Is Media Center the official Plex app?

No. Plex publishes its own app. Media Center is an independent player that connects to the Plex Media Server you run — and to a Jellyfin server too, if you have one — with profiles and kids rules managed from one dashboard.

Not to connect your server, or to watch at home. For watching away from home, Plex has announced that during 2026 third-party apps, Media Center included, will need a Plex Pass on the server owner's account or a Remote Watch Pass for each viewer. Plex sets these rules; see Plex's announcement and support site for what applies to your account.

Does Media Center see my Plex password?

No. You sign in on Plex's own page and approve Media Center there. Your households play with your server's own access key, not your Plex account, and you can disconnect Media Center at any time by removing it under Authorized Devices in your Plex account.

Can my family use it without a Plex account?

Yes. Household members sign in to Media Center with the email you invited. They never need their own Plex login.

Does it work outside my home?

Yes, once Plex Remote Access is enabled. Media Center takes every address your server has from Plex, including the one away from home, and follows it when your public IP changes.

How to Watch Plex on Apple TV, iPhone and iPad

Updated October 18, 2026 · 6 min read

You already run Plex Media Server. This guide connects it to Media Center so your household can watch on Apple TV, iPhone and iPad — each person with their own profile, and nobody needing a Plex login of their own.

Before you start

Plex Media Server running, with movie and TV libraries set up.
Remote Access enabled in Plex (Settings › Server › Remote Access) if you want to watch away from home — how to set it up.
Secure connections set to Preferred or Required in Plex (Settings → Network), so the server answers on HTTPS.

Connect Plex in five steps

Create a Media Center admin accountOpen themediacenter.net/admin/register, enter your name and email, and type the one-time code you are sent.
Sign in with PlexChoose Sources, then Add a source, then Plex, and click Sign in with Plex. Plex opens its own sign-in window: sign in with the account that owns your server and approve Media Center. Your Plex password is never entered on our page.
Pick your serverMedia Center lists the account's servers with the addresses each one has: Home network, Away from home and Plex relay. Pick yours; your browser checks it directly and lists the libraries it found. If Away from home is missing, turn on Plex Remote Access so your household can watch outside your home.
Choose what Plex serves and saveTick movies, series, or both. Only libraries your server actually answered for are offered. Every address is saved, and Media Center keeps them up to date by itself.
Invite your household and sign inUnder Households, invite each person by email. On Apple TV, install Media Center from the App Store and scan the QR code on the sign-in screen with your phone. On iPhone and iPad, sign in with your email.

Media Center on iPad: browsing a Plex library's movies

Running Jellyfin as well?

Add it as a second source and choose which server serves what — movies from Plex and series from Jellyfin, for example. Everything arrives in one interface instead of two apps. See using Plex and Jellyfin together.

Connecting a Plex or Jellyfin server to Media Center, the client app that plays both

Troubleshooting

“This computer cannot reach” your server while adding it. Check the server is running, and that you are on its network or its Remote Access is on.
It worked, then stopped. Removing Media Center under Authorized Devices, or signing out of all devices in your Plex account, disconnects it. Add the source again with Sign in with Plex.
Plays at home but not away. The dashboard shows that the source only works on your home network. Turn on Plex Remote Access until it says Remote Access is enabled, then click Update addresses — step by step.

Frequently asked questions

Is Media Center the official Plex app?: No. Plex publishes its own app. Media Center is an independent player that connects to the Plex Media Server you run — and to a Jellyfin server too, if you have one — with profiles and kids rules managed from one dashboard.
Do I need Plex Pass?: Not to connect your server, or to watch at home. For watching away from home, Plex has announced that during 2026 third-party apps, Media Center included, will need a Plex Pass on the server owner's account or a Remote Watch Pass for each viewer. Plex sets these rules; see Plex's announcement and support site for what applies to your account.
Does Media Center see my Plex password?: No. You sign in on Plex's own page and approve Media Center there. Your households play with your server's own access key, not your Plex account, and you can disconnect Media Center at any time by removing it under Authorized Devices in your Plex account.
Can my family use it without a Plex account?: Yes. Household members sign in to Media Center with the email you invited. They never need their own Plex login.
Does it work outside my home?: Yes, once Plex Remote Access is enabled. Media Center takes every address your server has from Plex, including the one away from home, and follows it when your public IP changes.

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.