Nvidia Shield TV Plex Server Setup

The Nvidia Shield TV is one of, if not the, best Plex client device on the market. Because the Shield TV can play lossless multi-channel surround sound tracks like Dolby TrueHD and DTS:X as well as 4K HDR videos, it’s a solid choice for video streaming. But the Shield has another Plex trick up its sleeve: the ability to act as a server. You can actually host your entire media collection on the Shield TV, then broadcast that to other devices like your phone, tablet, and game consoles. Let’s dive into this Nvidia Shield TV Plex server setup for an energy-efficient, small-form-factor NAS (network-attached storage) device.

What is Plex Media Server?

Plex Media Server (PMS) is sort of like a do-it-yourself (DIY) Netflix or Spotify. You provide the content – movies, TV shows, music – then Plex scans your files and downloads metadata like descriptions and box art. You can enable remote access which lets you stream your media collection from anywhere outside of your home, so long as you’ve got an internet connection.

Why should you use an Nvidia Shield TV as a Plex server?

The Nvidia Shield TV makes an exceptional device to stream Plex to because it can playback virtually any audio or video codec you can think of. Plus, the Shield TV Pro is great for retro gaming emulation, game streaming with apps like Nvidia GeForce Now or Steam Link, and general multimedia purposes such as streaming from Netflix, Paramount+, and Sling TV. In all, its powerful hardware that’s equally suited to video or audio streaming and gaming makes the Nvidia Shield TV one of the best Android TV boxes on the planet.

Additionally, the Nvidia Shield can host a Plex server. Because of its small footprint, low power draw, and ease installation, the Shield TV works swimmingly as a Plex media server. You can store your media directly on the Shield, connect a high-capacity hard drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD), and even host your media on a network-attached storage device while using the Shield as a Plex server. Check out the best external hard drives for the Nvidia Shield TV for our favorite options.

Benefits of using an Nvidia Shield TV as a Plex server:

• Small footprint
• Energy efficient
• Easy to setup Plex Media Server
• Streaming from apps like Netflix, Hulu, Paramount+, YouTube TV, Sling TV, etc.
• Retro gaming emulation
• Game streaming (Nvidia GeForce Now, Steam Link, etc.)

How to Setup an Nvidia Shield TV Plex Media Server

After years of running Plex on a Lenovo ThinkServer TS140, I migrated my NAS to an Nvidia Shield TV. Once I upgraded to an LG C2, I snagged an Nvidia Shield TV Pro 2019 for Dolby Vision high dynamic range (HDR) and 4K AI (artificial intelligence) support. This left my Nvidia Shield TV Pro 2017 sitting around collecting dust. While the TS140 served me well (pun fully intended), I liked the idea of a smaller, more energy efficient Plex server, so I switched to the Shield.

Here’s what you need for an Nvidia Shield TV Plex server:

• Nvidia Shield TV Pro
• Plex Android TV app
• External display device (TV, projector, or monitor)
• Laptop or desktop
• Active internet connection
• Library of media files
• Plex account
• Optional but recommended: hard drive or SSD

While the Nvidia Shield TV comes in two variants, the Shield TV and Shield TV Pro, only the Pro iteration works as a Plex media server.

How to setup Plex Media Server on Nvidia Shield TV after you’ve already configured Plex Media Player

If you’ve been using the Plex Media Player Android TV app already, getting Plex Media Server configured on the Nvidia Shield TV works a bit differently. Here’s how to enable or disable Plex Media Server on the Nvidia Shield TV:

1. Open the Plex app.
2. Head to Settings > Plex Media Server
3. Under Plex Media Server, select the cog wheel and toggle Plex Android TV server on or off.

How to manage your Nvidia Shield TV Plex server

Now that you’ve installed Plex on your Nvidia Shield TV, you’ll need to manage your Plex server from the Plex web app. On a laptop or desktop, head to https://plex/tv/web.

How to create and add libraries on your Nvidia Shield TV Plex Media Server

From here, you’ll want to either edit or create your media libraries, which lets you add folders. Here’s how to create libraries:

• Select the settings menu
• Pick the right Plex Media Server if you have multiple
• Choose Settings > Manage > Libraries.
• Click Add Library.
• Select the library type (movies, TV, music, photos).
• Give your library a name and pick your preferred language.
• Add your media files by browsing for a media folder.
• Pick a folder to add and choose Add Library when finished.

If you already created libraries, all you need to do is choose your library folders:

• Hover your mouse over a library (movies, TV shows, music, etc.) in the left-hand sidebar.
• Click the three-dot menu button.
• Hit Manage Library.
• Choose Edit.
• In the Edit Library window, browse for your media library folder(s) and tap Save Changes when finished.

Where to store your files on an Nvidia Shield TV Pro Plex Media Server

You’ve got a few choices for where to store your media files when running Plex Media Server on the Nvidia Shield TV:

1. The Shield TV Pro itself: Depending on your Nvidia Shield TV Pro model, you can store files directly on your Android TV box. My Nvidia Shield TV Pro 2017 features a built-in 500GB hard drive. However, that’s not a ton of space, and moreover, as you add more media to your Plex server, even the metadata folder can get pretty big. So you may need to add more storage space.
2. An external hard drive or SSD connected via USB: The Nvidia Shield TV Pro features a pair of USB ports, so you can attach a flash drive, external hard drive, or SSD. This is the method I went with – I repurposed a 12TB internal 3.5-inch desktop HDD, put it in an Orico 3.5″ hard drive enclosure, and connected it to my Shield TV over USB. Your drive needs to be formatted as NTFS for Windows-only, or exFat for Windows and macOS.
3. A network-attached storage device: If you don’t want to host your files directly on the Shield TV Pro or a physically connected drive, you can use the Shield as a Plex server but point its library folders to a networked drive. This lets you use a NAS device, external harddrive with cloud capabilities, or even an old laptop or desktop. Many modern routers even feature USB ports, so you might be able to hook up a hard drive to your router.

If you’re using an external storage device attached via USB, you’ll need to plug in your HDD or SSD. An Nvidia_Shield folder appears at the root of your drive, in which your media files go. I simply dragged my Media folder into the Nvidia_Shield folder and was then able to select my movies, TV shows, and music folders in the Plex web app.

How to add files to the Nvidia Shield TV for Plex

If you’re adding files to your Nvidia Shield TV Pro Plex server via a USB drive, just safely disconnect the drive, plug it into your computer, and add your files.

Alternatively, you can transfer files over your local network. Head to Settings > Device Preferences > Storage > Transfer files over local network and enable local network sharing. You’ll then see the login information for accessing your Shield TV as a networked device.

You can also use a USB cable to drop files from a computer: Navigate to Settings  > Device Preferences> Storage > Transfer files to a computer using USB and enable USB transfers.

Naming and organizing your media files properly for use with an Nvidia Shield TV Pro Plex Media Server

In order for Plex to properly scan your media library, you’ll need to have your media files correctly stored and named. Generally, I like to have my files in a Media folder, with sub-folders for each library, so Movies, TV Shows, Music, etc.

For even better organization, I have each movie in a sub-folder. Here’s what my Plex movie folder hierarchy looks like:

/Media
   /Movies
      /movie name (year)
          movie name (year) [ file]

So, for instance, if this is a copy of “The Big Lebowski, that would look like Media > Movies > The Big Lebowski (1998), with my video file of the film in that The Big Lebowski (1998) folder.

TV shows go into a sub-folder by the name of the TV show, with sub-folders for each season:

/Media
   /TV Shows
      /TV show name
         /Season number

So, for instance, that might look like:

/Media
   /TV Shows
      /The X-Files
         /Season 1

Music files are organized by artist, and then sub folders for albums:

/Media
   /Music
      /artist
         /album

An example of albums for Plex might be:

/Media
   /Music
      /De La Soul
         /3 Feet High and Rising

For movies, you’ll want to follow the naming convention “[Movie Name] (year)”, for example, “The Big Lebowski.mp4.”

With TV shows, you’ll want to use “[Show Name] – SXXEXX – [Episopde Name]”, so season number followed by episode number. Here’s how to name your television shows with Plex:

The X-Files – S01E01 – Pilot

Music files require proper ID3 tags. I suggest using a file renaming program to organize your Plex media files. FileBot is a great choice that lets you rename movies, TV shows, and music with ease. I also recommend MusicBrainz Picard which lets you retag your music collection, and even can automatically recognize songs.

Nvidia Shield TV Plex Media Server Performance

The Nvidia Shield TV works extremely well as a Plex Media server, with some notable limitations. There’s hardware accelerated decoding for H.264, H.265 HEVC, and MPEG2 files. However, for other video formats like VC-1, Xvid, and VP9, the Shield TV might have degraded performance. That’s an easy fix with converting file types.

Generally, the Nvidia Shield TV should have no issues handling 2-3 simultaneous transcodes, especially for properly encoded videos. In my testing, I’ve been able to playback 1080p and 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) Blu-ray rips just fine.

How to Install Plex Media Server on the Nvidia Shield TV: Final Thoughts

Overall, the Nvidia Shield TV is an excellent value Plex Media Server. While it’s not as powerful or upgradeable as my previous Plex server, a Lenovo ThinkServer TS140, the Shield TV is much more compact. I also like that it works for streaming with other apps like Netflix, gaming, and even HTPC use with Kodi or VLC. Ultimately, it’s probably the best and easiest to set up Plex Media Server solution for most folks.