How to Install Plex Media Server on a Synology NAS

Most people overthink the jump from a folder of media files to a polished streaming library with posters, summaries, and apps on every TV in the house. On a Synology NAS the gap is closer to ten minutes than ten hours, because Plex Media Server installs as a native package straight from the built-in app store. No containers, no command line, no fiddling with reverse proxies to get going.

Quick Answer

Install Plex on a Synology NAS through Package Center, grant the PlexMediaServer user permission on your media folders, then add libraries that point at those existing shared folders. Plex clients on the same network find the server within seconds. Start to a working library takes under ten minutes on most units.

Before You Begin

A couple of checks save grief later. Confirm your media already lives in a shared folder on the NAS, for example a folder called "media" with "Movies" and "TV" inside it, so libraries have something to point at. Tidy file names help Plex match the right posters and descriptions: films as "Title (Year)" and series in season folders. Have your Synology admin login handy, and create a free Plex account if you do not have one, since the server links to it.

Step-by-Step Installation

1. Open Package Center. Log in to DSM, your Synology's web desktop, and open Package Center from the main menu. This is the built-in app store for the NAS.
2. Find the Plex package. Search for "Plex Media Server." If it appears in the official list, install from there. Synology sometimes lags the latest Plex release, so for the newest build, download the correct package for your NAS CPU from the Plex website and use Manual Install in Package Center instead.
3. Install and open. Click Install and wait for it to finish, then click Open. Plex launches a setup page in your browser at the NAS address on port 32400. Sign in with your Plex account.
4. Name the server. Give it a recognisable name like "Lounge NAS" so it is easy to spot in the apps. Leave the "allow access outside my home" box for later once everything works locally.

Fixing Folder Permissions

This is the step people skip, then wonder why no media shows up. Plex runs as its own system user called PlexMediaServer, and that user needs read access to your media folders. In DSM open Control Panel, then Shared Folder, select your media folder, edit its permissions, and grant the PlexMediaServer user read access. Without this, Plex sees an empty folder no matter how full it is. If you are still sizing the NAS itself, the diskless NAS and storage range lays out the enclosure options before you commit drives.

Adding Your Libraries

5. Add a library. Back in the Plex web setup, click "Add Library," choose the type (Movies, TV Shows, Music), and give it a name.
6. Point it at the folder. Browse to the shared folder where that media lives and select it. Plex now scans the folder, downloads matching artwork and summaries, and builds the library. A large collection takes a while on first scan; smaller ones populate in minutes.
7. Repeat per type. Add a separate library for each media type so Plex applies the correct metadata agent to each.

Watching On Your Devices

8. Open a Plex client. Install the Plex app on a phone, smart TV, or streaming stick on the same network, sign in to the same account, and your server appears automatically. Press play and you are streaming.

One honest caveat: the native Synology package does not do hardware transcoding, so if a device cannot play a file directly the NAS CPU does the conversion in software, which strains weaker units. For most local playback to apps that support the file natively this never comes up. If you plan heavy transcoding, a Docker install or a more powerful NAS is the better route, and a fast cache drive from the SSD best sellers keeps the metadata and thumbnails snappy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I install Plex as a package or with Docker?

The package is the faster path and the right choice for most people. Docker is worth it only if hardware transcoding matters or you already run everything else in containers and want Plex alongside them.

Why does my library show up empty after installing?

Almost always a permissions issue. The PlexMediaServer user needs read access to your media shared folder. Grant it in Control Panel under Shared Folder permissions and rescan.

Does the Synology Plex package support hardware transcoding?

No. The native package relies on the CPU to transcode in software, which can overload lower-end NAS models. Files that play directly on your device never need transcoding, so this only bites with incompatible formats.

How do my devices find the server?

Any Plex client signed in to the same account on the same network discovers the server automatically within seconds. There is no IP address to type in for local playback.

Can I watch away from home?

Yes, once it works locally you enable remote access in the server settings, which opens the right port so you can stream over the internet. Get it running on your home network first.