What is Plex Media Server?

Plex is a platform for media serving & streaming personal collections of content in different formats & on different devices. Whether it is movies, television programs, songs, or photos, Plex is there to organize them all. Plex is software that you install on a computer or NAS & it organizes your media for you. Plex indexes & categorizes all the content for you so you don’t have to worry about where things are. The Android & iOS applications would be available to access your media. Apart from these gaming consoles, smart TVs, & tablets also have Plex applications installed. 

How to Use Plex Media Server to Watch Your Media?

Image credit – Plex

Here are some simple steps to follow:

1. Set Up Plex:

• Hardware: Start by downloading & installing Plex Media Server on a computer or a NAS with enough storage & processing power. Make certain that the device stays on & it is connected to the network.

• Software: Go to the Plex website & download the Plex Media Server application & install it depending on your operating system guide.

2. Add Your Media:

• Locate: Find out which folders on your computer or NAS contain all the movies and TV shows.

• Import: In the Plex web app, go to the libraries tab & click on “Add Library” to include these folders. Plex will then organize your media files for easier access into the library to be played.

3. Organize Your Media:

• Metadata: It periodically downloads other metadata like titles, posters, & even synopses from web databases to enhance the Plex library.

• Customizations: You can modify metadata if desired. Create additional libraries & sort your media files by categories/genres of your preference.

4. Access Your Media:

• Plex App: Download the Plex app for Smartphones, tablets, gaming devices & smart TVs. The app is available for use in different devices & it includes the following.

• Sign In: Open Plex app on TV or any other device using your Plex account details, so as to view your library.

• Browse: The application would allow the users to browse through the media library, read the content details & enjoy the favorites.

5. Remote Access:

• Plex Pass: To play your media content on another internet connection or to view content on two devices at once, the Plex Pass upgrade offers extra functionality.

• Configure: Make sure that remote access is on under your Plex preferences & that network configurations permit connection.

6. Enjoy Your Media:

• Stream: Relax & watch your movies, favorite TV shows, music, & photographs on any device which is compatible with the Plex application.

• Features: Check out Plex’s extra features like subtitles, PTV parental controls, & creating playlists for your shows.

Installing Plex Media Server in Minutes!!

Image credit – Plex

Follow these steps for quick installation of Plex Media Server:

1. Hardware: Ensure that you have a computer or a NAS device with sufficient capacity & performance to store & stream your media.

2. Download: Visit the official Plex website & then identify & download the Plex Media Server for your device’s operating system.

3. Install: This installation process can be carried out by following the instructions that will appear on your computer’s screen. You can view it by double-clicking on the Plex Media Server installer.

4. Sign In: Some steps require entering the new password if you don’t have a Plex account, use the one you already have to set up your server.

5. Add Libraries: Browse the PC or NAS & select the folders storing your media. Make sure to add these folders into the Plex library for Pascal to index.

Is there a Mobile Version of Plex Media Server Available?

Image credit – Play  Store

Well, unfortunately, Plex Media Server is not compatible to be run on a mobile device. Plex Media Server is supposed to work on ordinary computers or Network Attached Storage systems. It serves as the control & coordination center for the media library including movies, TV shows, music & photos among others.

There is the Plex app that you can install on your mobile device to facilitate interaction with the media. Technically, Plex app is a client application that connects to the Plex Media Server. The Plex app also enables you to search your media library & play your media directly on your mobile device. This configuration enables you to use your portable gadget to access other media with ease. 

What should you do if Media isn’t Playing on Plex Media Server?

Try out these simple steps if your media isn’t playing on Plex Media Server:

1. Check Compatibility: Make sure your media is in Plex-compatible file types like MP4 or MKV, & using appropriate codecs. If we are dealing with a file that is not supported, one could try & rename or perhaps translate the given file.

2. Verify Library: Physically refresh the list of contents in the media library by rescanning it. Ensure that file paths are correct & ensure as well that the files are still there in the original directories.

3. Server Status: Ensure that the Plex Media Server is operational effectively & there are no firewall or network security confining Plex Media Server.

4. Update Plex: Always make sure that you are using the most current versions of the actual server application & of the Plex app. Since new versions often address problems regarding compatibility issues & contain new bug fixes.

5. Network & Hardware: Make certain that your internet connection is good enough especially when streaming from a remote location. Also take care that your hardware is sufficiently equipped to decode media files, especially if some of them require transcoding.

Is Plex Media Server Legit?

Yes, Plex is genuine & is one of the most popular media server software. It has received positive reviews from many reputable technology publications: 

• TechRadar: Endorses Plex as an excellent tool for managing & playing media collections. Noting that it is a breeze to set up & has an immense number of functions.

• Tom’s Guide: Describes Plex as a great & powerful tool, & grieves in that it is loaded with features. Mostly for those who already have a lot of media content on their devices.

• CordCutting.com: Acknowledges Plex as one of the best solutions for streaming if you have a large media collection.

Plex has a free version as well as those which are paid for. While the basic functionality of Plex is available even for the free version, the Plex Pass gives such perks as hardware transcoding, cloud sync, & more content. Overall, Plex is a trustworthy & reliable application to organize your personal library of media files & stream them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Plex Media Server is a tool that has the potential to revolutionize the way you deal with your personal media collection. When using the Plex app for your devices, you will have a central place for watching all your content. Thanks to its GUI & functionality it will allow you to access your media with ease. So, go ahead & immerse & begin enjoying your media in ways you could never imagine.  Keeping all the things that you enjoy most well categorized & ready for streaming in mind, start exploring.

Amit Gupta

Amit Gupta is a tech lover and an enthusiastic blogger who completed his B.Tech in Computer Science. An enthusiast of emerging technology and discoveries, he shares valuable views and tips on his blog from his personal experiences. Through his articles, he tries to simplify tech concepts and put readers in the position to take responsible decisions in the rapidly changing digital infrastructure world. Follow me on Facebook and linkedin.

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In this article, we’ll disclose different means for How to Connect Your iPhone with a TV?, ranging from the conventional HDMI cables to the most advanced wireless technologies. Technologies such as AirPlay & Chromecast. It will be an extensive guide that will help you to easily mirror your screen to enhance your entertainment & work efficiency. Let’s start our journey today. I will show you how you can convert your living room or workspace into a showpiece. Powered with the best multimedia technology.

Methods to Connect Your iPhone with a TV

Let’s delve deeper into each method with more detailed steps for How to Connect Your iPhone with a TV?:

1. HDMI Cable:

Image credit – CONA

• When buying a Lightning to HDMI adapter, make sure it is MFi (Made for iPhone/ iPad) certified. Otherwise you won’t be able to guarantee compatible & reliable performance.

• Select an HDMI cable that matters in terms of the length. So that you can simply connect it to your device & TV, no matter how stretched.

• Before proceeding, make sure you turn off both your iPhone or iPad. Turn off your TV too to avoid possible damage when they are connected.

• Insert one end of the HDMI cable into HDMI port of the adapter, & then continue with the next step.

• Now, insert the Lightning end of the cable into your iPhone or iPad’s charging port making sure it’s snug fit.

• Use the free end of the HDMI cable to connect it to a TV through the dedicated HDMI port.

• Turn on your TV set, & redirect to the matching HDMI input channel through your TV’s remote.

• Select the HDMI input after that & switch on your device, either iPhone or iPad. Once you turn on the smart TV, the screen of the app should appear automatically on the device.

• Modify the display settings of your TV, if necessary, for a perfect view.

2. Apple TV (AirPlay):

Image credit – Apple Support

• Make sure your Apple TV is on the most recent software version for a smooth operation as well.

• Same as your smartphone or tablet, your Apple TV needs to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

• Proceed to your iOS device, hit “Settings” followed by “Wi-Fi” to confirm that the network connection is working.

• Drag down the top-right corner of your iPhone or iPad screen to go to the Control Center.

• On the menu bar, click on “Screen Mirroring” & choose your Apple TV to display from the listed devices.

• You can manually turn on AirPlay or can do through the passcode being displayed on your TV screen.

• After a couple seconds, Apple TV will mirror the screen of your device.

• Enjoy wireless mirroring ability to stream media, play games, or present content directly from your iPhone or iPad.

3. Chromecast or similar casting devices:

Image credit – Life Wire

• Once you have attached your Chromecast to the TV & set this up properly. Make sure your phone or tablet that you are using is connected to the same network as your TV.

• To begin with, go to the App store & download & install the Google Home app on your iOS device.

• Open the Google Home app & proceed with setting your Chromecast up. By following the instructions provided on the screen if you haven’t done so already.

• Open up the application you wish to cast in (e.g., YouTube, Netflix) on your iPhone or iPad.

• Please tap on the casting icon on the screen (it usually shows as a box with Wi-Fi waves above).

• Press on the casting button & select Chromecast from the list of options.

• If your iPhone or iPad is connected, the display will be projected on the screen via Chromecast. You would be able to stream videos, music or do presentations.

4. Smart TV with AirPlay or Screen Mirroring:

Image credit – Life Wire

• Check if your smart TV allows for AirPlay or Screen Mirroring mirroring. Having the manufacturer’s instructions at hand or referring to the user manual for guidance is very important.

• Make sure your iPhone/iPad or smart TV are connected & on the same Wi-Fi network.

• Please go to the “Settings” option on your iOS device & choose “Wi-Fi” to verify the connecting network.

• Swipe down from the top-right edge of your iPhone’s screen to visit the Control Center.

• Tap on “Screen Mirroring” & then click any TV you own from the list of available devices.

• Make sure to provide your credentials if needed to activate connection. You can do that by clicking the following prompts or entering codes on the screen.

• After pairing up, your iPhone or iPad’s screen will be displayed on the smart TV. Thereby enabling you to view content playback, gaming, or presentation on a bigger display.

5. DLNA:

Image credit – Macgasm

• Make sure your TV is DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) supported to enable media streaming.

• I strongly suggest you check your TV’s compatibility with DLNA. It may be on display label or user manual.

• Download & install a DLNA – IOS (iPhone or iPad) compatible app from the App Store. The latest popular selections are VLC for Mobile & Plex.

• Start the DLNA app on your ios device. Then browse through the media that you want to stream from that app.

• Try to access streaming media or that can be casted on a DLNA-enabled device (your TV).

• Choose your TV from the list of available gadgets in the DLNA app.

• Start off with playing the media that you have chosen. It should now appear on your TV screen by mirroring using DLNA.

• Use your iPhone or iPad now to play, adjust volume, or search for more data on your TV set forth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about How to Connect Your iPhone with a TV?:

1. What can I do to connect my iPhone or iPad to a TV through a wired connection?

• Answer: You may need an HDMI cable, & along with it, Lightning to HDMI adapter, connecting your device directly to the TV.

2. How can you cast an iPhone or iPad screen to a TV via your Apple TV?

• Answer: You should have an Apple TV. It is essential for you to connect your iOS device & Apple TV to the same network via Wi-Fi.

3. How do i mirror my iPhone or iPad content on a TV using Chromecast?

• Answer: To cast content on Chromecast, just plug one Chromecast into your TV. Both the Chromecast & the iOS devices should be connected to the same Wi-Fi. So you can use compatible apps on your iOS device.

4. Should I check anything before I cast my iPhone/iPad photo & videos to a smart TV?

• Answer: Make sure that your smart TV supports AirPlay or Mirror Screen feature; check both devices are connected to the same network & in the same Wi-Fi range.

5. What kind of technology enables casting the media from an iPhone or iPad to a TV over a home network?

• Answer: DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a technology. It enables you to stream media from your iOS devices through the home network to your TV that is DLNA-enabled.

Conclusion

We end our examination about How to Connect Your iPhone with a TV? We lay out some diversity of options for those who have different preferences or technological ability. It can be through the reliability of wired connections as the HDMI cables. Or the convenience of wireless solutions such as AirPlay & Chromecast. But even when it comes to the flexibility in DLNA-streaming the opportunities to improve your entertainment are numberless. 

By harnessing the power of these connectivity methods. You can seamlessly bridge the gap between your handheld device & the expansive canvas of your TV screen. Unlocking new dimensions of entertainment, collaboration, & productivity. So, go ahead, embark on your journey of connectivity. Let your imagination soar as you transform your viewing experience into a captivating spectacle that’s larger than life.

Read more tech tips & tricks, at TheTechAssist.

Amit Gupta

Amit Gupta is a tech lover and an enthusiastic blogger who completed his B.Tech in Computer Science. An enthusiast of emerging technology and discoveries, he shares valuable views and tips on his blog from his personal experiences. Through his articles, he tries to simplify tech concepts and put readers in the position to take responsible decisions in the rapidly changing digital infrastructure world. Follow me on Facebook and linkedin.

thetechassist.net

The post How to Connect Your iPhone with a TV? – Here’s All You Need to Know appeared first on TheTechAssist.

Restart your smart TV: Disconnect your smart TV from the source of power and wait for about 30 seconds. Next, connect it and turn it back on. This process resets your TV settings and usually solves connection problems.

Restart your Wi-Fi router: Look for your router and unplug it from the power cord. Wait for at least 30 seconds before you plug it back in. Let it reboot itself thoroughly. Restarting the router might handle any temporary glitch that could be the cause of the connectivity issue.

Once you’ve done these steps, try connecting your smart TV to Wi-Fi network again and then check to see if the problem still exists. If in case your problems persist, other factors such as network configuration or hardware problems could be involved. However, in most situations, just restarting can have the same effect.

Verify Wi-Fi Network Connection

First of all, try connecting to the internet using another device, for example, your phone or tablet. If the device can’t link to Wi-Fi, then it means there must be an additional problem with your internet. Correspondingly, contact your internet service provider to check if there are any network issues in your area.

Validate Wi-Fi Password

Make sure that you are using the right Wi-Fi password for your network and it has been typed in correctly as well on your smart TV. If you are not familiar with the password, usually it is on a sticker that is affixed to your router. Even if you’ve never changed your default password for safety reasons, it’s still a good idea to do so now. You can check our article about securing your wireless connection for additional information on the matter.

Assess Wi-Fi Signal Strength

If your smart TV is experiencing difficulty connecting to the Internet, it could be because you are receiving a weak signal from the router. 

Navigate to the settings using your television remote control.

Select General > Network > Open Network Settings > Wireless.

Look at the number of Wi-Fi bars displayed on your TV screen.

If you see full bars, it is unlikely that the signal problem is the source.

Nevertheless, once or twice bars may indicate that your signal strength is low and you need to address this issue.

Evaluate Router Placement

Check the location of your router: In case your router is lost behind furniture or in a wardrobe, try moving it to a more open place. Ideally, it should be positioned as close to your TV as possible to boost the signal strength and stability.

Utilize Ethernet Cable for TV Connection

With an ethernet cable to connect your TV directly to the Wi-Fi, you can avoid signal strength issues. Here’s how to set it up:

Make sure that your TV is next to the Wi-Fi router and has an open ethernet port.

Plug one end of the ethernet cable into the ethernet port on your TV.

Attach the other end of the cable to one of the available ports at the back of your Wi-Fi router.

Review Network Settings

Navigate to your TV’s network settings to ensure they are set without error messages. Check for the possibility of resetting your network settings, such as connection issues. If you decide to factory reset, keep your network information handy, as your saved settings will be removed. Now make sure you reset your network settings (if any) and reboot your TV to be sure. This will make the process of applying changes smoother and having a good connection with Wi-Fi as well.

Modify DHCP Settings on TV

If your TV brand is LG or Samsung, you can utilize DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol) to obtain a unique IP address for internet connectivity. Fine-tuning this option might fix your connection problem Here’s what you can do: Check DHCP settings. Go to your TV’s network settings and locate the DHCP option. If it’s currently turned on, try switching it off. If it doesn’t work, enable it to check if this will solve the issue.

Update Smart TV Software

If your TV does not connect to Wi-Fi, it is possible it needs a software or firmware update. But, for you to download these updates, you have to have an internet connection. In order to resolve this, you should connect your smart TV to your router via ethernet cable and then download any available updates.

You can download software updates onto a USB drive from your TV model’s manufacturer’s website if yours does so. Follow these steps:

Download software onto USB: Go to the website of your TV manufacturer on your computer and download the required software for your model number. Save it to a USB drive.

Install software on TV: Plug the USB drive into your TV. Your TV should automatically check and search for updates on the drive once it is detected. Follow the screen prompting to install the software. After setting up your TV, it will probably restart by itself clearing any software problems.

Do Factory Reset on Smart TV

If you are still having problems, you may need to reset to factory settings on your smart TV. Note that this will fully wipe your data, so make sure you have your TV apps configured and reinstalled prior. Here’s how to factory reset most smart TVs:

Go to Settings on your TV.

Choose Settings, then General.

Press Reset to initial settings.

Note that the factory reset process of smart TVs might differ slightly from one brand to another, hence refer to your TV’s manual for specific instructions if required.

Conclusion

Dealing with connectivity issues between your smart TV and the Wi-Fi network could be a very annoying process. Conversely, the steps in this guide allow you to identify and fix the issue. You can try restarting your devices, checking network settings, using ethernet connections and of course, updating your software. In addition, it is advisable to check for signal strength, DHCP settings, and any software updates. Additionally, a factory reset might be done in extreme cases, but users should be aware that will erase all data and then need reconfiguration. However, being patient and systematic, you can oftentimes reconnect your smart TV to Wi-Fi and enjoy your favorite programs and content again.

FAQs

Q: My smart TV won’t connect to Wi-Fi. What could be the problem?

A: Several factors can prevent your smart TV from connecting to Wi-Fi. It could be a temporary glitch with your devices, a weak signal strength, incorrect network settings, or outdated software.

Q: What should I do first?

A: It’s always a good idea to restart both your smart TV and Wi-Fi router. This can often resolve minor issues.

Q: How can I check if it’s a problem with my Wi-Fi network?

A: Try connecting another device, like your phone or tablet, to the same Wi-Fi network. If that device also can’t connect, then the problem likely lies with your internet service provider (ISP) or router.

Q: My signal strength seems weak. What can I do?

A: The Wi-Fi bars displayed on your TV can indicate signal strength. A weak signal can cause connection problems. Try moving your router to a more open location or closer to your TV.

For more Tech Tips, Visit TheTechAssist.

Amit Gupta

Amit Gupta is a tech lover and an enthusiastic blogger who completed his B.Tech in Computer Science. An enthusiast of emerging technology and discoveries, he shares valuable views and tips on his blog from his personal experiences. Through his articles, he tries to simplify tech concepts and put readers in the position to take responsible decisions in the rapidly changing digital infrastructure world. Follow me on Facebook and linkedin.

thetechassist.net

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