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Plex

Plex turns your Arq into a personal media server: stream your own movie and TV library to the Plex app on your TV, phone, laptop, or tablet — at home or away.

Plex uses your Plex account to sign in (not your Arq account). Install it from the Arq app store, and your Arq keeps it running and up to date.

First-time setup​

  1. Install Plex from the app store on your Arq.
  2. On a device on the same network as your Arq (home Wi‑Fi), open app.plex.tv and sign in — or create a free Plex account.
  3. Plex finds your server on the local network and links it to your account. Follow the setup wizard to name your server and add your libraries.

Signing in on the same network is what ties the server to your account, so do the first setup at home.

Add your libraries​

Point Plex at the folders that hold your media:

  • Movies — one folder, one movie per subfolder works best.
  • TV Shows — a folder per show, then a folder per season.

In Plex: Settings → Libraries → Add Library, choose the type, and select the folder. Plex scans it and downloads artwork automatically. You can add more folders to a library at any time.

Watch away from home​

Plex has its own Remote Access for streaming when you're not on your home network:

  1. In Plex: Settings → Remote Access.
  2. Turn it on. Plex will try to connect automatically.

Faster remote streaming (optional)​

For the best quality away from home, forward a port to your Arq on your home router:

  • Forward external port 32400 to your Arq's local IP, port 32400 (TCP).
  • Back in Settings → Remote Access, set the manually specified public port to 32400.

Without a forwarded port, Plex still works remotely but may fall back to a slower relay that limits quality. Port forwarding is done in your router's settings — the exact steps vary by router.

Hardware transcoding​

If your Arq has a compatible integrated GPU, Plex can use it to transcode video efficiently (helpful when a device can't play a file directly). With a Plex Pass, enable Settings → Transcoder → Use hardware acceleration when available.

Frequently asked​

Do I need an Arq account to use Plex? No — Plex signs in with your Plex account. Your Arq just runs the server.

Will updates interrupt my streaming? Updates are applied in the background and are quick; an active stream may pause briefly and resume.

Is my library private? Yes. Your media stays on your Arq. Only people you share with in Plex can see it.