Media guide
Plex in the browser, from anywhere
Open Plex Web from anywhere, even when Plex says remote access is unavailable.
You'll need
- Plex Media Server running on a machine at home
- Docker
- A free Seawise.io account
Step by step
Everything happens in your browser except step 1.
Run the Seawise.io container
Run this on the machine where Plex runs. The container connects out to Seawise.io, so you don't open any ports on your router.
On Docker Desktop for Mac or Windows, replace --network host with -p 8082:8082.
$ docker run -d --name seawise \ --restart unless-stopped \ --network host \ -v seawise-data:/config \ ghcr.io/seawise-io/seawise-client:latest
✓ Container started
Set a password
On a computer at home, open http://your-server-ip:8082 and create a password for the container's page.
Connect it to your account
Give the server a name, click Connect, and approve it in the seawise.io tab that opens. Sign up for free there if you haven't yet.
Add Plex
Fill in the name, the address and the port Plex uses (32400 (Plex Web is at /web)), then click Add.
--network host, use localhost. On Docker Desktop, use host.docker.internal. If Plex runs on another machine, use its local IP, like 192.168.1.20.
Open it from anywhere
Plex now shows on your Servers page at seawise.io. Click it from any browser, on any network, and you're in.
Share it
Go to Portals, create one (say, Family), and add Plex to it. Then open its sharing settings and add the email of everyone who should get in.
Skip this step if Plex is just for you.
What they see
Send them the portal link. They sign in with the email you added, using Google, GitHub or an email link, and tap Plex. Nothing to install, on any phone, tablet or laptop.
Plex settings for browser sharing
01
Share libraries with friends
In Plex Web, open Settings > Manage Library Access and click Grant Library Access. Friends need a free Plex account, and you can pick which libraries each one gets.
02
Keep Secure connections on Preferred
Under Settings > Network, Plex recommends leaving Secure connections on Preferred. Required refuses plain HTTP connections, which is how Seawise.io reaches Plex on your server.
03
Don't add the Seawise.io server to the no-auth list
List of IP addresses and networks that are allowed without auth lets those IPs skip Plex sign-in. If the Seawise.io container runs on a different machine, never add its IP there.
If something's not working
Plex shows as offline+
The Seawise.io container can't reach Plex. Run curl http://localhost:32400/web on the server; if that fails, check Plex is running and listening on 32400.
You see XML instead of Plex+
That's the server API, not the player. Add /web to the end of your Seawise.io address.
Friends can browse but videos won't play+
Since April 2025, Plex requires a Plex Pass on the server owner's account, or a Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass for the viewer, to stream personal video remotely. Plex Web is one of the apps this applies to.
TV and phone Plex apps don't use Seawise.io+
Those apps connect through Plex's own Remote Access or Relay, set under Settings > Server > Remote Access. Seawise.io gives you Plex Web in a browser.
Good to know
Video eats bandwidth
A movie at original quality can be several GB, and it all counts toward your monthly bandwidth. Pick a lower quality in the player when you don't need full resolution.