Pro Tips

Your sidebar, your rules. Hide Plex's default hubs (like 'Live TV', 'TIDAL') that you don't use for a cleaner, more focused view.

• On the Plex home screen, hover over your sidebar and click the three-dot (...) menu.
• Select "Pin/Unpin Sources" or a similar option.
• Click the pin icon to unpin any sources you wish to hide.
• Drag and drop your favorite libraries to the top for quick access.

Prefer to form your own opinion? You can change or hide the critic ratings (like Rotten Tomatoes) shown on your media.

• Navigate to Settings > Account > Online Media Sources in the Plex Web App.
• For "Ratings source for movies" and shows, you can change it to other sources or effectively hide them by adjusting library settings.
• To hide them per library: Edit Library > Advanced and look for options related to ratings.

Make subtitles look exactly how you want. Plex lets you adjust subtitle appearance for easier reading.

• Go to Settings > Subtitle Appearance (or Accessibility) in the Plex app or web client.
• Font & Color: Choose a font style, text size, and color that you find comfortable.
• Background: Enable a semi-transparent background behind subtitles if you need better contrast against the video.
• These settings help ensure your subtitles are always readable, matching your personal style and screen size.

Having trouble deciding or finding something? Plex's filtering and search tools can narrow things down in a big library.

• Inside any library (e.g. Movies, TV), click the Filters option (often a funnel icon or an "All" dropdown). Here you can filter by genre, release decade, actor, etc.
• Use the "Plays" filter and set it to "Unplayed" to see only things you haven't watched.
• Combine multiple filters to get super specific (e.g., genre + year + unwatched).
• Use the Sort menu to arrange results by title, release date, rating, or Date Added to see the newest stuff first.
• Don't forget the Search bar (at the top of the app): you can type a title, actor, or director to quickly find matching content.
• Pro Tip: Not sure what to watch? Check out AI Picker on Sidecarr for personalized recommendations based on your watch history!

Sometimes you want to line up multiple things to play one after the other — that's what playlists are for.

• To create a playlist, find the first movie or episode you want in it. Click the ... menu on it, then choose Add to Playlist. Select New Playlist.
• Continue adding other movies or episodes to that playlist in the order you want them.
• You can access your playlists from the Plex sidebar (look for Playlists). Play one, and it will play everything in sequence automatically.

Go beyond manual collections. Smart Collections are dynamic, self-updating playlists based on rules you define. Set it once, and it automatically adds new media that fits your criteria. It's curation on autopilot.

How to Create One:

1. In your Movie or TV Show library, change the filter dropdown from "All" to "Advanced Filters".
2. Build your rules. Start with a condition, like "Genre" is "Sci-Fi".
3. Click "Add Filter" to stack conditions. For example, add "Decade" is "1980s" and "Audience Rating" is greater than "7".
4. Once you're happy with the results, click the "Save As..." button and choose "Smart Collection".
5. Give it a name, and you're done! It will now appear in your library.

Inspiration Station (Example Ideas):

• 🏆 Oscar Winners
• 🤯 Mind-Benders
• 😂 90s Comedy Night
• ✨ Recently Added 4K
• 🎬 Director: C. Nolan
• 🍿 Unwatched Movies

By default, Plex groups collection items into a single poster. You can change this to show the movies *within* the collection directly in your main library view.

• Edit your library (click the ... next to the library name).
• Go to the "Advanced" tab.
• Find "Collections".
• Change it from "Default" or "Hide items in collections" to "Show collections and their items".
• Now you'll see both the "Harry Potter Collection" poster AND all the individual Harry Potter movies in your library.

The goal is "Direct Play". This means your device plays the file as-is, with zero quality loss and no strain on the server. To achieve this, you must set your client app's quality settings to maximum.

In your Plex App (TV, Mobile, Desktop):

• Go to its Settings.
• Find the Video Quality section.
• Set Remote Streaming quality to Maximum / Original.
• Set Home Streaming quality to Maximum / Original.

For the best devices that support optimal quality playback, see our recommended streaming devices in the FAQ.

Image-based subtitles (PGS, VOBSUB) often force the server to "burn them in" to the video, causing transcoding and buffering. Text-based subtitles (SRT) are your best friend.

Playback Settings:

• In your Plex App's settings, set Burn-In Subtitles to Only Image Formats. This prevents transcoding for SRT files.
• During playback, if you need subtitles, select a track that is SRT if available.

When a movie has multiple files (e.g., 4K and 1080p), you can manually select which one to play.

• On the movie's pre-play screen, find the "Play Version" option (it may be in the ... menu).
• 4K UHD: Pick this for the absolute best quality on a compatible 4K TV with a very fast, stable connection.
• 1080p HD: A great choice for smaller screens, slower internet, or mobile viewing to ensure smooth playback.

Curious *why* something is buffering? You can see what the server is doing in real-time with the Playback Info overlay.

• During playback on the Plex Web App or Plex Desktop App, click the ... menu.
• Select "Playback Info".
• A small overlay will appear. Look for "Video".
• If it says Direct Play, you're golden.
• If it says Transcode, the server is working hard. This info is crucial if you need to report an issue on Sidecarr.

Noticed subtitles or audio that don't line up with the video? You can nudge them back in sync on the fly.

• While watching, open the playback Settings (gear icon). Look for Audio Offset or Subtitle Offset.
• Use the plus/minus controls to shift the audio or subtitle timing forward or backward in small steps (e.g., 50ms or 100ms) until it matches perfectly.
• This adjustment only affects your session and won't permanently change the file.

Binge-watch faster with Plex's Skip Intro feature, which is enabled by the server's Plex Pass.

How to Enable It:

• In your Plex App (TV, Mobile, etc.), go to Settings.
• Find the "Player" or "Experience" settings.
• Ensure that "Skip Intro" (and "Skip Credits") are both enabled.

How to Use It:

• When you start an episode, watch for the Skip Intro button to appear on-screen.
• With one click, Plex will jump ahead past the opening credits, taking you straight into the episode.
• Note: Our server automatically analyzes new shows to find intros, so if a brand-new episode doesn't have the button yet, it should appear after the server processes it.

Your phone can double as a super-powered Plex remote control and library browser.

• Make sure you're logged into the same Plex account on both your phone and your TV/streaming device.
• In the Plex mobile app, tap the cast icon (looks like a screen with waves) or the player selector at the top. Select your TV or streaming device from the list of available players.
• Now choose a movie or show on your phone and hit play. It will start playing on your TV, and your phone becomes the remote.
• This is great for easier searching (using your phone’s keyboard) and for remotely controlling playback.

Thanks to the server's Plex Pass, you can download media directly to your mobile device (phone, tablet) for offline viewing on planes or road trips.

• In the Plex mobile app, navigate to the movie or episode you want.
• Tap the download icon (usually a down-arrow).
• You can choose the quality for the download. A lower quality (like 720p) will save space and download faster.
• Find all your downloaded content in the "Downloads" section of your mobile app.

Overseerr is smart, but you can help it work better. Before making a new request, use the search bar first!

• When you search for a movie in Overseerr, check its status.
• If it says "Available", it's already on Plex. No need to request!
• If it says "Requested" or "Processing", someone else has already requested it, and it's in the queue.
• This keeps the request list clean and helps everyone get their content faster.

Sidecarr is your personalized companion for the Plex server. It's more than just a dashboard—it's a complete ecosystem designed to enhance your media experience, connect you with the community, and help you discover content you'll love.

Explore the sections below to learn about each feature and how to make the most of your Sidecarr experience.

Stuck in a content rut? AI Picker analyzes your watch history and preferences to suggest movies and TV shows tailored just for you.

Key Features:

• Smart Recommendations: The AI considers your viewing patterns, preferred genres, and even your mood to suggest perfect matches.
• Multiple Suggestions: Get several options at once, each with a personalized explanation of why you might enjoy it.
• Watch History Analysis: Recommendations are based on what you've actually watched, not just what you've rated.
• Mood-Based Selection: Tell the AI what you're in the mood for (action, comedy, something thought-provoking) and get curated suggestions.
• Quick Access: One-click navigation to watch your suggested content directly in Plex.

Want to know what happens in a movie before investing your time? AI Spoiler provides detailed, comprehensive summaries without any spoiler warnings—because you're asking for it!

What You Get:

• Complete Plot Summaries: Full story breakdowns including key plot points, character arcs, and major events.
• No Spoiler Warnings: Everything is revealed—perfect for deciding if a movie is worth your time.
• Character Analysis: Understand character motivations and relationships before watching.
• Themes & Messages: Learn about the deeper themes and messages the film explores.
• Ending Explanations: Get clarity on confusing or ambiguous endings.

Challenge yourself with AI Trivia—generate custom trivia questions about any movie or TV show you've watched!

Game Features:

• Custom Difficulty: Choose from Easy, Medium, Hard, or Mixed difficulty levels.
• Question Count: Play with 5, 10, or 15 questions per game.
• Any Title: Test your knowledge on any movie or TV show in the library.
• Multiple Choice: Each question includes multiple choice answers for a classic trivia experience.
• Score Tracking: See how well you did and challenge yourself to improve.
• Play Again: Replay the same title with new questions, or try a different movie.

Got a spicy opinion? Hot Take Hub is where the community shares reviews, debates, and discovers what's worth watching.

Community Features:

• Post Reviews: Share your thoughts on movies and shows you've watched with detailed reviews.
• Browse Community Takes: Read what others think before deciding what to watch next.
• Upvote System: Help the best takes rise to the top by upvoting reviews you agree with.
• Watch History Integration: Reviews are tied to your actual watch history, so you can see opinions on content you've watched.
• Discover Hidden Gems: Find recommendations from real community members, not algorithms.
• Filter by Media: Browse reviews specific to movies or TV shows you're interested in.

Dive deep into your viewing habits with Plex Stats—comprehensive analytics about your media consumption.

What You'll Discover:

• Complete Watch History: See everything you've watched with detailed timestamps and metadata.
• Genre Analysis: Discover which genres you watch most (and which you might be missing).
• Decade Preferences: See which decades of content you gravitate toward.
• Actor & Director Stats: Find out which actors and directors appear most in your viewing history.
• Viewing Patterns: Track your viewing streaks, daily habits, and peak watching times.
• Milestones: Celebrate achievements like "100 Movies Watched" or "50 TV Shows Completed".
• Comparison Mode: (Optional) Compare your stats with other community members.

Never miss what's happening! Now Playing shows you real-time streams from all users on the server.

Live Features:

• Real-Time Updates: See streams as they start and stop automatically.
• Stream Details: View what's playing, who's watching, device type, and playback quality.
• Dashboard Banner: A banner appears at the top of your dashboard when someone is streaming.
• Click to Explore: Click any stream card to see full details and the media poster.
• Discover Content: See what others are watching to discover new favorites.
• Server Activity: Get a sense of server activity and popular content at any moment.

Stay on top of the latest additions with Newly Added—your go-to page for fresh content.

What's Featured:

• Chronological List: See all new additions sorted by date, most recent first.
• Movies & TV Shows: Browse both movies and TV shows in one unified view.
• Rich Metadata: View ratings, genres, release dates, and descriptions for each title.
• Quick Actions: Jump directly to Plex to watch, or check out reviews in Hot Take Hub.
• Smart Filtering: Filter by content type or date range to find exactly what you're looking for.
• Visual Posters: Beautiful poster displays make it easy to browse and discover.

Want something added to the server? Content Requests (powered by Overseerr) makes it easy to request movies and TV shows.

Request Features:

• Easy Search: Search for any movie or TV show and see its current status.
• Status Indicators: See if content is Available, Requested, Processing, or Needs Requesting.
• Watchlist Integration: Your Plex Watchlist can be automatically reviewed for requests.
• Request Tracking: Track the status of your requests from submission to availability.
• Notification System: Get notified when your requested content becomes available.
• Popular Requests: See what others are requesting to discover trending content.

Participate in community decisions and challenges with Polls and Bounties.

Poll Features:

• Create Polls: Propose questions and let the community vote on options.
• Vote on Everything: From content requests to server features, your voice matters.
• Real-Time Results: See live vote counts and percentages as people participate.
• AI-Powered Suggestions: Use AI to generate poll options for content-related questions.

Bounty Features:

• Complete Challenges: Take on bounties (challenges) to earn rewards and recognition.
• Track Progress: See your completed bounties and achievements.
• Community Competition: See who's completing the most challenges.
• Rewards System: Earn medals, calling cards, and special recognition for your achievements.

Your Service Record and Calling Cards are your identity in Sidecarr—showcase who you are in the community.

Service Record Features:

• Complete Profile: View your join date, total watch time, content watched, and more.
• Achievement Badges: See all the badges and achievements you've earned.
• Viewing Milestones: Track your progress toward various viewing goals.
• Community Standing: See how your activity compares to others (if you opt in).

Calling Card Features:

• Customizable Identity: Choose from a variety of calling cards to represent yourself.
• AI-Generated Cards: Use AI to create unique, personalized calling cards based on your preferences.
• Visual Identity: Your calling card appears next to your name in reviews and throughout Sidecarr.
• Easy Switching: Change your calling card anytime from the dashboard.

Customize every aspect of your Sidecarr experience in Settings—from appearance to behavior.

Customization Options:

• Theme & Colors: Choose light, dark, or OLED themes and customize accent colors.
• Dashboard Layout: Select from multiple layout options (Carousel, Grid, Floating Bar, etc.).
• Navigation Style: Customize swipe sensitivity, navigation buttons, and sidebar behavior.
• Text Size: Adjust text size for comfortable reading.
• Launch Page: Choose which page Sidecarr opens to by default.
• Notifications: Configure push notification preferences and email settings.
• Privacy: Control what data is shared and how your profile appears.
• Carousel Effects: Enable or disable animations for a simpler experience.

Start a Watch Party and everyone watches the same thing at the same moment — play, pause and seek stay in step for the whole room.

How it works:

• Start from anything on the server, or join with an invite code someone shares with you.
• The theater shows who is in the room, who is talking, and where everyone is in the film.
• Chat beside the film — the same thread as the Chat page, so nothing is lost when the party ends.
• Invite code — share the code and anyone on the server can drop in.

Live Trivia is trivia with everyone at once: one question, one clock, and a leaderboard that moves while you answer.

• Join the lobby before the round starts — you can see who else is in.
• Answer fast: the sooner you lock an answer in, the more it is worth.
• Watch the leaderboard between questions to see where you stand.
• Play solo instead with AI Trivia if there is nobody around.

Clubs are small groups around a taste: horror, anime, whatever the room is into. Join one and its chat, parties and polls come with it.

• Browse Discover to see every club on the server, with what it is about and how busy it is.
• Join to add a club to your own list — it then shows up first.
• Each club has its own colour, so you can tell them apart at a glance.

The server has one running conversation. Chat keeps it, and a watch party borrows the same thread rather than starting a second one. It is the bubble in the bottom corner of every screen rather than a page of its own, so it can stay open beside whatever you are doing.

• Reply to a message to quote it, so a long thread still makes sense.
• React when a message does not need a reply.
• It stays where you were: arriving messages never yank you out of what you are reading.

Wrapped is the year you actually had: what you watched, when you watched it, and the few titles you kept going back to.

• A story, not a table — it plays through a handful of cards.
• Your top titles and genres, with how much time each one took.
• Your habits: the nights you watch, and the runs you went on.

Insights is the server at a glance: what is being watched, by how many people, and how hard the machine is working to do it.

• Streams over time, so you can see when the server is busy.
• What is popular this week across everyone.
• Direct play vs transcode — the number that decides whether anyone is buffering.

Film History is your own record: every title you have finished here, newest first, with a rail to jump back through the years.

• The time machine on the side moves you to a year in one move.
• Grid or list — posters to browse, a list to read.
• Pick up where you left off on anything you did not finish.

The Toybox holds every small app on Sidecarr — the AI tools, the games, the community screens — without filling the sidebar with them.

• Open it from the sidebar, or from the Toybox card on the dashboard.
• Press Cmd K (or Ctrl K) to search every page instead, from anywhere.