NVIDIA Shield Android TV and streaming game console just got better. The addition of Plex Media Server allows users to stream movies from the storage attached to the Shield TV to computers, mobile devices or streaming set-top boxes such as the 4th generation Apple TV. Watch your movies, see your pictures, listen to your music or enjoy other media from other devices at home or on the Internet.
We will look at how to install Plex Media Server on NVIDIA Shield TV. We’ll also explore adding folders from an external drive, subscribing to streaming channels, and using mobile apps. Finally, we will tell you how well NVIDIA Shield TV performs as a Plex Media Server.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9SAGdUvEHQ
Here is a list of things you need.
Plex Setup on NVIDIA Shield TV
go get it first Plex app and Media Server application and install them on Shied TV from Google Play Store. You can use your computer and install apps by clicking the button and then select your Shield TV from the popup box.
If you’ve already installed the regular Plex app and used it with another server before, it’s a good idea to clean it up and start over. I couldn’t install the server any other way. Things went well when I cleared the settings in the Plex app on my NVIDIA Shield TV.
To clear apps on Shield TV, go to at the bottom of the home screen and then find on the first line. and go to their apps and find them. Click one and then select . Go back using the back button on the remote and select the other app and do the same by selecting it.
If you’re still having problems, follow the steps above and then sign in. Plex account in a browser. In the upper-right corner, next to your avatar icon, there’s a drop-down arrow. Pick it up and choose it. Select from the left column and then select the tab if it is not already selected. If you see your Shield TV, click the little red X next to it to remove it. Take this opportunity to clean up other unused devices or servers.
Now let’s set up Plex Media Server on NVIDIA Shield TV. Launch the regular Plex app on SHIELD TV. When first launched, you will see the following screen.
Select it if it is not already selected, and then select . The application asks if you want to “create default libraries for Plex Media Server”. This will put folders like Main Movies, Movies, Pictures, TV Shows, Music to the local drive inside the Shield TV. If you only plan to use external storage, you can uncheck it. Otherwise, leave it checked and select.
On the next screen, the app warns you that it will ask for permission to use the storage. Select it and then in the warning popup dialog.
The Plex application notifies the user that it is ready to set up the server. Choose to start. When it’s done, you’ll see the following screen telling you it’s done.
If you plan to use internal storage to serve your media, you only need to copy some media files to folders using something like below. ES File Explorer. Those who purchased the 16GB storage version of the NVIDIA Shield TV should probably add external storage and point the Plex Media Server to the content folders on the external storage.
Setting Up Plex to Use External Drives Connected to NVIDIA Shield TV
First, choose your storage options. NVIDIA Shield TV can be connected to a USB drive, micro SD card, or a networked drive. Get an inexpensive USB hard drive or choose a USB flash drive. We like high volume and fast EMTEC SpeedIN’ USB 3.0 S600 Flash Drive What we recommend in a series of accessories for the Samsung Galaxy S7 phone. They come in 128 or 256GB sizes and make it easy to quickly move your media from a computer to a drive.
Connect the external storage to a computer that stores the media you want on your Plex Media Server. If not formatted using Fat 32, do it now. Request How to do it on Windows and on Mac.
After the drive is ready, create the following folders:
Also create any other folders you may want to add. Copy the media to the corresponding folders.
Note that movies or music with digital rights management (DRM) will not play properly in a Plex app connected to your Plex Media Server. You can scrape DRM or find other types of files. i use note burner To convert iTunes media to playable formats. It does a great job, but only works with iTunes content.
After copying the content to the external drive, remove it from the computer and insert it into the NVIDIA Shield TV. You may need to restart Shield TV.
It’s time to point the server to the external drive. go to plex.tv website and login to your account. Then click in the upper right corner next to your username. The web application finds your server and displays your media in a grid. If you don’t see any media yet, don’t worry because we haven’t added the external drive folders.
Hover over the word in the list on the left. A plus icon appears. Click on it to add a new library with a media folder.
Select the type of library you want to add (see above), and then select . A new window will open as below.
Click the button and it opens the box below.
The list on the left shows the available storage drives. Internal Storage is 16GB or 500GB drive in NVIDIA Shield TV. Also note that I have a network attached storage drive attached to my home network that appears just below Internal Storage labeled RT-AC66R-0250. You will also see the SanDisk SD Card that I inserted into the micro-SD card slot. Finally, I installed a 500GB hard drive labeled WDBLACK500.
Click on the drive with the folder you want to add. Then select the folder from the middle list. Click the button and the server will search the folder and find the files you added. It will then try to find the cover art to go along with the media file. This adds the folder to the library.
You can change the library names using the drop-down menu in the upper right corner of the screen. It looks like a gear icon with a down arrow next to it. Click to rename the library and select it from the list.
Add Plex Channels
Plex Channels allow you to stream content from providers that have created channels for use with Plex.
Click on the left list on the main Plex Webpage to add a channel. Login to go to home page plex.tv and click on it.
On your Channels page, click the button. Channels listed their streaming content through Plex Media Server. The built-in channels are not that good. I love Twit.tv, Vimeo and Tested for tech news and reviews. You can add a lot more content if you run a PC-based Plex server, but third-party Plex add-ons will not work with the Shield TV.
Install Mobile Apps
Now that the server is working properly, install a mobile Plex app on your iPad, iPhone, Android phone or tablet. There’s also a Plex app for the Apple TV 4th Gen. their website Lists all devices and platforms where Plex Media Player apps are running. Find an app…
Plex app running on Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Note the Chromecast icon.
Android and iOS apps work very well. I signed in to both and was able to watch a movie and even cast it to a Chromecast without any issues.
Plex app running on an iPhone 6s Plus. It also streams to Google Cast.
Reviewing Plex on NVIDIA Shield TV
I’ve been using Plex sporadically for a few years now, but this is the first time I’ve been this excited. It frees your computer. You no longer have to keep a PC or Mac running all the time. I know other devices can serve as Plex servers, but they are complex and not easy enough for the average person to set up.
The server on the NVIDIA Shield TV is easy to set up as long as you don’t run into any of the issues I’m running into. Since I had the Plex app installed before, it didn’t seem like it wanted to cooperate. I started by clearing the data in the app on the Shield TV and removing the Shield TV from my list of devices on the Plex website. It’s also a pain to have to add external storage options via a web browser on a computer instead of doing it from the Plex app on the Shield. Plex and NVIDIA need to fix this if it’s really going to be a mainstream tool for the average user.
With a little work, this is a great service. The apps are free, but the Plex Premium service costs extra. Users pay $5, $40, or $149 per month for a “lifetime” subscription, which, as always, is the life of the company, not the person. Premium provides users with the following extras:
I’m not sure the extras justify the cost. Try using it for free first, and if you want to have the above features, consider an upgrade. You can always try these for just $5 and upgrade to an annual or lifetime subscription if you’re satisfied.
