FAQ

Welcome aboard! Here's how to start watching after we invite you:

• If you don't have one already, create a free Plex account at plex.tv and sign in.
• Accept the server invite. You’ll usually get an email from Plex, or you can find pending invites under your Plex account (in the Plex app go to Settings > Users & Sharing > Invitations).
• Once accepted, open Plex on your device (or web). In the app, switch to our server: look for the server name (e.g., Sidecarr) in the sidebar or top menu. Selecting it will show you our libraries.
• That's it – browse the libraries and hit play! (For step-by-step screenshots, see the Invitation Guide on our dashboard.)

No cost to you! You do not need to purchase anything to use our Plex server.

• Our server owner has a Lifetime Plex Pass, which means all invited users (like you) can stream remotely without any Remote Watch Pass or fees.
• Plex did introduce a $1.99/month Remote Access fee for free users connecting to non-Plex Pass servers, but that does NOT apply here since our server is Plex Pass enabled.
• Good news: Plex also removed the old $5 mobile app unlock fee. So you can sign in and watch on your phone/tablet app free of charge now.
• Bottom line – just create a free Plex account, accept our invite, and enjoy. All Plex Pass features on this server (like 4K streaming, skip intro, etc.) are available to you at no charge.

Sidecarr is the custom web dashboard for our Plex community. It’s like a companion site for the Plex server.

• From Sidecarr, you can access helpful info and tools: this FAQ, Pro Tips, the content request page, server status updates, and more.
• Think of it as our home base. Plex is where you actually stream the videos, and Sidecarr is where you manage your experience (requests, troubleshooting, news).
• It’s not an official Plex product, but rather a personalized interface we've created to make the whole experience smoother and more informative for our users.

You can request new content by using the "Content Requests" link on the main dashboard. This will take you to our Overseerr page where you can log in with your Plex account and search for the media you'd like to see added.

For all other requests, you can use our automated system, Overseerr. Here’s a breakdown of the typical statuses and timelines:

Request Statuses:

• Not added - Available to request
• Requested - Awaiting processing
• In progress - Downloading
• Available - Ready to watch

Typical Add Times:

• Popular content: 1-24h
• Recent content: 1-3 days
• Rare content: 3-7 days
• Very rare content: +7 days

Absolutely! Plex can notify you whenever we add new movies or episodes.

• Mobile Push or Email: In your Plex app, go to Settings > Notifications. Enable notifications for Library Updates (make sure to select our server and the libraries you want updates for). Plex will send a push notification to your phone or an email when something new is added.
• Recently Added: Even without push notifications, you can always check the Recently Added section on the Sidecarr dashboard or in the Plex app’s home screen. New additions are listed there chronologically.
• This way you’ll never miss out on the latest content drops. We add new releases frequently, so it’s worth turning this on if you’re keen on watching things as soon as they land!

Please do not share your account details. If you have a friend or family member who would like access, please direct them to the "Invitation Guide" on the dashboard so they can get their own account. This helps keep everything organized and secure.

Plex now shows you results beyond our server. If you search for a title, you might see options from Plex's free streaming or other services.

• A little Plex logo or network icon on a poster means that movie/show isn’t in our library, but is available through Plex’s own ad-supported content or an integrated streaming service.
• You can click these and Plex will stream them (often with ads, or a prompt to subscribe if it's from a paid service). No account sharing happens – it's pulling from legitimate free or your linked services.
• If you prefer to have that title in our server (for ad-free viewing or higher quality), just head to the Content Requests page on Sidecarr and request it. We’ll do our best to add it for you!
• Tip: You can also add any title to your Plex Watchlist. That way, if it becomes available on our server, you'll see a Play button for it when you check your Watchlist.

Watch Together has been retired on most Plex apps as of early 2025.

• Plex removed the Watch Together synced viewing feature when they updated their apps ("new Plex experience"). It is no longer available on TVs, mobile devices, etc.
• As of now, the only place it still works is the Plex Web app, and Plex has indicated even that may go away as they transition fully.
• They might bring back a similar group-watch feature in the future with new technology, but nothing official yet.
• If you want to watch simultaneously with friends, for now you’ll have to start playback at the same time or use third-party solutions. (We know, not as convenient!)

Buffering is the most common issue and usually happens for one main reason: Transcoding.

Imagine the server has a movie file in a language (format) your TV doesn't understand. The server has to translate it in real-time, which is very hard work. This translation is called transcoding.

Common reasons for transcoding:

• Incompatible Subtitles: Image-based subtitles (PGS) often require 'burning in', which is a demanding type of transcode. This is the #1 cause of buffering. Try using an SRT subtitle if available, or temporarily turn subtitles off to see if it fixes the issue.
• Incompatible Audio: Your TV or soundbar might not support advanced audio like TrueHD 7.1. The server has to convert it to a simpler format like Stereo.
• Incompatible Video: Your device might be older and not support modern video codecs like H.265/HEVC, especially for 4K content.
• Slow Connection: A weak Wi-Fi signal or slow internet speed can also cause buffering, especially with high-quality 4K files.

Yes, even on a slower or capped connection, you can enjoy content by adjusting a few settings.

• In the Plex app, go to the playback quality settings. For Remote Streaming, choose a lower quality like 720p or a lower bitrate (e.g., 2 Mbps) instead of Original.
• This tells the server to transcode (compress) the video in real-time to a smaller size. The picture won’t be as sharp, but it will stream more smoothly on a slow network.
• If there are multiple versions of a video (say a 4K and a 1080p), opt for the 1080p HD version which requires much less bandwidth. Save the 4K for when you’re on a faster connection.
• Remember to switch your quality setting back to Original when you’re on a better network to enjoy full quality. Plex will remember your setting per device, so you can keep one device on lower quality and another on original if needed.

If you've tried the usual fixes (ensuring Direct Play, switching subtitles, etc.) and a video still consistently buffers or won't play right, let us know so we can help.

• Report the Issue: On the Sidecarr dashboard, use the Issue Report form. Provide the title of the movie or episode and a brief description of the problem (e.g., "buffers at 10 minutes" or "no audio in scene").
• We will investigate ASAP. It could be a bad file that needs replacement, a server-side issue, or something we can tweak. We're here to make sure you have a smooth experience.
• Meanwhile, you can also try an alternate version if available (e.g., the 1080p instead of 4K) or temporarily lower the quality as a workaround (see the "My internet is slow" FAQ).
• Don't struggle in silence—if something is wrong, we likely can fix it or give you a solution. We appreciate the feedback!

This is likely an HDR display issue.

• Our 4K movies often have HDR (High Dynamic Range) for rich colors and contrast. If you play HDR content on a TV or monitor that only supports SDR (standard range), the colors can look desaturated or the image too dim. The Plex server or your device has to tone-map the video down to SDR, and the result can vary in quality.
• Solution: If your TV isn’t HDR-capable (or it just doesn’t look right), try watching the 1080p SDR version of that movie (if available). The non-HDR version should appear normal on your screen, with proper brightness and color.
• If you have an HDR TV and it still looks off, ensure your device is outputting in HDR mode. Some devices/TVs have settings for HDR that might need to be enabled. Also check that your HDMI cables and ports support HDR.
• In short, HDR content looks best on HDR displays. We include 1080p copies for many titles specifically so you have a great SDR option when needed.

Subtitles come in different flavors. Some are just simple text, while others are pictures of text or have fancy styling.

• SRT (SubRip Text): The hero of subtitles. It's a plain text file with timestamps. Your device can easily change its color, size, and font. It is universally compatible and should always be your first choice.
• ASS/SSA (Advanced SubStation Alpha): These are also text-based but allow for much more complex styling—like different fonts, colors, screen placements, and even animations. They are very popular in anime fansubs. Most modern Plex clients handle them well, but they can occasionally be burned in if the styling is too complex.
• PGS (Presentation Graphic Stream): The troublemaker. This format is a sequence of images with timestamps, ripped directly from Blu-ray discs. Because they are images, your device cannot change their look, size, or color. If your device can't display these images directly, the server is forced to 'burn them in'.

Imagine permanently stamping the subtitle text onto the video image itself before it's sent to your screen. That's "burning in."

This is a last resort used by the server when your device (like an older Smart TV, Chromecast, or web browser) doesn't know how to display the subtitle file on its own. The most common culprit is the PGS format, which are images of text from Blu-rays.

Because the server has to combine the subtitle image with the video frame-by-frame, it's extremely intensive work. It's the most frequent cause of buffering and server slowdown.

Compatibility is key to a smooth experience. Here’s a general guide for common devices. "Native" support means the device can play the subtitle without help from the server (no burning in).

Think of video quality like a combination of a painting's canvas size (resolution) and the amount of paint used (bitrate).

• 1080p (Full HD): This is the "canvas size." It has about 2 million pixels (1920x1080). It's the standard for good high definition.
• 4K (Ultra HD): A much larger canvas with about 8 million pixels (3840x2160). It offers four times the detail of 1080p, making pictures incredibly sharp, especially on big screens.
• Blu-Ray: A physical disc that holds a movie with lots of "paint." It has a very high bitrate (data per second), which means a very clean, detailed picture with few imperfections (artifacts).
• Remux: This is a perfect, 1-to-1 digital copy of a Blu-ray disc. It's the highest possible quality because nothing has been compressed or removed. It keeps the massive original bitrate but takes up a lot of storage space.

A video codec is a technology used to shrink massive video files down to a manageable size. Think of it as a language for packing and unpacking a video.

If your device doesn't speak the video's language (e.g., trying to play H.265 on an old TV), the server has to transcode it to H.264, which can cause buffering.

Those black bars at the top and bottom of the screen are normal for certain movies. They appear because of different aspect ratios.

• Many blockbuster films are shot in very wide formats (like 21:9 or CinemaScope). Your TV is likely 16:9. When a movie is wider than 16:9, it doesn’t vertically fill the screen, so black bars are added to maintain the full image without cropping.
• This is intentional by the filmmakers – you’re seeing the movie as it was meant to be seen. If we forced it to fill your screen, parts of the image would be cut off on the sides.
• Not all videos have black bars. Most modern TV shows and some movies are 16:9 and will fill the screen. But when you watch an ultra-wide cinematic movie, expect the bars. Your setup is fine!
• Tip: Avoid using your TV’s “zoom” modes to remove the bars – you’ll lose picture information. It’s best to watch as-is for the full experience.

Audio formats determine the number of sound channels (speakers) and the overall quality. Better formats sound more immersive but need the right equipment.