Do I need my Plex server URL for Media Center?

No. Sign in with Plex in the Media Center web dashboard finds your server and all of its addresses for you, and keeps them up to date. The steps on this page are for other apps that ask for an address.

Why use the plex.direct address instead of my IP address?

A plex.direct address is HTTPS with a real certificate that Plex issues for your server. Apple devices refuse plain http:// addresses and self-signed certificates, so http://192.168.1.20:32400 will not work in Media Center, while the plex.direct address does — on your network and off it.

What do the numbers at the start mean?

They are an IP address with dashes instead of dots. The local address (like 192-168-1-20) works at home; the public one works from anywhere when Remote Access is on. Pick the public one if your household watches away from home.

It is Plex Media Server's default port. If you set a custom public port under Settings → Remote Access, use that number instead.

Will the address change?

The long identifier stays with your server. The IP part changes if your internet provider changes your public IP. Media Center picks up the new address from Plex by itself; other apps may need it updated by hand.

How to Find Your Plex Server URL (plex.direct)

Updated October 18, 2026 · 4 min read

Using Media Center? You no longer need to find a server URL. Click Sign in with Plex under Sources → Add a source → Plex in the web dashboard: Media Center asks Plex for every address your server has — on your home network, away from home, and through the Plex relay — saves them all, and keeps them current when your internet address changes. The manual method below finds the secure …plex.direct:32400 address for other apps that ask for one.

For other apps: find it from Plex Web

Open your library in Plex WebOn a computer, sign in at app.plex.tv with the account that owns the server and open one of its libraries.
Open the browser's developer toolsPress F12 (Windows) or Option-Command-I (Mac) and switch to the Network tab.
Click any posterClicking a title makes Plex Web load it from your server, so new requests appear in the Network tab.
Copy the plex.direct hostFind a request to a host shaped like https://1-2-3-4.abcdef0123.plex.direct:32400 and copy only that part — the scheme, host and port, with no path after :32400.

Make sure the server answers away from home

In Plex Media Server, open Settings › Network and set Secure connections to Preferred or Required. To watch away from home, open Settings › Server › Remote Access, click Enable Remote Access and wait for Remote Access is enabled. Without it Plex has only a home-network address for your server — see how to set up Plex Remote Access.

Next steps

Connect Plex to Apple TV, iPhone and iPad or to Android TV with Sign in with Plex.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need my Plex server URL for Media Center?: No. Sign in with Plex in the Media Center web dashboard finds your server and all of its addresses for you, and keeps them up to date. The steps on this page are for other apps that ask for an address.
Why use the plex.direct address instead of my IP address?: A plex.direct address is HTTPS with a real certificate that Plex issues for your server. Apple devices refuse plain http:// addresses and self-signed certificates, so http://192.168.1.20:32400 will not work in Media Center, while the plex.direct address does — on your network and off it.
What do the numbers at the start mean?: They are an IP address with dashes instead of dots. The local address (like 192-168-1-20) works at home; the public one works from anywhere when Remote Access is on. Pick the public one if your household watches away from home.
What is port 32400?: It is Plex Media Server's default port. If you set a custom public port under Settings → Remote Access, use that number instead.
Will the address change?: The long identifier stays with your server. The IP part changes if your internet provider changes your public IP. Media Center picks up the new address from Plex by itself; other apps may need it updated by hand.

Get started with Media Center

Media Center plays the Plex and Jellyfin servers you already run on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Android and Android TV. It ships with no content of its own. The person who runs the server sets it up once; everyone else just installs the app.

You run the Plex or Jellyfin server

Create your admin account, connect your server and invite the people who watch. The Free plan covers one household.

Set up your household

Your name, your email and a one-time code. No card needed.

Already have an account? Sign in

Someone invited you

Install the app and sign in with the email your administrator invited. There is nothing to set up.