Port 32400: Plex
Port 32400 is the default port for Plex Media Server, the self-hosted platform for streaming your own movies, shows, and music to any device. It is a Plex convention rather than an IANA assignment.
| Port number | 32400 |
|---|---|
| Service | Plex Media Server |
| Protocol | TCP |
| Category | VoIP & streaming |
| Default encryption | No |
How do I check whether port 32400 is open?
Port 32400 carries TCP, so a connection either completes its handshake or it does not, which makes the check definitive.
| Question | Command | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Is it open on a remote host? | nc -vz example.com 32400 | A TCP handshake either completes or it does not, so netcat gives a definitive answer in one line. |
| Same check on Windows | Test-NetConnection example.com -Port 32400 | Built into PowerShell. TcpTestSucceeded in the output is the answer; telnet is not installed by default on modern Windows. |
| What is listening locally? | ss -tlnp | grep ':32400 ' | Lists the process bound to port 32400 on Linux. On macOS use lsof -nP -iTCP:32400 -sTCP:LISTEN, on Windows netstat -ano | findstr :32400 |
Replace example.com with the host you are testing. A blocked port and a port with nothing listening on it look identical from the outside, so if a service should be running, check locally before blaming the firewall.
Frequently asked questions
What is port 32400 used for?
Port 32400 is the default port for Plex Media Server, the self-hosted platform for streaming your own movies, shows, and music to any device. It is a Plex convention rather than an IANA assignment.
Is port 32400 TCP or UDP?
Port 32400 (Plex) uses TCP.
Is port 32400 secure?
Port 32400 is not encrypted by default. Where possible, use an encrypted alternative or tunnel it over TLS or a VPN.
Should I open port 32400 on my firewall?
Only if you specifically need Plex. Expose it to the smallest set of trusted sources, and never open database or Windows-service ports to the whole internet.