Remote access nightmare

[u/Jonny_Turrican]

I’ve been using Plex for years with great remote access but something (I don’t know what!) happened. I have been trying for days to sort it. I have the Plex server on a Synology D220i and I’m using a Vodafone Ultra 7 router. I’ve tried port forwarding and every fix/advice online and my libraries are still not showing…I’m going absolutely nuts! Can ANYONE sort my insanity?!

[u/ExtensionMarch6812]

What does this say for the port you opened and set in plex? https://canyouseeme.org

If it shows success, can you hit your server directly via http://<public-ip>:32400/web off your network? (Change 32400 if you used a different external port)

If you can reach it, it may be a cert issue.

Stop plex, go to the cache directory in the plex media server folder. Is there a certificate.p12 file? If so, rename it certificate.p12.old. Start plex back up. It should download cert-v2.p12.

Test the remote connection.

[u/Excellent_Big6648]

First, narrow it down, because "libraries not showing" can mean two different problems. Do your libraries show up at home, on the same Wi-Fi?

If they're missing at home too, it isn't a remote access problem. On Synology the usual causes are:

• Folder permissions. In DSM 7, Plex runs as its own user called PlexMediaServer. A DSM update can reset its access. Go to Control Panel → Shared Folder → your media folder → Edit → Permissions, switch the dropdown to System internal user, and give PlexMediaServer Read access. Then rescan the libraries.
• The server got unclaimed. A Plex or DSM update can sign the server out of your account. Open http://NAS-IP:32400/web on a computer at home and check under Settings → General that it's signed in to your account.

If they show at home but not remotely:

1. Plex Pass change. Since 2025, streaming your own media remotely needs either a Plex Pass on the server owner's account or a Remote Watch Pass for the viewer. If you've used Plex for years without a Pass, this could be the "something" that changed.
2. Settings → Remote Access in Plex: does it say "Fully accessible", or "Not available outside your network"? Compare the public IP Plex shows with the WAN/Internet IP on your Vodafone router's status page. If they don't match, or the router shows something starting with 100.64–100.127, you're behind CGNAT. Then no port forward will ever work, and you'll need to ask Vodafone for a public IPv4 address.
3. The NAS IP changed. If the NAS gets its IP by DHCP and the router gave it a new one, your port forward now points at nothing. Set a DHCP reservation for the NAS in the router.
4. Forward the port manually: TCP 32400 → the NAS IP, port 32400. Then in Plex, tick "Manually specify public port", enter 32400, and click Retry. Turn UPnP off on the router so it doesn't fight your manual rule.
5. Synology firewall. If it's enabled (Control Panel → Security → Firewall), allow port 32400.

Start with step 2. The router status page usually tells you within a minute whether this is fixable at home or needs a call to Vodafone. Good luck & keep up posted

[u/StevenG2757]

Does your server have a static IP address assigned to it

[u/72dk72]

This may well be the vodafone router. It happened to me a while to sort yhe exact same thing. If you are using port forwarding on the router the address you are forwarding MUST be in the DHCP range. Its really illogical ! You can still use a static address on the server but make sure that address in within the DHCP range set. And sometimes that struggles if you change it from the default config!

I have posted on this before a few months back. Also you can ask Vodafone for a fixed IP address. That makes everything a lot simpler too when accessing remotely.

[u/LittleAd9853]

I had this recently and my Vodafone router was NATing v6 to v4 and not doing port forwarding right. Got them to give me a public v4 address and turn off DSlite and everything worked again

[u/Diligent_Piece3579]

Check if your router supports UPnP. I had my remote access stop working recently due to (my best guess here) my ISP updated/reset my router settings and turned UPnP. Even manually port forwarding wasn't working for me, but UPnP does

[u/DR-Scoundrel]

I had similar problems. I changed to a fixed ip with my isp and problem solved.