Installing Plex on a new device

New phone, new tablet, or a new TV in the house? Getting Plex onto it is quick. The key thing: you sign in with the account you already use — you don’t make a new one, and you don’t need a new invite. This guide is the fast version of How to use Plex, just for setting up a fresh device.

Step 1 — Install the Plex app

Get the app from the store on the new device:

• iPhone / iPad — App Store, search “Plex”
• Android phone / tablet — Google Play, search “Plex”
• Apple TV / Roku / Fire TV / smart TV — your TV’s app store, search “Plex”
• Computer (Mac or Windows) — nothing to install, just go to app.plex.tv in a web browser

Step 2 — Sign in with your existing account

1. Open the app and choose Sign In (not Sign Up).
2. Use the same method you used before — Google, Apple, or your email. If you first signed in with Google, use Google again here, or the library won’t show up.
3. That’s it — the new device is now linked to your account.

Caution

Picking Sign Up or a different login method makes a brand-new, empty account. If the library doesn’t appear, this is almost always why — sign out and sign back in with the original method.

Step 3 — Find the family library

Once you’re signed in, our shared library appears automatically — the same movies, TV shows, and Kids section as on your other devices. Tap a poster and press Play.

Setting up a kid’s device

• Point the kids at the Kids section — it’s filtered to family-friendly titles.
• If a child has their own Plex login, sign in with that instead of yours, so their watch history and recommendations stay separate.
• Not sure? Just use the household account and the Kids section — text Stephen if you want a separate kid profile set up.

Want it for trips?

On a phone or tablet you can download shows on the new device to watch with no internet — see Watching Plex while traveling.

When the library doesn’t show up

1. Check the login. You must be signed in with the same account (and same Google/Apple/email method) you use on your other devices.
2. Brand-new person, never used Plex? They need an invite first — text Stephen the email address to invite, then accept it (see How to use Plex).
3. Still empty? Close the app fully and reopen it, and check your internet.
4. Stuck? Text Stephen and tell him the device and which login you used.