# Test connectivity
curl -I https://plex.tv

Security Best Practices

Protect Your Server

  1. Strong Plex account password
  2. Enable two-factor authentication
  3. Limit shared user permissions
  4. Regular software updates
  5. Monitor server access logs

Monitor Access

Check Settings → Status → Now Playing to see active streams.

Mobile App Configuration

iOS/iPadOS

  1. Download Plex app from App Store
  2. Sign in with your Plex account
  3. Server should appear automatically
  4. Adjust streaming quality for cellular

Remote Quality Settings

In Plex app settings:

  • Remote Streaming → Video Quality
  • Set appropriate quality for your mobile data

Next Steps

With remote access configured:

  1. ✅ Test from outside your network (use mobile data)
  2. ✅ Share with friends and family
  3. ✅ Configure mobile apps
  4. ➡️ Continue to Advanced Configuration

Enjoy your media from anywhere in the world!