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Setup guide

Getting started with Portless for Plex.

Run the Portless client next to Plex, point it at your local Plex URL, and connect outbound to Portless. No router port forwarding, no DDNS, no inbound firewall rule.

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Current PORTLESS_* variables Docker and Compose examples Host-network default
before you start

What you need

Portless needs a dashboard token and a local Plex URL that the Portless client container can reach.

Dashboard token

Create or rotate a token in the Portless dashboard. Treat PORTLESS_DEVICE_TOKEN like a password.

Local Plex URL

PORTLESS_PMS_URL must be reachable from inside the Portless container, not from your laptop.

Client dashboard

PORTLESS_UI_ADDR controls where the local Portless client dashboard listens.

choose network mode

Host networking matches common Plex Docker installs. Bridge networking works if Plex is reachable by name.

The only setup detail that usually matters is what hostname the Portless client should use to reach Plex.

mode PORTLESS_PMS_URL when to use it
Host network http://127.0.0.1:32400 Plex also uses host networking, or Plex listens on the host's loopback/LAN address.
Docker bridge http://plex:32400 Plex and the Portless client share a Docker network and the Plex service/container is named plex.
LAN IP http://192.168.1.42:32400 Works from any container that can reach the NAS/server LAN address.
docker compose

Copy the current Compose service

Replace <paste-token-from-dashboard> and set PORTLESS_PMS_URL for your network mode. Start with a 7-day free trial; Pro is $2.99/mo or $29.99/yr after that.

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compose.yml 
services:
  portless-client:
    image: ghcr.io/crbl-technologies/portless-client:latest
    container_name: portless-client
    restart: unless-stopped
    network_mode: host
    environment:
      PORTLESS_DEVICE_TOKEN: <paste-token-from-dashboard>
      PORTLESS_PMS_URL: http://127.0.0.1:32400
      PORTLESS_UI_ADDR: 127.0.0.1:43180
    volumes:
      - portless-data:/var/lib/portless

volumes:
  portless-data:
faq

Setup questions

Which Plex URL should I use?
Use the URL the Portless client can reach from inside its container. With host networking, use http://127.0.0.1:32400. If Plex and the Portless client share a Docker network, use the Plex service name, such as http://plex:32400. If they run on different machines, use the Plex server LAN IP.
What is the Portless client dashboard?
PORTLESS_UI_ADDR controls the local Portless client dashboard. Bind it to 127.0.0.1:43180 unless you intentionally want to expose it on your LAN.
Can Plex and Portless run on different machines?
Yes. Put the Portless client anywhere that can reach Plex over your LAN, then set PORTLESS_PMS_URL to the Plex server's LAN address, for example http://192.168.1.42:32400.
How do I know it worked?
Open your personal Portless URL, such as https://yourname.portless.io. If Plex loads there, the Portless client is connected.
Does the Portless client need inbound ports?
No router port forwarding is needed. The Portless client connects out to Portless; PORTLESS_UI_ADDR only controls the optional local client dashboard.