For most users, installing and configuring Plex Media Player is straightforward.
Download the App
The Plex Media Player can be downloaded for free from the Plex Downloads page. There are many platforms available:
- Windows – Windows 7 SP1 or later (64-bit)
- macOS – Yosemite 10.10 or later (64-bit)
- Embedded – Raspberry Pi 2 or generic 64-bit x86-based (x86_64) systems such as the Asus Chromebox or Intel NUC
From the Downloads page, choose the platform or device you need, and download the app.
Related Page: Plex Downloads
Install the App
Installation is generally via an installer package or follows a platform’s usual installation method.
Windows
- Download the Windows Installer .exe file
- Run the installer and follow the usual installation prompts to complete installation
- At the final screen, click the Launch button. If you don’t select this, launch the App from the Start Menu, or Desktop shortcut
macOS
- Download the Plex Media Player .zip file
- Unzip the file
- Drag the Plex Media Player app to the Applications folder
- Launch the Plex Media Player app from the Applications folder
Tip!: You can drag the app from the Applications folder to your Dock to allow one-click access to the Plex Media Player.
Embedded
Plex Media Player runs on top of a minimal Linux OS to provide an appliance-like Plex experience on your Raspberry Pi or generic 64-bit x86-based device. This results in the device starting quickly and taking you straight to the Plex Media Player interface.
In order to support this, a bootable disk image is provided that can be written directly to an SD card for the Raspberry Pi 2 or a USB stick for the generic x86-based device such as the Intel NUC.
- Download the Plex Media Player Embedded image for your desired device
- Write the image to your SD Card or USB stick
- Connect the SD card or USB stick to your embedded device, turn it on, and watch it boot directly to the Plex Media Player app
Related Page: FAQ Plex Media Player > How do I create the disk image for my SD Card or USB Stick?
Related Page: Raspberry Pi: Installing Operating System Images
Related Page: How do I set up WiFi on an embedded Plex Media Player?
Configure the App
Once you have the app installed, you can configure things for your computer or embedded device. There are many ways this can be done, and there isn’t one way that’s universally “right”, though some ways may work better for you. Some good information is provided in the Audio Configuration Guide.
Related Page: Audio Configuration Guide - Plex Media Player
Note: Configuration of WiFi isn’t yet provided through the UI if you’re using the “embedded” version of the app. To use WiFi, you’ll need to manually configure it; this information may help.
Using HDMI
HDMI is the most convenient way of connecting the computer or embedded device as it sends both video and audio in a single cable. To use HDMI, you’ll need:
- HDMI out socket on your HTPC
- HDMI in on the Receiver/AV Amplifier or
- HDMI in on the TV
You can use HDMI to connect directly to:
- your receiver/AV amplifier or
- your TV
Using Digital Optical Audio and HDMI
In some cases, you might want to avoid using your AV Amp to handle the video signal. Perhaps your amp doesn’t handle the video signal well and distorts the image or changes the audio lip-sync. In this case:
- Connect an HDMI cable from the Computer or Embedded Device directly to the HDMI input on the TV
- Connect a TOSLINK (Digital optical audio) cable from the computer or embedded device to your receiver/AV amp
Using an analog Stereo audio connection and ‘other’ video connection
You might want to use an analog stereo connection for audio. In this case:
- Connect an analog stereo jack from the Computer or Embedded Device to the receiver/AV amp. You may need a converter to convert to coax
- Connect the video out (whatever it is) from the Computer or Embedded Device to either the AV Amp video input or directly to the TV
If you have problems deciding which is the best way, visit the forums for advice.
Related Page: Plex Media Player Forum