How to Install Plex on FireStick and Android TV Box
In this guide, I’ll show you how to install Plex on FireStick, including the New FireStick 4K and FireStick 4K Max. We’ll cover creating a Plex account and setting up a Plex server on your computer.
Let me explain what Plex is in simple terms: It’s a powerful media tool that connects your devices together. Think of it like having a personal Netflix, but with your own media collection. Here’s how it works: Plex turns your computer into a media center (called a server), and then lets you access all your videos, music, and pictures from devices like your FireStick, phone, tablet, or TV box.
What makes Plex really cool is that it works on almost any device that can play media. You can easily download the Plex app from official stores – for example, Android users can get it from the Google Play Store, while FireStick users can find it on the Amazon Store.
One of the best features of Plex is that you don’t need your devices to be on the same WiFi network. This means you can leave your computer running at home and still watch your movies and shows from anywhere – even at a friend’s house!
Important: Remember that your computer needs to be turned on and connected to the internet when you want to access your media remotely.
Plex isn’t limited to just playing media from your computer. It also offers various channels (both official and unofficial) that provide access to online content. These channels are installed on your computer (the server) and become available on all your connected devices.
Plus, the Plex app comes with its own selection of free online content. You can watch this content even when you’re not connected to your home server – it works independently!
How to Install Plex on FireStick
Before installing Plex on your FireStick, you’ll need a Plex account. Let’s create one first.
Creating Your Plex Account
Follow these simple steps:
1. Visit https://www.plex.tv on any device (computer, phone, or even your FireStick’s browser) and click Sign Up
2. Choose how you want to sign up – you can use your Google, Facebook, or Apple account, or create a new account with your email address
3. After signing in, you’ll see options for Plex Pass plans. These are optional premium features that cost $4.99 monthly, $39.99 yearly, or $119.99 for lifetime access. Don’t worry – we’ll talk about Plex Pass benefits later.
Note: You can use most of Plex’s features without paying for Plex Pass
Installing Plex on Your FireStick
Now let’s install Plex on your FireStick. It’s available directly from the Amazon App Store:
1. On your FireStick’s home screen, select Find, then choose the Search option
2. Type in Plex using the on-screen keyboard, or press and hold the Alexa button on your remote and say “Plex”
3. Look for the Plex app icon in the Apps & Games section and select it
4. Click Get (or Download if you’ve installed it before)
5. Wait for Plex to download and install
6. Once installation is complete, click Open to start Plex
Note: If you can’t find Plex in your apps list later, you can always access it by holding down the Home button on your remote and selecting Apps.
This is how you install Plex on FireStick.
Recommended for Streaming Safety
How to Stream Safely on Your Device
When you stream content online, your internet activity is visible to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and potentially others. To protect your privacy and prevent any streaming issues like bandwidth throttling, it’s important to use a VPN.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) keeps your streaming activities private and helps you avoid potential streaming restrictions. For the best streaming experience, we recommend using NordVPN, which offers excellent speed and security features.
Setting up NordVPN on your FireStick:
1. Subscribe to NordVPN HERE. They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
2. On your FireStick, go to Find then Search
3. Search for “NordVPN” and select it from the results
4. Download and install the NordVPN app
5. Open NordVPN and sign in with your account details
6. Connect to a VPN server to start protecting your connection
Installing Plex on Android TV OS & Android TV Box
There are two types of Android TV boxes you might have:
– One running regular Android OS
– One running Android TV OS
The good news is that installing Plex works similarly on both, since they both support Google Play services. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open Google Play Store
2. Search for “Plex” using either the search bar or voice search if your device supports it
3. Select the Plex app from the search results
4. Click Install and wait for the installation to complete
That’s all you need to do to install Plex on your Android TV Box. The app will appear in your device’s app list once installation is complete.
How to Set Up and Use Plex
To open Plex on your FireStick, hold down the Home button on your remote for a few seconds, then select Apps to find all your installed applications.
If you’re using an Android TV Box, just go to the ‘Apps’ section to find Plex.
Note: The Plex app looks pretty much the same on FireStick and Android TV OS boxes. While regular Android TV boxes might look slightly different, the basic features work the same way.
Here’s how to set up Plex for the first time:
1. When you first open the app, you’ll see a welcome screen with options to Sign Up or Sign In. Since we already created an account, click Sign In
Note: While you can use Plex as a guest by clicking Skip, we recommend signing in to get all the features
2. You’ll see a code on your screen. This is how you’ll link your device to your Plex account
3. On your computer or phone, go to https://plex.tv/link and enter the code you see on your TV
Make sure you’re signed into your Plex account on the device where you’re entering the code
4. After entering the code, you’ll see a confirmation message saying “Account Linked.” You can now return to your TV
5. Next, you’ll see an option to subscribe to Plex Pass. You can either click Subscribe to purchase a premium plan, or click Not Now to continue with the free version
6. If you haven’t set up a Plex server yet, you’ll see a “No Servers Found” message. Don’t worry – we’ll cover server setup in the next section. Just click Continue for now
7. You’ll now see the Plex home screen. Even without a server connection, you can still enjoy free content like Web Shows, News, and Podcasts
That’s pretty much it. This is how you set up Plex and use it on FireStick.
Setting Up Your Plex Server
While Plex offers plenty of online content, its real power comes from turning your computer into a media center. Remember, Plex works as a client-server system: your computer acts as the server, while your FireStick, mobile devices, and other devices are clients.
Important: Your computer must stay turned on and connected to the internet when you want to access your media from other devices
Here’s how to set up your Plex server:
1. Visit https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/ on your computer
2. Click Plex Media Server and select your computer’s operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
Then click the Download button
3. Find the downloaded file and run it. Follow your operating system’s installation steps. For Windows users, you’ll see a window like this – just click Install
4. When installation finishes, click Launch
The next steps will happen in your web browser.
5. Your browser will open automatically. Sign in to your Plex account if needed, then you’ll see a quick overview of how Plex works. Click Got It!
6. Give your server a name that you’ll recognize. Make sure to check the box that says Allow me to access my media outside my home if you want to watch your content when you’re away
7. You can now add your media libraries by clicking Add Library. This is where you’ll tell Plex where to find your movies, TV shows, music, and photos on your computer. Click Next when you’re done
8. Click Done to finish setting up your server
Benefits of Buying Plex Premium (Plex Pass)
While you can use Plex’s basic features for free, a Plex Pass subscription offers some extra perks. Here’s what you get with Plex Pass:
• Mobile Sync: Download media to your phone or tablet for offline viewing
• Live TV & DVR: Watch and record live TV with a compatible digital antenna
• Hardware Transcoding: Get better performance when streaming to multiple devices
• Premium Music Features: Lyrics, music videos, and better sound quality
• Early Access: Try new Plex features before they’re released to everyone
• Multiple Users: Create accounts for family members with personalized settings
• Camera Upload: Automatically back up photos from your mobile devices
• Enhanced Movie & Show Features: Extras, trailers, and better metadata
Plex Pass comes in three pricing options:
• Monthly: $4.99
• Yearly: $39.99
• Lifetime: $119.99 (one-time payment)
Wrapping Up
Plex is a powerful tool that transforms how you can access and enjoy your media. Think of it as creating your own personal streaming service – your computer becomes the media center, and you can watch your content on any device, anywhere.
The best part is that you can start with the free version to see if you like it. Even without Plex Pass, you can:
• Stream your media to any device
• Access your content from anywhere with an internet connection
• Enjoy free online content through the Plex app
• Organize your media collection automatically
Remember that to access your media remotely, your computer needs to stay on and connected to the internet. Whether you’re using it on FireStick, Android TV Box, or any other device, Plex offers a great way to bring all your media together in one place.
Read our full disclaimer here.