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Question

Sonos app on wifi cannot see Plex server

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
June 10, 2024
44 replies
1771 views

SHORT VERSION
The Sonos app on my desktop machine shows content from the Plex server on my NAS. Sonos apps on my iOS devices on the same network do not show any Plex content. Why not?

DETAILS

My music library is on a Synology NAS.

I installed Plex Server on the same NAS.

I have installed Plex as a content service in Sonos.

The Sonos app running on my desktop machine sees the Plex server and shows its contents.

The Sonos apps running on my iOS devices do not see the Plex server. They show Plex as a service, but when I select that service there is no list of available content. It’s just blank. Looks to me like they are not connecting with the media server.

I also have the Plex app installed on the iOS devices. The Plex app on those devices is finding and displaying the Plex content just fine.

The NAS, the desktop machine, and the iOS devices are all on the same network. Their IP addresses are all on one VLAN.

The desktop machine is connected via ethernet. I’m guessing that’s significant.

The networking devices are Unifi, if that’s relevant.

The Plex server has remote access disabled. I assume that should be fine since all the devices are on one VLAN. Nothing’s remote. And one Sonos app is able to display the content.

VERSIONS

Sonos Controller: 16.2

Sonos OS: S2

Synology DSM version: DSM 7.2.1-69057 Update 5

Plex server version: 1.29.2.6364

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press250

Prodigy III

I see Plex in the new Sonos App and the content from my Plex server is seen & plays fine. No problems with the service. See attached.

Hi @Ken_Griffiths, unrelated/related question for you. Two some-odd weeks back you were kind enough to try an experiment on my behalf: creating a Sonos Favorite of a local library album (Genesis, Trick of the Tail) on the new Android app. Was that album on your Plex server?

I ask because in my case the local library album is on a network share, and my debugging efforts have not yet been successful. I’m keen to narrow things down in my quest.

Ken_Griffiths

I see Plex in the new Sonos App and the content from my Plex server is seen & plays fine. No problems with the service. See attached.

Hi @Ken_Griffiths, unrelated/related question for you. Two some-odd weeks back you were kind enough to try an experiment on my behalf: creating a Sonos Favorite of a local library album (Genesis, Trick of the Tail) on the new Android app. Was that album on your Plex server?

I ask because in my case the local library album is on a network share, and my debugging efforts have not yet been successful. I’m keen to narrow things down in my quest.

My NAS library and Plex library are the same music library share - is that what you’re asking @press250🤔?

There’s just the one set of folders/files that both the Plex server indexes (amongst other things - movies/videos/photos etc.) and the Sonos library points to the same folder structure - using a dynamic SMB v2 to v3 share. Screenshot of some of my NAS folders attached.

press250

Prodigy III

Hi @Ken_Griffiths, not trying to be complicated! I’m not a Plex user, so I was under the impression that bringing up a Plex server would replace using a network share … tho’ it sounds like you have both options pointing at your entire music library.

In any case, I think you’re saying that your experiment—marking Trick of the Tail as a Sonos Favorite—was via network share (didn’t have anything to do with Plex) so it was the same for both of us. Well, not entirely the same as it works for you but not (yet) for me.

Ken_Griffiths

Hi @Ken_Griffiths, not trying to be complicated! I’m not a Plex user, so I was under the impression that bringing up a Plex server would replace using a network share … tho’ it sounds like you have both options pointing at your entire music library.

In any case, I think you’re saying that your experiment—marking Trick of the Tail as a Sonos Favorite—was via network share (didn’t have anything to do with Plex) so it was the same for both of us. Well, not entirely the same as it works for you but not (yet) for me.

I can’t recall, @press250, can you kindly point me to our earlier discussion on the matter, just to jog my memory.

Ken_Griffiths

@press250,

I did just try it by the way and ’Trick of the Tail’ does indeed add to my Sonos Favorites, from my local library (not Plex), but it’s artwork/cover is not displayed correctly - was that the issue we perhaps discussed previously?

The album/tracks are there though and it will play after adding the album as a favorite.

rosswells127

Prodigy I

@Ken_Griffiths

Good to hear that your Plex access is working fine from the new app! Perhaps your Plex service is responding quicker than mine and others with this issue.

I am also using iPad on local network with Plex running on my Synology NAS using SMB 2 and above.

When I select Plex from the services list using the new IOS app I get a blank screen, if I try again it sometimes works, it will generally always work on my 3rd attempt.

I have no problems accessing Plex using the Sonos web app, the old Windows app, the old Sonos app (still running this on my iPhone), SonoPad app on my iPad, Plex app on my iPad, PlexAmp app on my iPad etc. So only issue is from the new IOS app running on my iPad.

I have a lot of Sonos devices on my network and have never suffered from any network issues etc.

I think the new Sonos app is timing out early when waiting for a response from the Plex service.

In the meantime I am tending to use SonoPad or PlexAmp to access my Plex music library on my NAS. I can also use SonoPad to access my Sonos music library which is also on my NAS (same folder as Plex library). SonoPad has direct alphabetic to artists or albums which is a feature still missing from new Sonos app!

I hope Sonos that can make changes to the new app to allow me to access Plex trouble free via their app, but at least I have plenty of work arounds in the meantime.

Ross.

Ken_Griffiths

@rosswells127,

Strange that you’re getting intermittent results with access to Plex. I’m not experiencing any difficulties with Plex on Sonos. Are you running the latest version of Plex server? My version here is v.1.40.3.8555 -

I do have a couple of NAS boxes with Plex sever on both and each seem to be working okay with the new Sonos App. Could there be an issue perhaps with NAT loop-back on your local router - perhaps try the router ‘with’ and ‘without’ UPnP (auto-port forwarding) enabled and see if that makes a difference.

Ken_Griffiths

@rosswells127,

Another after-thought - maybe try is to disable any power-management settings on your NAS, just temporary, and see if that changes anything, that said my power-management settings are just set at the default for my NAS, but it maybe worth seeing if that changes anything.

rosswells127

Prodigy I

@Ken_Griffiths
1) Was running Plex Server 1.40.2.8395, so have just update to latest.
2) I do have HDD hibernation set to 20 minutes, will temporarily disable as you suggest.
3) uPnP is enabled on my router, will temporarily turn off.
Will see how that goes and report back.
Thanks, Ross.

rosswells127

Prodigy I

@Ken_Griffiths
Ran new IOS app on iPad, selected Plex service → blank screen.
Re-selected Plex service → Plex results displayed as expected.

Ran the web app on my PC, selected Plex service → Plex results displayed as expected.
So unfortunately, the suggested changes didn’t make any difference in my case.
Weird one, but will continue to work around by using web app or SonoPad in the meantime.
Ross.

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