- Plex Slow On Local Network Connection
- Plex Very Slow Local Network
- Local Plex Server
- Plex Local Network Streaming
What is Plex and How it Helps You in Accessing Media?
Plex allows you to create your own home server and access it from anywhere you want. It is a great initiative from the Plex Media server.
Plex supports all the major media types including videos in MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, DIVX etc. Music files including MP3, M4A, FLAC, WMA etc. Picture formats including JPG, PNG, RAW, TBN and many more.
Plex runs smoothly on all the major operating systems including Windows OS, Linux, NVIDIA SHIELD, Netgear Nighthawk X10 router, NAS devices including Drobo, Netgear, Synology etc.
Plex Supported Platforms
Plex works on all the major streaming devices and apps such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Microsoft Edge/IE and Safari. It supports streaming platforms like Amazon Fire TV & Firestick, Android TV Box, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, Sonos, TiVo and on the famous gaming consols including PS 3 & 4, Xbox One and Xbox 360
Due to this cross-platform compatibility, Plex can be one of the best media streaming devices for your future entertainment. The best thing about it is that it can be set up easily on any platform. But at the same time, it will cause issues including buffering and pausing if not managed and setup properly.
Due to mismanagement, you run into the Plex Buffering problems. Don’t be panic. If you have the same buffering issues, then you can find plenty of solutions and guides as well. But the solutions for buffering fix of Plex might be tricky as there are multiple types of devices available that are supported by Plex.
Troubleshooting varies for every device. Here in this blog, we are going to discuss few of the major factors that can cause buffering of Plex. If your Plex server causes buffering, follow the following solutions to troubleshoot.
Before troubleshooting, let’s talk about what are the main causes of Plex Buffering?
![Network Network](/uploads/1/3/7/1/137178198/611758578.png)
What are the Main Reasons for Plex Buffering Issues?
You can set the maximum number of simultaneous streams each user is allowed to have, when not on the same network as the Plex Media Server (the “local” network). Tip!: This feature requires an active Plex Pass subscription for the Plex Media Server admin Plex account. Very few people will need to set or change this preference. Access to network files and folders is very slow. The network drives are mapped in Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7. Here’s the step-by-step procedure on how I was able to resolve the issue. I was using Windows 10 Pro on the computer that was having the issue and that’s where the following change should be made to the registry.
In most of the cases, buffering causes by two main reasons;
- Your requested video/stream is not supported by your internet connection
- The stream is not transcoded according to the requested content
How to Fix Internet Connection for Bufferless Stream on Plex?
If you are facing buffering issues while streaming on Plex, then the first thing you should look on is your internet connection. Plex is totally based on internet speed. The faster the internet, the faster will be streaming speed. Plex sends data packets from the server to clients through the internet.
If you have a fast connection, then the content will stream in a smooth way. But if the buffering occurs, do check your server and client networks for internet speed. If your connection is wireless, consider an ethernet connection. Ethernet connection will overcome the client’s load issues that normally occurs on Wireless internet. Try to shift all the Wireless connection on Ethernet.
Another good thing you can do while streaming is to switch off all the devices that kill the maximum amount of bandwidth. Try to stop downloading and uploading while streaming on Plex. Do these things with your internet connection and you will see visible improvements on your device while streaming.
A 0.5 MBps is the required speed for running Plex, but 1.5 is recommended for a smooth stream. Different media files required different internet speed. For example;
3.0 MBps – Recommended speed for SD quality5.0 MBps – Recommended speed for HD quality25 MBps – Recommended speed for Ultra-HD quality
Plex Slow On Local Network Connection
Check the Plex Media Server Transcoding to Resolve Buffering Issues
What is Transcoding? It is the process of converting media content to the best format based on the client device. You can use different transcoded streams with different CPUs. This information can be viewed by going to CPUBenchmark.net and by searching your Plex Media Server CPU. This value will be in thousands.
If you have successfully setup your Plex for requesting the correct stream at the right time and still facing issues, then it might be due to the transcoding speed. It means that your Plex Media Server is not good enough to transcode media content in its required speed.
How to Check the Transcoding Speed?
You can check the speed by looking on the Plex Media Server.log that contains all the activities you perform for streaming a file on Plex.
Open the log file, it will look like this;
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:11 [0x10dc5c000] VERBOSE – * speed => 3.1
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:11 [0x10dbd9000] VERBOSE – * speed => 4.2
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:12 [0x1099a3000] VERBOSE – * speed => 5.0
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:13 [0x10da5c000] VERBOSE – * speed => 3.4
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:14 [0x10dc5c000] VERBOSE – * speed => 4.8
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:15 [0x10d84d000] VERBOSE – * speed => 4.7
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:15 [0x10dad3000] VERBOSE – * speed => 5.0
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:16 [0x10dc58000] VERBOSE – * speed => 5.5
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:11 [0x10dbd9000] VERBOSE – * speed => 4.2
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:12 [0x1099a3000] VERBOSE – * speed => 5.0
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:13 [0x10da5c000] VERBOSE – * speed => 3.4
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:14 [0x10dc5c000] VERBOSE – * speed => 4.8
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:15 [0x10d84d000] VERBOSE – * speed => 4.7
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:15 [0x10dad3000] VERBOSE – * speed => 5.0
Jan 16, 2015 22:11:16 [0x10dc58000] VERBOSE – * speed => 5.5
Speed Value = 1.0 means that the Server is transcoding exactly in real-timeSpeed Value Greater than 1.0 means that the Server is transcoding faster than real-time Speed Value Less than 1.0 means that the Server is unable to transcode in real time
To ensure a smooth transcode, the speed value should be 1.0 or greater. A value between 1.0 and 1.5 means that the transcode speed is sufficient for streaming.
This speed is totally based on your computer speed on which you are using Plex Media Center. To ensure fast encoding, you need to make sure your computer is up to date and new.
Final Words
No one likes a stream full of buffering but unfortunately, we all face this on regular basis. But there is always a solution to any problem. As a Plex user, make sure you are not using an old computer system. Try to keep your computer hardware & software up to mark. When you face buffering, try to check your internet connection and the log files of your Plex Media center. Taking these simple steps will help you to overcome buffering and pausing problems on Plex.
Media centers are the perfect place to store collections of images, music, and videos that people create on their computers, smartphones, or other devices. Their primary function is to store this media, such as your latest vacation photos or your favorite film. However, you may find your patience being tested if you start searching for a particular file, only to realize that nothing is organized properly.
If you’re looking for a suitable management platform for your media files, you will no doubt come across Plex eventually. Launched as a freeware project in 2007, Plex has an impressive range of features and is undoubtedly one of the best media centers of all time. Thanks to various streaming portals and services like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, or Vevo, Plex users can play online content directly through their media center interface. However, Plex does have some formidable alternatives.
What should a good alternative to Plex be able to do?
The primary function of a media center is to organize all media files (audio, video, and image) on the selected computer system in a clearly arranged format. The user interface should make it easy for you to find and play back the content you want.
Plex alternatives (as well as Plex itself) should not just allow playback on the original device, but should also be able to play through external devices. Streaming your own media content on a TV should be a standard feature, which is why most media center interfaces are also designed to be used with smart TVs.
The best Plex alternatives should also be able to stream video and information services. Of course, your personal interests are most important here: Netflix and YouTube are more widely supported than other services because of their popularity. However, if you are not interested in these mainstream platforms, streaming links will be irrelevant to you as a user. It is therefore advisable to check the additional features in advance (often available as optional add-ons) that can be used as a respectable alternative to Plex. It is also important that the selected media management option allows multiple devices to access the library at the same time. If you want to enjoy a film while a roommate or a family member is streaming music, your chosen Plex alternative must always be usable by several people at the same time.
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Shared access
What are the best alternatives to Plex?
In addition to the range of functions, cost and compatibility play an important role when it comes to choosing the best media center. The latter does not just deal with which systems the media center should be created on, it is also about what platforms you can access the media center from. You should also consider how up to date the Plex alternative is when making your decision: since many media centers are interconnected with web services, timely updates to close security holes are particularly important.
To make finding a suitable Plex alternative easier, here are some interesting examples of the best media centers and a guide to their advantages and disadvantages.
![Local Local](/uploads/1/3/7/1/137178198/170059917.png)
Mezzmo
On December 20th 2007, the Australian-based software company Conceiva released their home entertainment product Mezzmo. The software was initially available as a paid program for Windows, but Conceiva now relies on a freemium model: you can download and use the basic model for free, while the pro edition (which includes a web interface so that you can access using standard browsers) has lots of extra features and requires a subscription fee. There is also a paid Android app which was released in 2014. The app is mainly used as a remote application to retrieve content stored on the local Mezzmo media server on Android devices. Thanks to an integrated digital media server (DMS), you can also stream files stored on the device itself with the app.
Mezzmo is very easy to set up: after installing the program, it automatically searches and organizes all the movies, video clips, music, photos, and stored subtitles saved on the system being used. These files can subsequently be played back on all devices in the network that support UPnP or DNLA, or that have the app installed (Android only) – Mezzmo transcodes the media content in real time to ensure optimal streaming quality. You can access the media collection simultaneously with multiple devices at any time, so that sharing the media center is no problem. If you are having technical problems with Mezzmo, you can contact Conceiva with a ticket or through the user forum.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Multi-user capability | Media center cannot be used on macOS/Linux systems |
Android app with its own media server | Web interface is only available in the paid pro edition |
MediaPortal
In February 2014, Erwin Becker launched the GPL-licensed open source programMediaPortal, which is now managed by the MediaPortal team. A core feature of MediaPortal is that it supports TV cards so that you can watch TV through your media center. Additionally, the free-of-charge Plex alternative combines FM and internet radio with TV stations, information services (weather, news, etc.), and all media files stored on the computer in a single user interface. It’s up to you to decide how content should be categorized: you can sort songs by artist, album, or genre, and video clips and movies by cover, actor, or genre.
MediaPortal is an open source application and therefore benefits enormously from collaborating with the community: plugins developed as a supplement that provide additional functions that can be installed and integrated just as easily as skins to give the user interface a new appearance. This Plex alternative is only available for Windows and there are no separate apps for smartphones, tablets, or smart TVs – but there are extensions that allow remote access to your MediaPortal library from these same devices. All skins and plugins are available at any time from the official download page.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Supports standard TV cards | Media center can only be used with Windows |
Customizable user interface with skins | Complex installation and setup |
Kodi
One Plex alternative, originally designed primarily as a media player solution for the Microsoft console Xbox, is Kodi. Published as ‘Xbox Media Center’ (XBMC) in 2004, the media center kept this name even when it became available for other platforms. In 2014, it decided to rename the open source application, distributed under the GNU-GPL license, to Kodi. This made it clear that it was no longer primarily aimed at consoles. However, the media software is not really an alternative to Plex: the Kodi project – or it’s Linux version, to be more precise – formed the basis for Plex. Strictly speaking, Plex is an XBMC separation code.
Kodi delivers all the central features of a good media center: you can organize all your media content easily and play it back through the user interface, which supports a variety ofaudio, video, and image formats. Implementing new formats and technologies (like video acceleration) is handled by the Kodi team in real time. The Plex alternative automatically retrieves metadata from the web to provide additional information about archived content. Kodi’s greatest strength, however, is that the software is platform independent. There are not only installation packages for Windows, Linux, and macOS, but also for Android, iOS, and Raspberry-Pi. Remote control apps for iOS and Android complete the range of options.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Platform independent | Complicated multi-user setup (focused on one device by default) |
Can also be used with alternative hardware like the Raspberry Pi | |
Experienced developer team |
Stremio
The Bulgarian startup Stremio launched an exciting alternative to Plex in 2015 with their application of the same name, which was quickly met with enthusiasm from film and TV fans. The open source media center, which is easy to use, focuses entirely on organizing video content, and integrates video-on-demand services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. in an interesting way: add-ons allow content from different providers to be combined with the Stremio interface. Video clips, shows and movies on your own device are also taken into account when creating the library. Thanks to the integrated calendar function, you can also always keep track of new episode releases or highly anticipated films.
By integrating various streaming providers, Stremio not only provides an excellent overview of when and where content is available, but also offers a good price comparison. In terms of compatibility, the open source platform is just as well set up as Kodi: desktop versions for Windows, macOS, and Linux are available, as well as free apps for Android and iOS. Additionally, the developer plans to release a web application for the Plex alternative, which will then allow them to manage and access their own library as well as the existing clients for desktop PCs and mobile devices.
Third-party add-ons that allow free streaming of paid video content are illegal and should not be used or installed.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Very easy to set up and use | No function for organizing music and image files available |
Calendar features help to keep track of new movie releases, series, or episodes | Number of official developer add-ons is very manageable |
Universal Media Server
The Universal Media Server is also an example of an open source program, written in Java. The spin-off program from PS3 Media Server was developed in May 2012 by the developer SubJunk, who had previously played a decisive role in the media server for Sony’s game console. As an alternative to Plex, the software is particularly impressive because of its broad device compatibility: both DNLA (Digital Living Network Alliance) and UPnP (Universal Plug & Play) are supported, so that music, videos, and images can be streamed easily on all devices that work to these standards (this includes PS4, Xbox 360, iPhone, Android devices, and various smart TVs). Universal Media Server runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, thanks to its multiple versions.
The media center is regularly updated by the developer team. Recent updates are often available as a beta version for download – however, users must expect that the software may not always work properly in these pre-releases. The Plex alternative has an optional web browser interface and is expandable with plugins. This can be used, for example, to integrate a link to SoundCloud. Further information on the development status and useful links to interesting Universal Media Server websites can be found in the official directory for the project on Github Github.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Platform independent thanks to broad device support and an optional web interface | No separate client applications/apps for accessing the media server |
Time consuming, uncomfortable to start with, and not easy to connect devices |
Emby
If you’re looking for a good alternative to Plex, you will no doubt come across the Emby. The largely royalty-free application (GNU-GPL), which has been maintained by Emby LLC since 2015, provides all the features you might need for the multi-device organization of your media files, starting with a free-of-charge media server available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as NAS and docker platforms. Configuration for the Emby server takes place independently of the chosen system through the very complex web interface. The server is automatically recognized by all DNLA-capable devices – but the developers also offer various proprietary (and partly chargeable) apps for mobile devices (iOS, Android, Windows) as well as for smart TVs and consoles (Samsung, LG, PS4, Xbox One).
If you start the Emby server after installation, the web dashboard will automatically open, allowing you to configure all the necessary settings for your personal media server. This is not just about filling the library, but also about finding the perfect setup for transcoding the content. It is also possible to create different user profiles, including access authorizations. This way you can ensure that adult content is not accessible to children, for example. If you subscribe to the monthly Emby Premiere package, you can use numerous additional features like cloud and folder synchronization, a cover configurator, and a backup function. In addition, you can stream videos and music to individual devices, as well as save them when you take out a subscription so that they can be played without a network connection.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Excellent user account management | Limited extensions available |
Apps for various platforms/devices available | Some features are only available in the paid premiere subscription |
TVersity
TVersity is a proprietary Plex alternative from TVersity Inc. Their paid media server package uses DNLA/UPnP technology to enable users to stream content from their own PCs to a wide variety of devices (content can also be accessed through standard web browsers). If the format/codec on the target devices is not supported, the TVersity server will transcode the corresponding files in real time. Indexing photos, songs, and videos happens automatically in the background, ensuring that your collection is always up to date. When it comes to server operation, unfortunately this Plex alternative only runs on Windows.
There is a free version of TVersity, but it only supports a small portion of the formats and codecs. In addition, there is no real-time transcoding in the free output, which then limits streaming capabilities considerably.
TVersity combines your personal media collection with useful web content like free video streams, RSS feeds, or podcasts that can be retrieved from the client on the chosen device. If you’re looking for a specific file, you’ll benefit from the media center’s outstanding performance, which is sure to impress even large libraries with more than 100.000 entries. A large part of their fast, uncomplicated file retrieval system is the powerful search mask and integrated cache function, which caches transcoded content. The Plex alternative has a REST API that allows you to integrate the media center into other tools easily.
Plex Very Slow Local Network
Advantages Balsamiq interface. | Disadvantages |
Platform independent web app available | Server application is only available for Windows |
Local Plex Server
A tabular comparison of the best Plex alternatives
Media center | Release year | Developer | License | Media library platform | Payment model |
Emby | 2015 | Emby LLC | GNU GPL, proprietary (Apps) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, NAS | Freemium |
MediaPortal | 2014 | Team MediaPortal | GNU GPL | Windows | Free |
Mezzmo | 2007 | Conceiva | GNU GPL, LGPL | Windows, Android | Freemium |
Kodi | 2004 | Kodi Team | GNU GPL | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Raspberry Pi | Free |
Stremio | 2015 | Stremio | GNU GPL | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Free |
TVersity | 2005 | TVersity Inc. | proprietary | Windows | Udemy php. Paid Pro edition, free basic edition |
Universal Media Server | 2012 | SubJunk and others | GNU GPL | Windows, macOS, Linux | Free |
Plex is one of the most popular applications for organizing your own multimedia collection on PCs, smartphones, and other devices, but there are a number of good alternatives that don’t have to hide behind the mainstream media centers when it comes to functionality and streaming quality. This article explains exactly what characterizes software that manages and plays back audio, video, and image files, and what Plex alternatives are available.