How to Delete a Plex Server: A Step-by-Step Process

What is a Plex Server?

A Plex server is software that organizes your media libraries and streams media content from your libraries to devices over a local network or the internet. It builds a unified media library from your personal media collections, allowing you to access and stream your music, movies, TV shows, photos, and other media from any device.

Reasons to Delete a Plex Server

Here are some common reasons you may want to delete a Plex server:

• Upgrade to a new server: If you want to migrate your Plex library and settings to a new, more powerful server, deleting the old server can help avoid conflicts.
• Troubleshooting issues: Sometimes deleting and reinstalling the server is an easy way to resolve technical problems.
• Start fresh: Deleting everything gives you a clean slate if you want to reorganize your libraries or change metadata.
• Remove unused servers: Delete old servers that are no longer in use to clean up your Plex account.

Deleting a Plex Server on Windows

Step 1: Make sure the Plex Media Server is not running on your Windows PC.

Step 2: Uninstall the Plex Media Server app from your computer’s Control Panel.

Step 3: Delete the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Plex, Inc. using the Windows Registry Editor.

Step 4 (optional): Delete all Plex library data and metadata folders from your media storage locations if you want to start completely fresh.

Deleting a Plex Server on Mac

Step 1: Quit the Plex Media Server app if it’s running by right-clicking it in the Dock and selecting Quit.

Step 2: Move the Plex Media Server app from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Step 3: Empty the Trash to fully delete the app.

Step 4: Delete the folder ~/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/ to remove all metadata.

Deleting a Plex Server in Linux

Step 1: Stop the Plex Media Server process.

Step 2: Run sudo rpm -e plexmediaserver in the terminal to uninstall.

Step 3: Delete the folder /var/lib/plexmediaserver/ to remove metadata.

Step 4: Run userdel plex to delete the system Plex user account.

Removing a Plex Server from Your Account

Step 1: Log into your Plex Web App and go to Settings > Server.

Step 2: Click on the server you want to remove.

Step 3: Click the “X” delete icon in the upper right corner.

Step 4: Confirm you want to remove the server when prompted.

This will disconnect that server from your Plex account while keeping your account and libraries intact. You can repeat this process to remove any old or unused servers linked to your account.

Alternative Methods for Removing Servers

• Uninstall Plex server using your operating system’s default uninstaller tool.
• Delete all Plex program files and metadata folders manually if the uninstall fails.
• Use a third party uninstaller app to thoroughly remove Plex server traces.
• Factory reset your NAS device or media server hardware to a blank state.

What Happens When You Delete a Server?

• You will lose access to all libraries, metadata, watch status and other data associated with that server.
• Client apps may show errors or have missing media until you set up Plex on a new server and re-add your libraries.
• You’ll have to re-build your libraries by scanning your media files into the new server from scratch.

So be sure to backup anything important before deleting a server!

Troubleshooting Server Removal

If you still see the old server in your Plex apps after deleting it, try:

• Logging out and back into the Plex app.
• Removing the Plex app and reinstalling it.
• Contacting Plex support to request they remove “ghost” servers.

This should fully disconnect the old server.

Conclusion

Deleting a Plex Media Server completely removes it along with all its libraries and metadata. This allows you to switch servers, reorganize libraries, troubleshoot issues, or simply remove servers you no longer use. Just be sure to backup your libraries first!

Following the step-by-step guides above makes permanently removing a Plex server straightforward on any platform. Taking a few minutes to delete old servers helps keep your Plex environment tidy.