December 13, 2019
Amazon Fire TV and TV stick are the great devices, in their own right, but are largely limited to accessing the Amazon content. But you can add more to it. You can take the low-cost device, which already works well and combines more content and more freedom. It is an excellent home media centre, which works well. It is also free (with the premium option). It is straightforward to set up and very easy to use. The Amazon Fire TV and TV Stick are both the decent devices, which have good hardware which is capable of much more than just accessing the Amazon. When you can already access your local. While you can already access the local media through the sticks, It is not as easy as it could be. Plex overcomes and ensures anyone with an hour to spare can do it.
How to Use Plex On Fire TV
Plex On Fire TV is used to get everything working you will need the Plex Media Server, an Amazon Fire TV Stick and the Wireless network. It sounds difficult, but it is very straightforward to do. To set up the Plex Media Server, download and install the Server software onto the computer which will act as a server. You will need to create the Plex account if you dont already have one to access the files. Follow the installation wizard to install the Plex Media Server, and it is straightforward.
Step 1: First, select whether you are installing on the computer or NAS (Network Attached Storage).
Step 2: Accept the user agreement and sign in to your Plex account.
Step 3: Name your server something good and select Next.
Step 4: Select Add Library on the next page, So that you can add your media to the server.
Step 5: Now you can add different libraries by selecting the category and select the ‘Browse for media folder’ on the next page. Then select the folder and then Add Library.
Step 6: Repeat this for all movies, music, TV shows, and anything else you want to add.
Step 7: Select Done on the next page to allow access to the server and allow the Plex access to anonymised data.
Step 8: Now the setup is finished, and you will be returned to the main Plex page.
One important thing to note when adding the media is Plex has the strict naming convention for the folders and files. If you do not follow the convention exactly, Plex may have the difficulty finding and correctly identifying your media.
Setting Up Amazon Fire TV
Now the server is running, and the media is loaded, we should set up the Fire TV. You will need to download Plex Media Player onto each device you want to access Plex, Which includes the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. This process would take less than ten minutes.
Step 1: Turn on your TV with your Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick Installed.
Step 2: Now access the Fire TV and select Search above the Home menu.
Step 3: Then Search Plex, and it should appear in the results with the yellow arrow.
Step 4: Select it and download from the product page.
Step 5: Now install the app and Accept the screen adjustments.
Step 6: Select Sign In and use your Plex account credentials.
Step 7: You may be presented with the PIN number. There should be a web link on the page to the Plex website. Follow it to the link your Fire TV with your Plex account.
Step 8: Once linked, you will return to the Plex interface on the Fire TV. From here you can browse the channels, movies, TV shows or other content you may have installed on your Plex Media Server.
When it comes to watching your favorite shows and movies at home, making a decision on which streaming device to use can be tough. From Roku’s entire line of streaming devices to Google’s Chromecast and Apple TV, there’s no shortage of streaming boxes and sticks that plug into the back of your television and provide hours of entertainment streaming over the internet.
Of course, instead of going out to buy a brand-new set-top box for streaming, if you’ve bought a television within the past several years, you’ll likely be able to stream all your favorite options right from your TV’s remote. Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are all included on most televisions produced these days, but the entertainment options don’t stop there. If you’re looking to expand your options for streaming video and you’re willing to put in some work, you can truly unlock some fantastic options for streaming video.
If you’re looking to stream Plex to your Samsung Smart TV, you’re in luck. Newer Samsung televisions are capable of hosting the platform, making it easy to stream your favorite movies and shows over your home network. Let’s take a look at streaming on Plex.
What is Plex?
Plex began its life as a spin-off, closed-source program that rivals Kodi in nearly every way, designed to stream your media over your home network or to computers across the internet around the world. Both Kodi and Plex are excellent ways to consume and stream media, and each has its advantages.
If you’re looking to use Kodi to install add-ons and builds in order to stream content from around the world, Plex won’t do you much good. But if you’ve built a strong collection of digital media on your own library, you might want to consider using Plex to stream to your litany of devices, including your Fire Stick.
Plex is a fairly simple program that allows you to stream your locally-hosted content to any Plex-enabled device. While you’ll need to run and manage the server on your own, it’s well worth using if you’re willing to put in the work (or if you have a friend build a server for you).
Installing the Plex App on Your Samsung Smart TV
If your Samsung television is from 2016 or newer and is running Tizen, you’re in luck—all Tizen-based TVs can run Plex, according to Plex’s own support site. On older televisions, Samsung uses their Smart Hub app for downloading apps, and some models do support Plex using this method. However, you’ll need to check this page on Samsung’s website to ensure your Smart Hub-enabled television supports Plex.
If you have a compatible TV, add the app using the Samsung Smart Hub or, on newer models, the Samsung App Store.
- Make sure your TV has an internet connection.
- Open the Samsung Smart Hub or Samsung App Store, depending on your model, and sign in if necessary.
- Select recommended apps from the main screen and either browse or search for Plex.
- Select Install from within the Plex app screen and let the TV install the app.
- Select Plex from your app list to open.
- Log in to Plex using the same credentials you use on your Plex Media Server.
Once you log into Plex, the app should begin populating your libraries and media from the Plex Media Server if it is running. Obviously, you need to keep your Plex Media Server switched on and available to be able to use the Plex app on a Samsung smart TV. Once the app has been populated, you should be able to stream media between your server and TV without any problems.
Troubleshooting Plex on a Samsung smart TV
I had a couple of problems with my setup that took a couple of hours to figure out. First, the app would open and then immediately close. The second, the app would open but not connect to the Plex Media Server. Both of which I was able to figure out with a little help from the web.
Plex app opening and closing on a Samsung smart TV
This problem took the longest to figure out. I had performed a firmware update on the TV to get the latest version of the Samsung Smart Hub. I had a good WiFi connection to the network the Plex Media Server is on and everything looked good. The app installed without a problem and appeared in the apps list. Yet every time I opened it, the app opened to the plash screen and then closed again. I had to perform a factory reset on my TV in order to get this to work.
- Turn the TV on and use the remote.
- Navigate to Settings, Support, Self Diagnosis, and Reset.
- Confirm the reset.
It takes a few minutes to reset and reboot but once done, the Plex app worked perfectly. Until I tried to connect anyway.
Plex Samsung smart TV app will not connect to the Plex Media Server
Once the Plex app would open and stay that way, I wanted to get up and running as quickly as possible. So not being able to connect the app to the network was annoying, to say the least. I had the correct IP, router, and DNS settings, the Plex Media Server was online, the network was good, the TV had an internet connection, Netflix worked fine but Plex would not connect.
Thanks to the internet, I found out that a secure connection within Plex settings was interfering with the app. Turning it off enabled the app to work properly. Go to Settings and Network Settings in Plex and turn off Secure Connection. Voila, it works!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cast Plex to my Samsung TV?
Yes. If you have a Samsung model that doesn’t support Plex you can use an Android device to cast your content to your TV. You will need a Chromecast to do this depending on whether your current model has casting functionalities. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eOnce set up, open the content and tap on the Cast icon. Select the Chromecast device or your Smart TV and the show will automatically begin playing.
