so someone is inviting you to their plex server
Plex aggregates content from streaming providers like Netflix, Apple TV, HBO, and Paramount—but it also lets you or your friends add your own content as a provider. Follow these steps in order for a clean, focused experience across all devices.
Create your account
Make a free Plex account using Sign Up, or continue with Google or Apple if you prefer single-sign-on. This account is your identity that grants access to servers shared with you on web, mobile, and TV apps.
Open the Plex Web App
After signing in on the website, hit Launch to open the Plex Web App in your browser; this is the actual app interface, not the marketing pages. The hosted Web App is up-to-date and connects to servers (including ones shared with you) for browsing, pinning, and settings.
Install and link the apps
Install the Plex app on your Android phone/tablet from your app store, sign in with the same account, and you'll see shared servers once you've accepted the invite. On TVs and streaming boxes, install the Plex app, choose Sign In, and link the device using the short code flow so you don't have to type credentials on the TV.
Accept the invite
Your friend sends an access invite; accept it from the email or within the app so their server and allowed libraries attach to your account automatically. Once accepted, the shared libraries will be available on web, mobile, and TV clients under your account.
Hide Plex's own content
In the Web App, go to your account's Online Media Sources and set Discover Source to Disabled to remove Discover and "More ways to watch" overlays across clients. In the same place, set Movies & Shows (Plex's on-demand catalog) and Live TV (Plex's free channels) to Disabled so they don't appear or seed rows on Home.
Pin and reorder only what you use
Open the sidebar's More section to see everything available, including your friend's libraries, then Pin the ones you actually want in the sidebar and on Home. Use Manage Favorite Libraries and sidebar editing to reorder so your most-used libraries sit at the top and drive the Home screen.
Set playback and subtitles once
On big-screen apps, adjust video quality and allow Direct Play/Direct Stream to reduce buffering and unnecessary transcoding when your device can handle the media. In account settings, set default audio and subtitle languages and when subtitles should auto-enable for consistent behavior across your apps.
Prevent transcoding: set quality to Original
In Plex Settings, go to Quality and set both Local and Remote Quality to Original (Maximum) to prevent unnecessary transcoding. Transcoding happens when Plex converts your media on-the-fly, causing buffering and server load. Setting to Original ensures Direct Play whenever possible, giving you the best quality and smoothest playback without re-encoding.
Optional: mobile downloads
If you need offline viewing on your phone, downloads are a premium feature visible in the mobile apps when the downloading account has Plex Pass and the server permits it. Details and limits for downloads can vary with shared servers and content types, so check the Downloads FAQ if you rely on offline playback.
Quick troubleshooting
If a TV won't link, regenerate the sign-in code and enter it again while logged into the correct account on the link page or try the QR option if available. If you can't see the server while away from home, the owner may need to enable Remote Access on their end and you should ensure your network/VPN/firewall isn't blocking discovery.
You're All Set!
You now have a clean, focused Plex experience with your friend's content. Enjoy streaming!
Additional Resources
• For privacy settings and ad management, check out the Plex Privacy Settings Guide
• To manage recommendations and content discovery, visit Manage Recommendations
• For commercial removal and advanced features, see Removing Commercials