There are a lot of ways to set up your own media server these days. All you need is a capable enough old computer, some networking equipment and software know-how to get a small home media centre up and running in no time. That said, the process does come with several pitfalls.
In this article, we’re talking about Plex server authorisation errors, their causes and what you can do to fix the problem.
What causes this error?
There are a number of reasons why you might get locked out of your own server. Some common causes include:
- Outdated Plex version.
- Plex media server application not running.
- Wrong connections and configurations.
Also read: How to fix Plex not skipping intro issue?
How to fix this?
Here are seven fixes you can try out.
Restart the Plex Media Server
Restarting your Plex Media server can often fix any authentication issues. Additionally, the media server program can often turn itself off from time to time due to runtime errors or anything else that might cause the program to crash. Restart your media server and try logging in again to see if that resolves the issue.
Restart your device
Another thing that you should do is restart the device running your Plex server. Restarting devices can fix seemingly random issues without much effort and is always recommended as one of the first troubleshooting steps when diagnosing such errors.
Check your network
You need a stable internet connection to be able to access and stream your Plex library. Check to see if your device has an active internet connection. If you’re connected to a WiFi network, ensure you have enough signal strength and speed. If you’re on mobile data, check to make sure that you’ve got good network coverage and that it’s actually enabled.

Also read: Why is Peacock TV not working?
Relogin into the Plex app
Another possible cause of the error is a login error with either invalid credentials or an issue on Plex’s side which can cause connection and authentication issues. Log out and log back in again in your Plex app to see if that resolves the issue.
Update the Plex app
Running an outdated version of the Plex app will not only cause program errors but can also open you up to security vulnerabilities. Besides, if there’s a widespread issue in the app there’s a good chance that the developers have issued a patch to fix the problem. Update to the latest version to see if that helps.
Reinstall the Plex app
If updating didn’t help, try running a clean re-install of the Plex app. Reinstalling the app will get rid of any corrupt system files that might be interfering with the program’s functionality and give you a fresh start to hopefully resolve any authentication errors you’re facing.

Contact Plex Support
If you’ve made it this far and nothing else works for you, your best bet is to reach out to Plex support to see if they can fix the problem for you.
Click here to contact Plex support
Also read: How to fix the Plex playback error?