As an owner of a Google TV Chromecast with Plex, I know how frustrating it can be when something isn’t working the way it should. I recently encountered this issue, and after doing some research and testing, I’m here to share how I solved it, as well as some other solutions I discovered. In this blog post, I’ll be walking you through how to get your Google TV Chromecast with Plex up and running again.
If your Google TV Chromecast Plex is not working, you will need to check that it has been correctly set up. It’s important that you do basic troubleshooting, such as checking that your WIFI is working. If Plex is still not working, you will need to investigate what the problem could be.
To check if your Chromecast Plex is correctly set up and installed, you should check that the Chromecast device you use is compatible with Plex and turned on. It is possible that your device is too outdated to use Plex, which you can check with a quick Google search.
| Key Takeaways: Google TV Chromecast with Plex Troubleshooting | |
|---|---|
| Setting Up and Installing Chromecast and Plex Correctly | |
| Compatibility | Ensure your device is compatible with Chromecast and connected to a reliable Wi-Fi or fiber optic network. |
| Internet Speed | Have an upload and download speed of at least 20 Mbps and an uncapped line for smooth streaming. |
| Plex Installation | Install Plex from the Google Play Store on your Google TV and create or sign in to your account. |
| Troubleshooting Plex Issues | |
| Basic Troubleshooting | Check internet connection, reboot devices, and update Plex app. |
| Optimize Plex for Chromecast | Adjust transcoder settings and optimize files for your device. |
| VPN for Restricted Content | Use a trusted VPN to access content unavailable in your region. |
| Other Solutions and Assistance | |
| Plex Support | Visit Plex’s comprehensive support page or log a support query for further assistance. |
| Pros and Cons of Plex on Google TV Chromecast | |
| Pros | Easy setup, VPN for accessing restricted content, file streaming optimization, compatible with modern devices. |
| Cons | Requires at least 20 Mbps internet speed, uncapped line, can be slow with extensive media library, troubleshooting difficulties. |
Table of Contents
Setting Up And Installing Chromecast And Plex Correctly
Most modern devices with an HDMI port can safely use Chromecast and be installed easily. Your device must be compatible with Chromecast and be connected to a reliable WIFI or fiber optic network.
It is highly recommended that you have an upload and download speed of at least 20mbps and an uncapped line. This will allow you to stream without frustrating interruptions, depending on how many devices are connected to your line.
Once you have confirmed that your Google TV and Chromecast are correctly set up, you can install Plex from the Google Play store. You will need a Google Play store account, which you can quickly set up on your mobile device or computer.
Plex is free to download and can be found under the Apps tab on your Google Tv’s home screen. First, search for Plex and select the install button. This will take 5 – 10 minutes to complete, and you can directly open Plex from here or in the “Your Apps” section.
You must create or sign into your account the first time you launch Plex. Creating an account is free, and this is easier to do on a computer but can be done on your Google TV as well.
You can also quickly sign into your Plex account by typing the 4-character code into your computer or even using your Google account to sign up to Plex. Creating an account will require you to have a valid email address.
It is relatively easy to create an account and get started with Plex, but if you are still having trouble using Plex after signing in, you will need to move on to troubleshoot your devices. Troubleshooting is simple, and taking the time to carefully assess why you aren’t able to stream the content you want will allow you to sort out the problem quicker.
If you are having trouble streaming content when you have signed into your account and set up your devices correctly, ensure that you have optimized Plex for Chromecast, as Chromecast has a smaller memory buffer than alternative devices.
You do this by entering your settings and selecting the transcoder button. Then, you can change the transcoder quality to prefer higher speed encoding and change the background transcoding preset to medium or higher. These settings limit the minimal buffering speed for larger files.
You should further ensure that you optimize the file you are streaming by selecting the ellipsis in the right-hand corner of the menu and customizing it to your device’s settings. Once you have eliminated the possible basic problems, you will need to spend a few moments getting your content up and running.
What Steps To Take If Plex Is Not Working
Read more: Cast video and audio separately with Chromecast
If Plex is not working, it could be that the content you wish to access is unavailable in your region. Using a trusted VPN will give you access to content only available in other parts of the globe and provide you with additional protection when streaming content.
There are several VPNs you can easily install on your device, which will allow you to virtually access content that is not available in your region.
The most simple troubleshooting step is often signing out of your account, rebooting your device, and then signing back into your account. This solution usually resolves the problem, but if Plex does not work after this step, you should continue troubleshooting until you find the correct solution.
Although this may seem straightforward, you should ensure that your connection is stable and that your device is successfully connected to the internet. Rebooting your Wifi device can often resolve the problem you are experiencing, especially if your power has been out or your area has a weak signal.
You should further ensure that you have installed the most recent version of Plex and that it is compatible with your devices. For example, if your Chromecast device is too outdated, it may not be able to run the current Plex software. You must verify that your server is compatible by checking if it is listed on Plex’s devices page.
Updating your Plex app is simple and can be done from within the Google Play Store app. You will need to sign into your Google Play account and go to updates. There you will see Plex listed if it needs to be updated.
If your Plex is up to date, you will have to authorize your device to be able to use your Plex account on it, and this is easy to do from within your settings under the devices tab. The issue may be with Plex’s server if your device has been authorized.
You should then check that you aren’t using a server that requires secure connections with an app that doesn’t support these connections. Your Plex Media Server and Plex App must be on the same local network, and the Remote Access option must be successfully enabled for the server.
If your app is not supported, you can ensure that you have a secure connections server enabled to preferred, although this is not required. You should check this through your Plex profile.
If you cannot access your server settings, you can load the local version of the Plex Web App on your server by using either http://127.0.0.1:32400/web or http://localhost:32400/web. Once you have signed back in, you should be able to access your server setting, and your Plex Media Server can be found using the Plex Web App.
Furthermore, if you are having an issue accessing your Plex account with Remote Access, you may need to identify your server. You can do this by selecting the “return to NAT/gaming” button on the Remote Access dashboard.
You will then need to choose Plex service from the drop-down menu and select your server. Next, you will need to identify your IP Address and add this by selecting the “add” button. You will likely need to restart the gateway and server.
In addition, you should ensure that you have assigned a static internal IP Address to your Plex server, which you can do from the home network page and by selecting IP allocation. This setting will allow you to find your server and allocate it appropriately.
On occasion, if you have an extensive media library (approximately 200+ media files), this could cause some Plex clients to lag and be slow. It may take some patience to access the files you would like to access.
It is best to regularly clear out files you no longer want or need to be holding onto to avoid slowing down your device.
You can try several troubleshooting methods if Plex is still not working on your device. Plex has a comprehensive support page that may be able to assist you if you haven’t found the answer to your problem yet.
Alternatively, you can log a support query, and the Plex team will further assist you. These basic troubleshooting solutions should, however, resolve the problem you are experiencing.
Pros
- Easy to set up and install
- Can access content not available in your region using a trusted VPN
- Can optimize file streaming to your device’s settings
- Compatible with most modern devices with an HDMI port
Cons
- Must have an upload and download speed of at least 20mbps
- Must have an uncapped line
- Can be slow if you have an extensive media library
- Can be difficult to troubleshoot if you don’t know what you are doing
In Conclusion
Read more: Chromecast distorted video
Often the most basic solutions resolve the problem if Plex is not working on your Google Chromecast TV. Checking your internet connection and that you have correctly installed Plex should always be your first port of call when troubleshooting. Plex has several helpful resources if you can still not use the app.
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