How To Install Plex on Synology DSM 7.0

A Guide to Installing Plex Media Server on your Synology NAS with the DSM 7 Beta

The New Synology DSM 7 beta has arrived and despite its huge array of new features, there are a few areas where some users who upgraded their existing NAS system from 6.2>7.0 have hit a wall ā€“ namely with Plex Media Server. At the launch of the DSM 7 beta, the Plex Media Server application was not available and this meant that users who use PLEX as their primary means of enjoying their media were suddenly cut off! Luckily, within days of the launch of the DSM 7 public beta, Plex Media Server has now been added to the available beta applications (currently version 1.21.0.3744), however, the installation has changed from what we are used to previously (arguably for the better ā€“ IMO) and today I want to give you a quick and easy walkthrough on how to set this up.

Plex Installation Guide on the DSM 7.0 Beta

Installing Plex on a NAS with DSM 7.0 (beta) is actually VERY similar to that of installing it on a DSM 6.2 Synology NAS, however, there are a few small changes in the process which allow Plex Media Server to access the correct directories. Previously these steps might be needed by most people but were not directed by the application especially clearly, so having these steps integrated into the formal setup is actually quite a smart idea by Synology. Letā€™s begin:

Step 1 ā€“ Head To The App Center

Step 2 ā€“ Go to the Beta Section

Step 3 ā€“ Find Plex Media Server and select Join Beta

Step 4 ā€“ Install Beta Application (speed depends on Internet Connection)

Step 5 ā€“ Select Location of where the Log Files will be installed ā€“ Can be left blank and it will save to default directory

Step 6 ā€“ (This is the NEW bit) Give the Plex Media Server Application Permission to access the media directories. Head to the Control Panel

Step 7 ā€“ Then ā€˜Shared Foldersā€™

Step 8 ā€“ Select the Folder that your Media is located in. In my case it is DS220PLUSSHARE ā€“ But it will be different on your own NAS device and based on your own storage setup

Step 9 ā€“ Select EDIT (at the top)

Step 10 ā€“ Then select the Permissions Tab

Step 11 ā€“ If Plex has created a local User (likely in DSM 6.2 . DSM 6 7.0 migration setups), make sure that the PLEX user account still has Read and/or Read/Write Access in the tick box list

Step 12 ā€“ Then (IMPORTANT) Select the drop down menu at the top and switch to ā€˜System Internalā€™

Step 13 ā€“ Scroll down to the ā€˜Plexā€™ entry and give it Read and Write Access, then save the changes

Step 14 ā€“ Head back into the App Center window and click OK on the Plex Media App install setup window

Step 15 ā€“ The Plex Media APP should be installed and you can go ahead and click OPEN in the App Center window OR open it from the main synology App dashboard

Step 16 ā€“ As this is a reinstallation of Plex Media Server on a NAS system as far as the Plex NAS app is concerned, the system may require PLEX to ā€˜claimā€™ the NAS once again, just head into the individual Server Settings and an option to CLAIM the server will appear in orange

Step 17 ā€“ Whether this is your first Plex Installation OR a DSM migration, you will likely need to establish the pathways for each multimedia file type.

Step 18 ā€“ Just head upto the ADD LIBRARY option and a popup will appear that allows you to select each Media Type

Step 19 ā€“ Then browse the directories (that you gave the Plex Media Application permission to access) and add the media that is appropriate

Step 20 ā€“ Now the Plex Media Server Application will scrape all the metadata from the site librarys (rotten tomatoes, IMDB, etc) and fill out all the slick PLEX GUI for your connected clients to enjoy.

And there you have it. Plex is now installed on your DSM 7 Beta equipped NAS System. Remember though, that Synology DSM 7.0 is a BETA! That means it is not perfect and not an ideal platform for your plex media server. So, use this guide to help you use the NAS for both DSM 7 and PLEX, but remember that you are much better served to switch back to DSM 6.2 for a more stable Plex Media Server and holding out till a full, official DSM 7 Release in 2021.

Want to learn more about DSM 7 and what Synology plan for 2021? Watch our video below that covers the highlights:

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      46 thoughts on “How To Install Plex on Synology DSM 7.0

      1. Brand new user here, have the 920+ and installed plex and granted internal user access like the video.

        When opening plex though, itā€™s prompting me to create an account? (Which I did), once logged in, there is no option to Add/Show my NAS???
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      2. As a new owner of a Synology DS 920+, your videos have been invaluable. I believe that I am pretty technically capable, but there are so many weird quirks in setting these systems up that I would not have been able to do it without your help. Keep up the great work!
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      3. its weird, my library is set up and movies uploaded to my DS920+. i am able to stream, however, when I turn of my computer, the library is no longer available. is anyone having similar issue?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      4. error: “No soup for you.” I’m sure all my permissions are correct.
        In my case, PMS was never installed. Running DSM 7.0.1-42218 Update 3. That’s the the app I want the most, and that’s the only app that does not work. Thank you for all the tutorial sir. I bought the DS920+ thanks to you.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      5. I had to give up before I smashed my laptop to bits in frustration. Plex refuses to organise my tv shows, and I have a tonne of them, almost 6tb worth. It’s organising all the episode ones together, all the episode twos together and so on, that’s when it sees them at all. Video station works so much better. I might have another go when I calm down a bit
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      6. Glad for anyone that this worked for, but I could not get it to work. For anyone with my problems, I ended up having to download the plex install for DSM 7 from their website, then do a manual install of it and use the claim token method when installing. I then had to open plex form anywhere BUT the NAS menu (just open it from a web browser works). That initiated the server setup for me
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      7. Great video. I have just updated to DSM 7 & could not get Plex to find multimedia library, tried following a couple of other videos with no success, your video got me fully sorted, thanks – much appreciated.
        Brian
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      8. This problem may have been the result of an unclaimed server. I spent hours finding this solution for my newly installed plex server.

        Luckily, it’s an easy fix!

        Step 1:
        Log in to NAS using the IP Address on browser as shown in example -> (http://10.0.0.00/web’) Don’t forget to replace example IP with your NAS IP address.

        Step 2:
        Log in with credentials. I used an admin account

        Step 3:
        Run and/or open Plex app.

        Step 4:
        Follow instructions to claim server from the plex application

        Need your IP?
        control panel > connectivity > network > network interface (next to “LAN” connected)

      9. I need some help. I’m totally new at this, but I’ve alterantely installed the Plex beta on DSM7, as well as a manual install of Plex from their site. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled, ticked all the boxes under shared/permissions and no matter what I do, when I run Plex I get “Not Authorized” or “No Soup for you”. I’ve been repeating this for about 4+ hours. Trying different walk-throughs/procedures. Any tips?

        Also, your Youtube videos are outstanding.

        Thank you for your time.

      10. Yep this didnā€™t help when I go to shared folder volume 1 is Plex I canā€™t open that thru control panel to get to where my media is only thru file station where have I gone wrong
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      11. Can you help me? recently i reinstalled the plex. previously my ds918+ have a plex folder where i can sideload other plug-in. after i reinstalled the Plex folder missing. any idea where it go? i wanted to reload some plugin i’m using
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      12. Thanks for the informative post, just wondering if there is a best practice for where on the volume the library folders should be? Would you use the Video and music folders created by the NAS, make your own media folder at the root, In a home or homes folder?

      13. Wrong information. I enjoy all your vids. Just wanted to comment on where you mentioned (but remember that you are much better served to switch back to DSM 6.2 for a more stable Plex Media Server and holding out till a full, official DSM 7 Release in 2021). My understanding is once you upgrade to Beta you can not return to your happy place 6.2.x. I suppose you can do a complete wipe and start over. Thanks for all your great advise.

        from Synology release notes : https://www.synology.com/en-us/beta/2020_DSM_7_0/release_note

        Not downgradable – After installation, you will not be able to roll back to the previous official version of this software.