What is this?
Boxed Media is a small, private media server I run from home for friends and family. Think of it like our own personal Netflix — except you can ask it to add basically anything you want, and it'll usually show up within a few minutes.
What's actually running here?
Underneath the hood, Boxed Media is a stack of self-hosted apps working together: Plex serves the video, Requester handles requests, Wizarr handles invites, Tautulli tracks stats, and Immich stores photos. They all live behind a reverse proxy so you can reach each one at its own clean address (no port numbers, no IP soup).
You don't need to know any of that to use it — the only address most people ever need is plex.boxedmedia.org. The rest is here for when you want it.
How to use Plex
Plex is the app you'll spend the most time in. It's the library — movies, shows, music, the lot. You can watch it in a browser, but it's much nicer in a real app.
Getting in the first time
- Open the invite link the host sent you (it comes as a link by text or message, not an email). Sign in to Plex, or create a free Plex account with your email, Google or Apple. That's what adds you to the server, and the invite screens walk you through the rest.
- Install the Plex app on whatever you want to watch on. There's a version for almost everything: iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Smart TVs, Xbox, PlayStation, or a browser at app.plex.tv.
- Sign in with the same Plex account you used on the invite page. If you used Google or Apple there, pick the same option in the app.
- Find our library. The server is called Andrew's Boxed Media. In the app, tap Library, tap the library name in the top-left, and tap the heart next to each Andrew's Boxed Media library (Movies, TV Shows, Anime, Anime Movies, Korean TV). In a browser, click More at the bottom of the sidebar and pin them. Favorited libraries show up on your Home screen.
Plex also shows its own free, ad-supported movies and TV. Those aren't ours — everything from Boxed Media lives under the Andrew's Boxed Media libraries.
A few tips
Leave quality on Auto. Streams from outside the house top out around 10 Mbps, so Plex adjusts the picture to fit your connection. On weaker connections (cell data, hotel wifi), it'll drop to a lower quality so it doesn't buffer.
Subtitles, audio tracks and quality all live behind the gear icon at the bottom-right of the player. Most movies have multiple subtitle languages baked in.
Watch together. Plex's Watch Together feature keeps playback in sync with someone else, but it now only works in a web browser at app.plex.tv. Plex removed it from its newer phone and TV apps.
How to request a movie or show
If something isn't already in the Plex library, request it through Requester. Once the host approves it, it's downloaded and added to Plex automatically.
- Open request.boxedmedia.org and sign in with your Plex account (the same one you just set up).
- Use the search bar at the top to find the movie or show you want.
- Click the title, then hit the Request button. For a TV show, you can pick specific seasons or request all of them.
- The host approves requests by hand, usually the same day. After that it downloads and shows up in Plex on its own; rarer or older stuff might take longer.
- You can come back any time to see the status of your requests under Requests in the sidebar.
If a request fails or never appears after a day or two, ping the host — sometimes the source isn't available and it needs to be added manually.
Frequently asked
Is this free for me?
Yes. Boxed Media is run as a hobby for friends and family — no subscription, no ads, no tracking. Just don't share your account with strangers.
How many devices can I watch on at once?
You can be signed in on as many devices as you like. Streaming all of them at the same time depends on the server and your connection — usually two simultaneous streams per household is fine.
Can I download things to watch offline?
Not by default — downloads are switched off for new accounts. If you need them for a flight or road trip, ask the host. Plex may also require you to have your own Plex Pass to download.
I signed in but don't see anything from Boxed Media.
Check that you're signed in to the same Plex account you used on the invite page. Then follow step 4 under "Getting in the first time" above to favorite the Andrew's Boxed Media libraries. Still nothing? Message the host.
Why is something buffering or looking blurry?
Usually it's the network. The server is transcoding to match what your connection can handle. Try pausing for a few seconds to let it buffer, switch from Wi-Fi to a stronger network, or manually drop the quality in the player settings.
Something I requested never appeared. What do I do?
Wait at least a day — requests are approved by hand, and sometimes things sit in a queue. If it's still missing after that, message the host. The source might not be available and it can be sourced manually.
Can I share my account with someone else?
Please don't. If a friend or family member wants access, ask the host for a fresh invite — it takes about ten seconds to generate one through Wizarr. Sharing accounts messes up "Continue Watching" lists, recommendations, and parental controls.
Where do I back up my photos?
Photo accounts are separate from Plex, so ask the host for one first. Then open photos.boxedmedia.org and sign in with the login the host gave you. On your phone, install the Immich app, enter https://photos.boxedmedia.org as the server, sign in with the same login, and turn on backup. From then on, every photo and video on your phone gets uploaded in the background.
I have a problem that isn't listed here.
Reach out to the host directly — text, message, however you usually get in touch. Most issues are five-minute fixes.