Setup self-hosted Plex Media Server in Docker

updated

One of the most popular services to self-host in Plex Media Server, which serves your personal media library with a nice Netflix-like UI. Though you can install and run it bare-metal, the most common and easiest way is in a Docker container. Here's how.

Table of Contents

  1. Installing Docker
  2. Preparing and the Docker Compose file
  3. Starting the container and configuring Plex
  4. References

Installing Docker

In 2024, the recommended (and easiest) way to install Docker is to just run their official install script from the command line:

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

This automatically installs Docker and the Compose plugin with all dependencies.

Preparing the Docker Compose file

Though Plex has an official Docker image, I highly suggest you instead use the Linuxserver image, which is built and maintained by the Linuxserver community. I run the Linuxserver image of Plex without issue, and it seems that is also the case with most self-hosters.

Here is an example compose.yml file to setup Plex:

services:
  plex:
    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/plex:latest
    container_name: plex
    network_mode: host
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=1000
    ports:
    volumes:
      - ~/docker/plex:/config
      - ~/media/tv:/tv
      - ~/media/movies:/movies
      - ~/media/music:/music
      - ~/media/photos:/photos
    restart: unless-stopped

Let’s break down what each of these parameters do:

ParamterFunction
imageHere we’re using the latest version of the Linuxserver-maintained image
container_nameOptional, but you should give your containers a name for clarity
network_mode: hostThis is required to run Plex on Linux, but cannot be used when running Plex on Windows or WSL
PUID=1000
PGID=1000		These env variable sets a UID and GID for Plex and should match the owner of the volumes you are adding; check your UID and GID with the command id
portsThis will map ports on your machine (left of the colon) to ports inside the container (right of colon) — optional in Linux but required in Windows and WSL
volumesHere we’re mapping local directories (left of the colon) to directories inside the container (right of the colon)
restartThis tells Docker under what circumstances to restart the container when it is stopped — the options are no, always, on-failure and unless-stopped

Starting the container and configuring Plex

Once your compose file is ready, use the command docker compose up -d from within the same directory as the compose.yml to run it. After completion, use the command sudo docker ps to verify the container is up and running. You should see output similar to the below:

CONTAINER ID   IMAGE                             COMMAND   CREATED          STATUS          PORTS                                                                                      NAMES
8bb6d7d7786f   lscr.io/linuxserver/plex:latest   "/init"   25 seconds ago   Up 24 seconds   1900/udp, 3005/tcp, 8324/tcp, 5353/udp, 32410/udp, 32400/tcp, 32412-32414/udp, 32469/tcp   plex

Good to go. Now to configure Plex you’ll need to access it’s web UI, which by default is at (for example) http://192.168.1.100:32400/web. You’ll be asked to login. (A Plex account is required.)

Plex server login.

After signing in, after a few explanatory pages, you’ll arrive at the Server Setup page. Name your server, uncheck the checkbox unless you’ll be making Plex available from outside your network (not recommended and not covered in this guide), and click Next.

Making the Plex server.

You’ll then be able to add folders with your media to the Plex library. Click the Add Library button.

Adding a library in Plex.

On the following page, you’ll be able to add media directories to each Library Type. We’ll use Movies as an example, select it then click the Add button.

Adding movie directory to Plex library.

Next choose the local directory from the list, in this case movies (the Docker container’s directory mapped to ~/media/movies), and click _Add.

Adding movie directory to Plex library.

Your movies should now appear within the Movies section of the Plex UI. Repeat the process to add other directories for your TV, Music and Photos libraries. And you’re done! You can now watch Plex right in the web UI, or (ideally) by downloading and signing into the Plex app on devices in your network.

References