Plex Media Server is a great way to organize and stream your personal media library. It allows you to access your content on various devices. While Plex comes with its own players, you may prefer using other apps like VLC media player.
Table of Contents
Overview of Plex and VLC
Plex Media Server runs on a computer or NAS drive and manages your media library. The Plex apps allow you to easily browse and play this content on phones, tablets, streaming devices etc.
VLC is a popular open source, cross-platform media player that can play most video and audio files. It supports many formats out of the box and has advanced features.
Both serve different purposes but can be connected to enable VLC to stream content from Plex Media Server.
Steps to Stream Plex Library to VLC Player
Follow these steps to stream your Plex library via VLC over the local network:
1. Enable DLNA Server in Plex
Plex uses the DLNA standard for media sharing. To allow VLC to access the Plex library, this option needs to be enabled:
- Open Plex Web app and go to Settings > Server > DLNA
- Check the “Enable DLNA server” option
- Restart the Plex Media Server
2. Connect VLC to Plex via UPnP
On the device where you want to use VLC, open the app and:
- Go to View > Playlist
- In the left sidebar, click on “Universal Plug’n’Play” under Local Network
- Plex Media Server should now appear in the list
- Expand it to browse media folders like Movies, Music etc.
3. Select and Play Media
You can now select media files like videos or songs and play them directly in VLC, streamed from the Plex Media Server.
Casting Plex to Other Devices
Plex also allows casting media to supported devices like:
- Chromecast – Initiate playback in Plex app and select Chromecast for playback
- Google Home – Use Plexamp to cast audio to speakers
- Roku, Fire TV etc. – Install Plex app on device and connect to Server
The Plex apps have easy controls and interfaces to browse media and then cast it to the big screen.
Direct Play vs Transcoding in Plex
When media is played directly without conversion, it is called Direct Play. However, if the player device does not support the original format, Plex will transcode it on the fly.
Transcoding can be processor and network-intensive. So for best performance, use Direct Play if possible between Plex and VLC.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some things to check if you face issues streaming Plex to VLC:
- Plex Media Server is on and accessible on the local network
- The DLNA server is enabled in settings
- Firewall or antivirus not blocking communication
- Test with a simple media file like an MP4 video first
In most cases, Plex should show up in VLC’s UPnP section without problems and allow browsing and playing files available on the Server.
Conclusion
Plex Media Server manages and serves your personal media collection, while apps like VLC or Chromecast provide playback on various devices conveniently.
Enabling the DLNA server in Plex settings easily allows other media players like VLC to access and stream content from its library. This way you can leverage the strengths of both platforms.
