Plex Media Server is one of the most popular solutions for organizing, streaming, and accessing your personal media collection from any device. Whether you have movies, TV shows, music, or photos, Plex allows you to store everything in one place and stream it across your home network—or even remotely. On FunOS, you can install Plex Media Server using several methods. This guide covers both methods in detail, starting with installation through the official Plex repositories.
What is Plex Media Server?
Plex Media Server is a powerful media management system that scans your local media files, automatically organizes them, and streams the content to your devices. It provides features such as metadata fetching, multi-device streaming, user profiles, remote access, and support for smart TVs, mobile apps, web players, and more. Once installed, Plex runs as a background service, allowing you to access your media from any browser at http://localhost:32400/web or from any Plex-supported device on your network.
How to Install Plex Media Server on FunOS
Method 1: Installing from the Plex Repositories
Installing Plex from the official Plex repositories ensures that you always receive updates directly from Plex. This method is recommended if you want automatic updates and long-term reliability.
Step 1: Open a Terminal
Choose one of the following options to open a terminal:
- Click Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
- Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
- Press Ctrl + Alt + T
Step 2: Update the Package List
Run the following command to ensure your package list is up to date:
sudo apt updateStep 3: Install the Necessary Dependencies
Install the required packages that allow your system to access HTTPS repositories and download the GPG key:
sudo apt install apt-transport-https curlStep 4: Add the GPG Key
Add Plex’s official GPG signing key to your system so that package installations from the Plex repository are trusted:
curl -fSsL https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-keys/PlexSign.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/plexmediaserver.gpg > /dev/nullStep 5: Add the Repository
Next, add the official Plex repository to your system:
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/plexmediaserver.gpg] https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb/ public main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plexmediaserver.listStep 6: Update the Package List Again
After adding the new repository, update the package index again:
sudo apt updateStep 7: Install Plex Media Server
Now install Plex Media Server using:
sudo apt install plexmediaserverThis will download and install the server along with all required dependencies. Plex will start automatically as a system service.
Step 8: Reload the Menu
To make Plex appear in the FunOS application menu:
- Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner
- Click Reload menu
Method 2: Using the .deb Package from Plex’s Official Website
This method installs Plex Media Server using the .deb installer provided on the official Plex website. It is useful if you prefer to manually download the latest version instead of adding the repository first. After installation, you can optionally enable the Plex repository so future updates come through APT.
Step 1: Download the Plex Media Server .deb File
- Open your web browser.
- Go to the Plex Media Server for Linux download page:
https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/?cat=computer&plat=linux#plex-media-server - Click the “Choose Distribution” button.
- In the menu that appears, click:
“Ubuntu (16.04+) / Debian (8+) – Intel/AMD 64-bit” - Save the
.debfile in your Downloads directory.
Step 2: Open a Terminal
Choose one of the following:
- Click Menu in the lower-left corner, then click Terminal
- Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
- Press Ctrl + Alt + T
Step 3: Navigate to the Downloads Directory
Run:
cd ~/DownloadsStep 4: Update the Package List
Before installing the .deb file, update your package index:
sudo apt updateStep 5: Install Plex Media Server
Install the downloaded .deb file using:
sudo apt install ./plexmediaserver_*.debThis command automatically handles dependencies and installs Plex Media Server on your system.
Step 6: Enable the Plex Repository (Optional but Recommended)
Enabling the repository ensures you receive updates automatically through APT.
1. Open the repository file for editing
sudo mousepad /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plexmediaserver.list2. Remove the comment symbol (#)
Find this line:
#deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/plexmediaserver.gpg] https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb/ public mainRemove the # at the beginning so the file becomes:
# When enabling this repo, Ubuntu 20+ / Debian 10+ will automatically install the signing key
# All older versions require manual installation of the key using wget:
# wget -q https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-keys/PlexSign.key -O - | sudo apt-key add -
#
# Uncomment this next line to enable the repository then update apt: sudo apt update.
deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/plexmediaserver.gpg] https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb/ public main3. Save and close Mousepad
Click Save, then close the editor.
Step 7: Update the Package List
Run:
sudo apt updateThis refreshes the package index and activates the Plex repository.
Step 8: Remove the Downloaded .deb File
You no longer need the installer, so remove it to keep your Downloads folder clean:
rm -f plexmediaserver_*.debStep 9: Reload the Menu
To make Plex appear in the FunOS application menu:
- Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner
- Click Reload menu
Launching Plex Media Server
There are two ways to access Plex after installation:
1. Via the Menu
- Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner
- Look in the Multimedia section for Plex Media Server
2. Via Web Browser
Open a browser and visit:
http://localhost:32400/webThis opens the Plex Web App, where you can set up your media library and start using Plex.
How to Uninstall Plex Media Server on FunOS
If you no longer need Plex Media Server or want to switch to another media streaming solution, you can remove it from FunOS easily. The following steps explain how to stop the service, uninstall the package, remove leftover dependencies, and optionally delete the repository and GPG key.
Step 1: Open a Terminal
Choose one of the following methods to open a terminal:
- Click Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
- Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
- Press Ctrl + Alt + T
Step 2: Stop the Plex Media Server Service
Before uninstalling, stop the Plex service to ensure all files can be safely removed:
sudo systemctl stop plexmediaserverStep 3: Remove Plex Media Server
Remove Plex Media Server completely from your system:
sudo apt remove --purge plexmediaserverUsing --purge ensures configuration files are also deleted.
Step 4: Remove Any Unused Dependencies
Clean up any packages that were installed automatically and are no longer needed:
sudo apt autoremove --purgeStep 5: Remove the Repository and Key (Optional)
If you enabled the Plex repository, you can remove it along with its GPG key:
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plexmediaserver.list
sudo rm -f /usr/share/keyrings/plexmediaserver.gpgThis step is optional but recommended if you won’t reinstall Plex in the future.
Step 6: Update the Package List
Refresh your package index after removing the repository:
sudo apt updateStep 7: Reload the Menu
To remove Plex from the FunOS application menu:
- Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner
- Click Reload menu
Conclusion
Plex Media Server is a powerful and flexible solution for managing and streaming your personal media collection on FunOS. Whether you choose to install it through the official Plex repositories or by using the .deb package from the Plex website, both methods provide a reliable way to get Plex up and running quickly. After installation, you can easily access the Plex Web App, organize your media library, and stream content to any device on your network.
If you ever decide to remove Plex, FunOS makes the process straightforward—allowing you to stop the service, uninstall the package, clean up unused dependencies, and remove the repository if needed. With these steps, you have full control over installing, managing, and uninstalling Plex Media Server on your system.
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