How To Use Plex with Roku
TV entertainment is always getting better, and one of the coolest things to come out in the past decade is media server software. With this software, you can turn your computer or storage device into the hub of your own entertainment center. Plex is a great example of this kind of software. It allows you to set up a media server on your home computer or NAS device. Once set up, you can stream movies, music, TV shows, photos, and even home videos to any device on your home network. So if you have a smart TV, laptop, phone, or tablet, you can use Plex to watch your favorite content.
Plex works with almost any device that can connect to your home internet. This includes smartphones, tablets, computers, game consoles, web browsers, and streaming devices. One of the best devices to use with Plex is the Roku streaming device. In this article, I’ll guide you through the process of setting up Plex and Roku together, so you can enjoy all your media on your TV.
What is Plex?
Plex is a media server program that lets you stream your own media over your home network or even over the internet. It’s similar to another popular media suite called Kodi. However, Plex is more focused on streaming your personal media collection. If you want to use Kodi to stream content from all around the world, then Plex isn’t the right choice. But if you have a great collection of your own movies, TV shows, and music, Plex is a perfect solution. It’s an easy-to-use program that allows you to stream your own content to any Plex-enabled device. You just need to set up and run the server yourself, and it’s worth the effort.
Get Plex
The first step is to download the Plex media server if you haven’t already. Go to the Plex website and choose the version that matches your operating system. Plex is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and even certain NAS devices. After downloading, create a Plex account. They offer both free and paid plans. For most users, the free plan is enough. But if you want features like multiple users and cloud storage for your media, you can upgrade to the paid plan for just $4.99 per month.
Once you have Plex installed, you can start streaming your content to Roku and other devices. To use Plex on Roku, you need to get the Plex channel application. I’ll guide you through the process so you can get started quickly and easily.
Get the Plex Roku Channel
On your Roku streaming device, go to the channels store. Scroll down the list on the left side of the Roku home page.
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Okay, so here’s what you need to do: first, choose the streaming channels you want. After that, just scroll down until you see the Search Channels section. To the right, you’ll find a search bar – enter “Plex” there.
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- When your Roku comes across Plex in the Channel store, it appears on your screen. Simply tap on Plex and then press the Add Channel option on your TV using your Roku remote.
Alright, let’s get started with adding the Plex channel to your Roku device. Once the process is complete, you’ll receive a notification on your screen confirming that Plex has been added to your Roku home page.
To begin, go back to your Roku home by pressing the button on your remote that looks like a house or says “Go to Channel”.
- The first time you open the Plex channel on your Roku, you’ll need to sign in with your Plex account.
- Once you see the sign-in prompt on your TV screen, grab your computer or mobile device and follow the provided link.
- On your computer or mobile device, enter the code displayed on your TV screen into your Plex account.
Great! Your Roku device is now successfully linked to your Plex account.
If you’ve set up your Plex server on your computer or a storage device connected to your network, you can easily use Plex on your Roku whenever you want! Just select the Plex channel.
Conclusion
If you want to stream your own content from your computer or network storage device, it’s a breeze with Plex. And if you own a Roku, you can easily link your Plex server to your Roku device and access your media from the comfort of your couch. Sit back, relax, and enjoy everything Plex has to offer through your Roku. It doesn’t get any easier or more convenient than that – enjoy!
Do you have any suggestions for maximizing Plex on your Roku? Share them with us below!
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6 thoughts on “How To Use Plex with Roku”
Steve Griffith says:
My son shared his Plex library of movies with me. He has blazing-fast internet speeds. I can see all of his content when I log into Plex. The problem is playback isn’t consistent. Sometimes the stream pauses and resumes, and then it asks if I want to switch to a lower resolution. Sometimes it plays without any issues. My internet provider is Breezeline, and I have a fiber router and modem. Is this the standard experience when sharing 4k movies on Plex?
I have a Plex server that’s about 6 years old. I have a new NAS server, and I’m trying to connect it to my Roku. But it tells me it’s unauthorized, so how do I authorize it? I want to use both servers. I signed in to it, but it still won’t connect.
If I add Plex to my Roku streaming device, will I then be able to watch Plex through the Roku app on Sky Q?
James Anderson says:
I’ve already created a Plex account, but I can’t seem to get it to work on my Roku. What am I doing wrong? Every time I open it on my Roku, it asks me to sign in.
Jerry says:
The new version of Plex on Roku, which I’m trying to use now, needs to be reverted to the previous version or updated as soon as possible. None of my videos on my NAS play anymore with this new version. I keep getting error messages saying that my server isn’t strong enough to play the videos. How is that possible when it worked fine before? Also, the layout of the new Plex on Roku is awful. Now, I have to click through the playlists just to get to the end, and it takes forever to scroll down the list. How do we go back to the old version of plex on roku? This new one is terrible.
Agree about Plex making it difficult to access your own content – I finally figured out I could PIN my Movies folder to the top. You should try that.
I’m trying to find a way to send my Plex movie list to the Roku Search feature. Does anyone know how to do that?
Mark Hansen says:
In your article, where it says “GET PLEX,” you have highlighted “Plex’s Website” in yellow. But that link doesn’t take you to their website.
Glenda Karen Elliott says:
Most surround receivers can’t play Plex music in secondary zones or rooms because they can’t handle HDMI sources. And Roku has done away with all composite outputs.
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Heather
As a Senior Editor at TechJunkie, I have a passion for writing about all things tech. When I’m not writing, you can find me geeking out, gaming, and spending time with my family. Follow me on Twitter @BloomerHeather.