A Plex server is a popular method for accessing your media files from almost anywhere as long as you have a compatible device. The key benefit here is viewing your entire media library, such as music, movies, or photos, and streaming them over your private home network. The NVIDIA Shield is one of the best Android TV streaming boxes since it’s a powerful yet versatile device. As such, using the built-in Plex server feature on the NVIDIA Shield is one of the easiest ways to stream your media files.

Getting started with your Plex server

Before streaming from your NVIDIA Shield device, you need a few things from the initial checklist. For starters, you’ll want a Shield device that supports the built-in Plex server feature by default. The base Shield TV model, shaped like a tube, won’t work, as it runs 32-bit apps and is incompatible with the Plex server. To ensure you don’t get the wrong device, you need a previous-gen Shield or the current-gen Pro model (that’s what we’re using to test).

Unlike some previous versions of the Shield Pro, the current one has a limited 16GB of internal storage. Since you’ll be running a Plex Server, add an external storage device to save more files. The current NVIDIA Shield has two USB 3.0 ports on the back, allowing you to expand your storage. Depending on your needs, you can use a USB flash drive or an external media device like a hard drive or SSD. Some older versions have a slot for MicroSD cards, but that’s a less likely option going forward.

At the same time, you can mount a network storage device and avoid local storage. But to keep things simple, using a wired external storage device with your NVIDIA Shield is the easiest way to save media files for your Plex server. Lastly, you need a reliable network connection to the box. Ideally, this should be an Ethernet cable. However, using Wi-Fi 6 with the Shield, we noticed that the Plex server reliably streams uncompressed Blu-ray rips. Still, your wireless experience can vary based on multiple variables.

Activate the Plex server

If you haven’t launched Plex on the Shield, it offers to activate the Plex server. You can do so immediately to save a few steps but visit the Google Play Store to check for updates. The media server package may not always stay up to date, even with the auto-update setting activated. If you have connection issues, it may be due to an outdated app. Doing this before you set up the server is a good idea to avoid problems.

To toggle the server on (or off), open the Plex app and scroll down to the settings. Under Plex Media Server, turn on or turn off the server or change the storage location. The Shield is a capable streaming box, but it’s not ideal for configuring libraries and managing settings. The best way to manage your server is to visit the Plex web interface from your computer. Ensure you’re signed in with the same Google account as your NVIDIA Shield device, and the server will be accessible.

After the initial setup process, change the default settings to something optimal for your needs. The Shield is tuned for transcoding on the fly, but you likely don’t want everything down-sampled to 720p. For example, you can change the default streaming setting to original quality, allowing you to play uncompressed media files for the best visual experience. You can manually adjust this setting to provide a stable streaming environment on slower or low-bandwidth network connections.

With the server online, you can install Plex on all your devices, including phones, tablets, TVs, and other streaming boxes. You can connect these devices to your NVIDIA Shield to stream your content, which works even when the Shield is asleep. As a side note, if you point the Plex library to a network storage location, the server may take time to wake up. You can get external storage in USB flash drives and other options like hard drives or SSDs. There are also plenty of dedicated NAS enclosures to choose from.

NVIDIA Shield makes a great Plex server

Paid streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify are excellent for streaming shows and music on all your devices, but you don’t own the content. Say you have a lot of movies and music that you’ve ripped yourself. You can store them on your own Plex server and stream them to your other devices. This allows you to preserve the original file quality and gives you access to your library of files instantly. Using an NVIDIA Shield as a Plex server allows for complete control over your media streaming experience.

If you use popular streaming services for movies and shows, double-check who can access your subscriptions. Making sure to keep any unauthorized users out is essential to your user privacy.