This tutorial will take a look at how to install Plex on a Synology NAS.
Plex is one of the best applications that you can run on a Synology NAS. In general, most people who purchase a Synology NAS store their media files in a shared folder, which makes running Plex on a Synology a great option as you’re running it on the same device that is storing your media.
Please keep in mind that the tutorial below is for a brand-new setup on DSM 7.2 or later! If you’re still running DSM 6 and are looking to update Plex from DSM 6 to DSM 7, please watch this video.
How to Install Plex on a Synology NAS
Prior to January of 2023, the process on how to install Plex on a Synology NAS required you to manually download and install the Plex package from Plex’s website. However, the package has been updated on the Package Center and can now be installed that way!
Step 1: Installing Plex on Synology
We will look at how to install Plex using Synology DSM 7.2 using the Package and Docker so that you can configure it using either option.
Installing Plex using the Package Center
1. Open Synology DSM and navigate to the Package Center, then search for Plex and install it. The package will download.
2. Select the volume that Plex should be installed on (you may have completed this step with a prior Package Center install already), then select Next.
3. You will be prompted with two options. The first is to run the normal installation and claim the server (link it to your Plex user account) at a later time.
It’s generally easiest to claim the server now so that it’s automatically attributed to your Plex user account as soon as the installation finishes. Select Install using Plex Claim Token and then click Get Plex Claim Token.
4. You will then need to sign in to Plex.
5. After you sign in, a claim token will be shown. Copy the claim code.
6. In the Plex install, paste the claim code and select Next.
7. Select Done to install Plex on your Synology! Plex will take a few minutes to fully install and when it’s done, you’ll see that it’s successfully claimed by your user account.
This is how the Synology Plex server will look when it’s successfully claimed.
8. You will receive a message stating that permission must be granted in order for Plex to access your media. There are very clear instructions given by Plex, but the main thing you need to do is modify the permissions of the shared folders where Plex will be reading your media and give the PlexMediaServer user the correct permissions.
If you do not modify the permissions, Plex will not be able to see your media files!
Example of permissions being altered
9. Open the Package Center, then select Open to launch Plex. Skip down to the media creation step to continue.
Installing Plex using Docker & Container Manager
You can easily run Plex on Docker (Container Manager) using your Synology NAS if you’d rather do it this way as opposed to running the Package. The benefit to this is that if you’d ever like to move this Plex installation to a separate device, you can copy the mounted volumes and easily migrate your media library.
If you’re interested in installing Plex on a Synology NAS using Docker, you can utilize Container Manager and the Docker Compose file listed below! Just note that you might have to change a few parameters (timezone, volumes, etc).
version: "2.1"
services:
plex:
image: lscr.io/linuxserver/plex:latest
container_name: plex
network_mode: host
environment:
- TZ=America/Detroit
- VERSION=docker
- PLEX_CLAIM= #optional
volumes:
- /volume1/docker/plex:/config
- /volume1/media:/media
restart: unless-stopped
Plex will now install and you’ll be able to utilize the Docker version as opposed to the Package!
Step 2: Accessing Plex and Configuring Media
You’ll receive a message stating that Plex would like to sign into your user account. Sign in to proceed.
10. Plex will automatically bring you to the home page. Select Settings in the top right (wrench icon).
11. Scroll down on the left-hand side and select Libraries.
12. Select Add Library, then select the Library Type and add the folder. You’ll have to navigate to the volume you have (most people will have their media in /volume1), then the actual folder holding the media. Please keep in mind that you’ll have to create one for each media type (Movies, TV Shows, Music).
13. Your media files will now start to crawl in the covers and titles! If you ever need to update Plex, you can do that by downloading the package!
Conclusion & Final Thoughts
There are technically three different ways that you can install Plex on a Synology NAS, and each option has its own benefits. If you’d like to use Hardware Acceleration (not shown in this tutorial), you’ll be forced to use Docker, but the package installation method above will work for most people.
Thanks so much for checking out the tutorial on how to install Plex on a Synology NAS. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments of the YouTube video above!
