How to Claim and Configure Plex Media Server
This guide explains how to claim your Plex Media Server and connect it with your Plex account.
Your Plex details are available in the Client Area on your service details page. After Plex is installed, you will receive your Plex URL and local Plex URL.
The Plex claim code is valid for approximately 5 minutes. If the code expires, refresh the Plex claim page and generate a new one.
Method 1 – Claim Plex from the Client Area
This is the recommended and easiest method.
First, open the Plex claim page:
Log in with your Plex account. If you do not have a Plex account yet, create one first.
After logging in, you will receive a claim code starting with:
claim-XXXX
Now go to the Client Area and open your service details page.
Then:
- Go to the Apps tab.
- Find Plex on the apps list.
- Open the available management options.
- Choose the Claim option.
- Paste your Plex claim code into the pop-up window.
- Click the Claim button.
If the claim process succeeds, your Plex Media Server will be connected to your Plex account and ready to use.
If the claim code does not work, it may have expired. Go back to the Plex claim page, refresh it and copy a new claim code.
Method 2 – Claim Plex with claimplex.txt
You can also claim Plex by placing the claim code in a file named claimplex.txt inside your Plex Media Server folder.
First, open the Plex claim page:
Log in with your Plex account and copy the claim code starting with:
claim-XXXX
Next, connect to your service using FTP, SFTP or SSH.
Create a file named:
claimplex.txt
Put your Plex claim code inside this file and save it in your Plex Media Server folder.
After that, go back to the Client Area and update Plex using the Upgrade Plex Server button.
When Plex is claimed successfully, the claimplex.txt file will be removed automatically and your Plex Media Server will be ready to use.
The claim code is valid for approximately 5 minutes. If the code expires before Plex is claimed, generate a new code and try again.
Method 3 – Claim Plex Using the Local Plex URL
After Plex installation, you will receive two URLs, for example:
Plex URL: http://server.seedhost.eu:30200/web Plex local URL: 127.0.0.1:30200/web
The Plex URL is used to access Plex from outside the server network after it is configured.
The Plex local URL is used only for the initial Plex configuration and claim process.
For the initial Plex setup, you may need to access the local Plex URL through VNC or an SSH tunnel.
Option A – Use VNC Access
If your service includes VNC access, connect to your VNC service first.
You can find our VNC connection guide here:
VNC remote desktop – how to connect
After connecting to VNC, open a web browser inside the VNC session and open your local Plex URL, for example:
127.0.0.1:30200/web
Then continue with the Plex setup in the browser.
Option B – Use an SSH Tunnel on Windows with PuTTY
If you do not have VNC access, you can create an SSH tunnel from your computer to the server.
If you use Windows and do not have Windows Subsystem for Linux installed, you can use PuTTY.
Step 1 – Create a PuTTY Session
Open PuTTY and configure your SSH session.
- Enter your server hostname. You can find it in the Client Area.
- Enter a name for this saved session.
- Save the session.
Step 2 – Configure SSH Tunnel
In the left menu, expand SSH and choose Tunnels.
Your Plex port is the number after the colon in your local Plex URL.
For example, if your local Plex URL is:
127.0.0.1:31333/web
then your Plex port is:
31333
In PuTTY, configure the tunnel as follows:
- Source port: your Plex port, for example 31333.
- Destination: 127.0.0.1:plexport, for example 127.0.0.1:31333.
- Select Auto.
- Select Local.
- Click Add.
Step 3 – Save and Connect
- Go back to Session in the left menu.
- Make sure your saved session is selected.
- Click Save to save the full configuration.
- Connect to your service shell.
When you are connected to the server via SSH, open a web browser on your computer and go to:
127.0.0.1:plexport/web
For example:
127.0.0.1:31333/web
Option C – Use an SSH Tunnel on macOS or Linux
If you use macOS or Linux, open your terminal and use the following command:
ssh user@server.seedhost.eu -L plexport:localhost:plexport
Replace:
- user with your service username.
- server.seedhost.eu with your server hostname.
- plexport with your Plex port.
Your Plex port is the number after the colon in your local Plex URL.
For example, if your local Plex URL is:
127.0.0.1:31333/web
then your Plex port is:
31333
The SSH tunnel command would be:
ssh user@server.seedhost.eu -L 31333:localhost:31333
When you are connected to the server via SSH, open a web browser on your computer and go to:
127.0.0.1:plexport/web
For example:
127.0.0.1:31333/web
Complete Plex Setup in the Browser
After opening the local Plex URL through VNC or an SSH tunnel, follow the Plex setup wizard.
Sign in with your Plex account to claim the server. If you do not have a Plex account yet, create one first.
After signing in, wait up to one minute. Under Remote Access, Plex should show a green check mark and information that the server is accessible outside your network.
This means that Plex is ready for use.
When Plex shows that the server is accessible outside your network, you no longer need to use the local Plex URL. You can close your SSH session and access Plex using your Plex URL or your Plex account from supported devices and apps.
Access Plex After Configuration
After Plex is claimed and configured, you can access Plex from your browser using your Plex URL, for example:
http://server.seedhost.eu:30200/web
Replace server.seedhost.eu and the port with the actual details shown in your Client Area.
You can also access your Plex Media Server from your Plex account on supported devices and apps.
Troubleshooting
If you have any configuration problems or Plex does not become accessible outside your network, please open a support ticket and we will help you check it.
Verification
If Plex is linked to your Plex account and shows as accessible outside your network, your Plex Media Server is ready to use.
