Code not working on your TV? Send us a question.
You’ve opened Plex on your TV and now there’s a short code staring at you, with an instruction to go to a web address on another device. It feels like a strange extra step, but it’s actually the reason you don’t have to type a password using a TV remote. Let’s get you through it.
Open Plex on your TV, console or streaming stick, and choose to sign in.
Note the code on the screen (it usually has four characters).
On your phone or computer, go to plex.tv/link and sign in to your Plex account.
Type the code exactly as shown and confirm.
Wait a few seconds. Your TV should sign in on its own.
The code runs out after a short time. If you take too long, close the sign-in screen on the TV and start again to get a fresh one.
Typing an email and password with a remote is painful. So Plex does it the other way around: your TV shows a one-time code, and you approve it from a device that has a proper keyboard. When you enter the code, you’re telling Plex, “yes, this TV belongs to my account.”
That’s all plex.tv/link does. It signs your TV in. It doesn’t install anything and it doesn’t charge anything.
You’ll want:
A Plex account (free to create, and you can do it right on the link page)
A phone, tablet or computer with a browser
Your TV or device already connected to the internet
The Plex app, updated to the latest version
If you’re planning to play your own movies and music, you’ll also need Plex Media Server running on a computer or storage device at home. Linking the app only signs you in. It doesn’t create a library by itself.
On your TV or device
Open the Plex app.
Select Sign In (or a similar option, the wording varies).
Leave the code on the screen. Don’t back out, or the code will change.
On your phone or computer
Open your browser and go to plex.tv/link.
Sign in if you’re asked. Use the same account you want on your TV.
Enter the code from the TV, character by character.
Confirm, and look back at your TV.
Within moments, the app should refresh and show your home screen. Some newer apps show a QR code instead of, or next to, the typed code. If you see one, you can scan it with your phone’s camera and skip the typing.
Work down this list in order, because the easy fixes come first.
Is the code still fresh? If more than a few minutes passed, it has probably expired. Get a new one.
Did you type it correctly? Check lookalikes, such as the letter O and zero.
Are you signed in to the right account? If your browser is signed in to a different Plex account, switch first.
Is the app up to date? Old versions sometimes can’t complete the link.
Does your internet work on the TV? Try opening another app to test it.
Check the date and time on the TV. A wrong clock can break sign-in.
Try a different browser, or a private window. Browser add-ons sometimes interfere.
Turn off a VPN on the phone or computer while linking.
Restart the TV app, then the TV itself, then your router if nothing else works.
Reinstall the Plex app as a last resort.
Closing the sign-in screen on the TV after reading the code, which creates a different one.
Using a code from an earlier attempt.
Expecting a movie library to appear without a Plex Media Server.
Linking while logged in to a work or school account instead of a personal one.
The only place you should type that code is Plex’s own website. Be cautious if a page asks for payment just to “unlock” the link, or if someone calls and says your account has a problem. Linking a device with a code is free and doesn’t need anyone’s help to be done safely. And never share your password.
What is plex.tv/link for?
It’s where you enter the code from your TV or device so that it signs in to your Plex account.
Does it cost anything?
No. Linking is part of signing in. Plex Pass is a separate, optional extra.
How long does the code last?
Only a few minutes. If it expires, request a new one on the TV.
Can I link more than one TV?
Yes. Each device shows its own code, and you repeat the steps for each one.
Do I need a Plex account first?
Yes, but it’s free, and you can make one on the same page.
I entered the code and nothing happened. Why?
Check that the code hasn’t expired and that you’re using the right account. Then wait about ten seconds and look at the TV again.
Linking Plex is a two-minute job once you know the pattern: code on the TV, sign-in and code on your phone, done. If you hit something not covered here, send us a question and we’ll try to point you the right way.