How to Setup PlexConnect Apple TV 3 on Windows 10, (no jailbreak)
Updated on August 15th, 2020, if you have a jailbroken AppleTV follow the steps Here
Pre-requisites
What is PlexConnect
Install PlexConnect
Install Required Certificates
Set PlexConnect as a service
Change the Trailers Icon & Set DNS
Install Required Certificate
Troubleshooting
Pre-requisites
Before we begin it’s important to note what we need:
- Plex Server up and running
- Apple TV 2 or 3 (Jailbreak not required)
- Plex PC must have a Static IP (DHCP reservation at the router is recommended)
- Download the ClickyTV PlexConnect package
What is PlexConnect
PlexConnect has been around for a few years, this little piece of software tricks the Apple TV into thinking that Plex is the Trailer app server, brilliant!
In this tutorial we will set up Plex on the Apple TV 3, if you have an Apple TV 2 feel free to follow along as well, we will run PlexConnect as a service so we don’t have to turn it on all the time, and we will do this on Windows 10 and Apple TV running the iOS 7.2
This will be a long and tedious process, make sure you take your time and follow the steps correctly
Install PlexConnect
Let’s Begin, first thing is first, PlexConnect runs on Python, so let’s install Python 2.7.6 from the provided download package above, once Python install is about to begin, please accept the UAC alert
Copy the PlexConnect folder within the provided package and paste it in the following directory:
C:\Program Files (x86)
Install Required Certificates
In order to generate the required certificates, we need to install Win32OpenSSL from the provided package
After Open SSL is installed go into the following directory
C:\Program Files (x86)\PlexConnect-0.6\assets\certificates
You will find a cert.create.bat file, this file will create 3 important certificate files
Hold down Shift, right-click the file and Run as Administrator
You should see 4 new files within this folder like the illustration below, if you don’t, hold shift and just double click the batch file
Head into C:\Program Files (x86)\PlexConnect-0.6 and double click PlexConnect.py, you should see the following
take note of IP_self this is your IP address it isn’t required but definitely recommended that you set up a static IP, preferable through DHCP reservation, the link is at the top of this article under prerequisites.
If you notice any errors you will need to troubleshoot them, just so you understand, PlexConnect needs TCP port 80 and 443 in order to run properly if either one of those ports is in use before you run Plex Connect you will see an error
Set PlexConnect as a service
please note this is not required but is recommended
What is a Service?
Services are like programs you don’t see, but they are running in the background and since we have to manually start and stop PlexConnect it makes perfect sense to run it as a Windows Service as it loads automatically in the background, no need to intervene
In order to run PlexConnect as a service, we need to install pywin32 from the provided software, once it has been installed go to your PlexConnect Folder we put in the Program Files,
C:\Program Files (x86)\PlexConnect-06\support\Win
there will be 4 batch files that can be used to install, uninstall and start or stop the service, before we proceed, make sure PlexConnect is not running if it is, go to the Python window click the window and press Ctrl+C to close, do not just close the window, right-click the install batch file and run as administrator, you should get a message like this:
Accept the UAC and you should see the following
Now click Search next to the Windows Start button and type “services”, launch the Services app and look for PlexConnect-Service
Currently, PlexConnect is set to run manually, we need it to run automatically, double click PlexConnect service to open the properties, look for startup type and select Automatic(Delayed Start) from the drop-down menu, and hit Apply, this will make Plex Connect start up automatically in the background.
PlexConnect is now set to run when your computer starts up, we just need to Reboot the computer and set up the Apple TV, just take note of the IP address you dedicated to your computer above.
Change the Trailers Icon & Set DNS
If you have restarted your computer, please make sure PlexConnect is running as a service as outlined in the last step.
Please note Plex and the Apple Tv need to be on the same network.
Head over to your router that your Apple TV is connected to and disconnect the internet connection, now go over to the Apple TV and perform a Reset
Settings>General>Reset>Reset All Settings
And the Apple TV will ask one last time if you are sure, Reset All Settings, Apple TV will reboot
go through the prompts until you see 2 icons only on the screen, head into
Settings>General>Network
If you are using Wi-Fi click Wi-Fi, if you are using Ethernet like me select Ethernet and Configure DNS change the DNS settings from Automatic to Manual and apply the IP address of your machine and hit DONE
On your Apple TV remote press and hold(while pointing at the ATV) the MENU and Play/Pause buttons simultaneously until the light on the Apple TV starts blinking quickly and let go
Now go back to your router and plug your internet back in, once your Apple TV loads you should see the following, notice the new icon
Install Required Certificate
before you try to run Plex, there is one last step
Go into Settings, General, Send Data to Apple, and just highlight “Send Data to Apple” double-click the play button on the remote (not the select button) Add Profile, and enter:
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers.cer
OK, now let’s load PlexConnect by loading the Trailers app(notice how it still sais Trailers), you will need to log into your Plex account through the Settings Menu, just navigate all the way to the right, Settings and MyPlex Sign In.
Once you log in with your Plex credentials you are all set!
Troubleshooting
I hope you didn’t encounter any errors, but if you did here are some resources that can help you, just one tip Google is your friend
I’m running Plex on my NAS, how can I connect my ATV 3 to it? I’ve seen guides around but I can’t really get my head around them.
I also jailbroke my ATV 3 (thanks to your guide), but now Kodi has disappeared. How can I get that back?
To get Plex on your Apple TV 3 you can follow the steps here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVy6cqv04ig and install Plex Connect
Hi Admin, you mentioned above that Plex Connect needs ports 80 and 443 to run properly, and if they’re in use Plex Connect reports an error. Ports 80 and 443 are the browser ports, i.e. there is a high chance that they’re in use. Does that mean if I wanna run the installed Plex Connect in my AppleTV, I will have to make sure no one on is surfing the Internet?
That is a good question… I can’t remember if I tested this in the past as it’s been around for some time now, I believe the conflict is only during the setup of Plex Connect, but I would stay off any browsers or software that use those ports until you are all up and running.
Hello Admin, I run my Plex server on a Windows 10 laptop. Should I install PlexConnect using the same laptop, and use the same laptop to configure PlexConnect Service to start up automatically? Or should I be using a different computer?
Personally, I would install it on the same machine as the Plex, however, you can install it on another machine, you can even install it on a router if it has enough power, keep in mind all you are doing is creating a DNS server that runs on Python this tricks the App on the Apple TV making it think it’s the Plex app.