As the host of a large Plex server, streaming issues are just as irritating to me as the people I share my library with. And although setting up a Plex server is simple enough, there are always moments when you need to fix streaming issues on your Plex setup.

1Reboot Your Internet and Plex Server

Any time I have network issues, I reboot my modem and router. It usually fixes the problems by dumping temporary data and starting with a clean slate. Find your modem and router (if you have one), unplug them, wait 60 seconds, and then plug it back in.

For your Plex server, shut down thePlex Media ServerandPlexservices,then restart both, starting with Plex Media Server first and then Plex after. It also wouldn’t hurt to reboot the device hosting your Plex server.

2Double-Check For Any Updates

Once you’ve rebooted your Plex server, it’s also wise to check for updates, which you can do from Settings.

In addition to your server, you may also want to double-check if any Plex plugins also need an update. One ofthe best Plex plugins, WebTools-NG, is super helpful at keeping them up-to-date.

3Adjust Your Streaming Settings

Your network bandwidth and CPU can cause major bottlenecks if neither are up to the task of streaming high-quality movies across numerous users. However, you can make some handy adjustments to your Plex streaming settings to fix any issues.

In this case, you should also consider the hardware hosting your Plex library and server. You’ll need a device with at least an Intel Core i3 (or AMD equivalent), and if you want to stream 4K content, you’ll need an Intel Core i7 (or AMD equivalent). If you want to be specific,Plex recommendsa CPU with aPassMarkscore of around 2000 per 1080p simultaneous transcode (PassMark is a PC performance benchmarking tool).

You’ll also need at least 4GB RAM. Though the minimum is 2GB RAM, large libraries need at least 4GB, and you’ll likely want more to keep Plex running smoothly.

4Consider Booting a Few Users

Lastly, it’s worth looking at the number of Plex users you’ve invited and start cleaning house. At the very least, remove people who haven’t watched anything in a while. You can do that by visitingManage Library AccessinSettings. Click the X next to their name, and they’ll no longer have access.

Additionally, underLimited remote video quality, you may limit playback streaming quality. For reference, an internet connection capable of 25 Mbps is needed to stream 4K and 5 Mbps for 1080p. Unless you’re ripping Blu-rays to your Plex server, 10 Mbps gives users enough headroom for a stable connection, though you reduce this further.

Alternatively, thosesubscribing to the Plex Passcan put a cap on your Plex users’ streams. If you have a Plex Pass subscription, you’re able to head toSettings > Network, where you can limit the number of streams users can have simultaneously. It’s best to set that to one or two maximum.

Honestly, this is one of my favorite aspects of Plex. It’s easy to make some quick adjustments here and there if you’re experiencing streaming issues. Just limit that or tweak this, and your loyal watchers will get back to enjoying your awesome library.