A small home on the internet, under the mountain.

Watch Open Plex and sign in. New here? Start with the guide below. Status Is the server up? Check here before asking me.

New to Plex? Start here

Plex is a free app that streams movies, TV and music from my server to your phone, TV or browser. It takes about five minutes to set up, once. Tap a section to open or close it.

1. Set up your account
  1. Make a free Plex account at plex.tv (email, Google or Apple sign-in all work).
  2. Send me the email address you used, so I can invite you to my server.
  3. Accept the invite. You'll get an email, and Plex also shows it in the app under your account's notifications.
  4. Open Plex anywhere and sign in: a web browser, a phone or tablet, or a TV or streaming stick (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, most smart TVs and game consoles have a Plex app).

You shouldn't have to pay for anything. If an app asks for money, tell me before you do.

2. Find my stuff, not Plex's

Plex's apps mix my server's library with Plex's own free streaming catalog, Discover and Watchlist. That's the confusing part. My server shows up under its own name:

  • Look for Robflix in the sidebar or menu. Everything under it is on my server.
  • Open one of its libraries to browse what I have: Movies, TV Shows, Children's Movies, Children's TV and Music. Kids' stuff has its own two libraries, so it won't be mixed in with the grown-up ones.
  • Things under Discover, Free Movies & TV, Live TV or ads-supported rows are Plex's catalog, not mine. They may have ads, and I can't add to them.
  • Use the search box, and look at the little label showing where a result lives. If it's not from Robflix, it's not mine.

Plex changes its menus often. If yours looks different, ask me and I'll point you to the right spot. In the app settings you can usually turn off Plex's own online content if you'd rather not see it.

3. Want something I don't have?

Add it to your Plex Watchlist. In Plex, open any movie or show (from search or Discover) and choose Add to Watchlist, usually a bookmark or ribbon button. My server checks the watchlists automatically and tries to download what's on them. When it arrives, it shows up under Robflix like everything else.

It isn't instant. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days, and now and then something can't be found. If you've waited a while, ask me.

4. How it works

The movies, shows and music live on a computer in my house. When you press play, Plex sends the video from there to your device over the internet. Your Plex account is only the key that gets you in. Nothing is installed on your end besides the app.

If my server is off or my internet is down, Plex can't reach it. The status page tells you which. The server also restarts for a few minutes on Sundays around midnight (US Eastern).

5. Something's wrong
  • Robflix isn't listed. You may not have accepted the invite yet. Check your email, or tell me the address you used.
  • Buffering or stuttering. In the player's settings, lower the video quality. A slower connection (or a very high-quality file) is the usual cause.
  • It says the server is unavailable. Check the status page first.
  • Missing something you wanted? Just ask.