> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://personal-92-migrate-dev-docs-guides.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quick Start

> Make your first authenticated Plex Media Server API call in under five minutes

# Quick Start

This guide walks you through your first authenticated request to a Plex Media Server in under five minutes. It includes copy-pasteable examples for `curl`, Node.js, and Python.

## Before you begin

You will need:

1. The address of your Plex server, for example `http://192.168.1.10:32400` or `https://plex.example.com`.
2. A valid Plex token. See the [Authentication guide](./authentication) if you do not have one yet.
3. `curl`, Node.js, or Python installed.

## Set environment variables

To keep the examples copy-pasteable, store your server URL and token in environment variables:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash title="macOS / Linux" theme={null}
  export PLEX_SERVER_URL="http://<your-server-ip>:32400"
  export PLEX_TOKEN="<your-token>"
  ```

  ```powershell title="Windows PowerShell" theme={null}
  $env:PLEX_SERVER_URL="http://<your-server-ip>:32400"
  $env:PLEX_TOKEN="<your-token>"
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<Warning>
  Never commit tokens to source control. Use environment variables or a secrets manager in production.
</Warning>

## Verify the server is reachable

Plex Media Server exposes server identity and capabilities at the root path. This endpoint does not require a token on most local networks:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash title="curl" theme={null}
  curl "$PLEX_SERVER_URL/"
  ```

  ```js title="Node.js" theme={null}
  const res = await fetch(`${process.env.PLEX_SERVER_URL}/`);
  console.log(await res.text());
  ```

  ```py title="Python" theme={null}
  import os, urllib.request

  url = f"{os.environ['PLEX_SERVER_URL']}/"
  with urllib.request.urlopen(url) as res:
      print(res.read().decode())
  ```
</CodeGroup>

You should receive an XML `MediaContainer` response with the server name, version, and other metadata. If the request fails, confirm the server address and that the server is running.

## List your libraries

List the libraries on your server:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash title="curl" theme={null}
  curl -H "X-Plex-Token: $PLEX_TOKEN" \
    -H "Accept: application/json" \
    "$PLEX_SERVER_URL/library/sections"
  ```

  ```js title="Node.js" theme={null}
  const res = await fetch(`${process.env.PLEX_SERVER_URL}/library/sections`, {
    headers: {
      "X-Plex-Token": process.env.PLEX_TOKEN,
      "Accept": "application/json",
    },
  });
  console.log(await res.json());
  ```

  ```py title="Python" theme={null}
  import os, urllib.request

  url = f"{os.environ['PLEX_SERVER_URL']}/library/sections"
  req = urllib.request.Request(
      url,
      headers={
          "X-Plex-Token": os.environ["PLEX_TOKEN"],
          "Accept": "application/json",
      },
  )
  with urllib.request.urlopen(req) as res:
      print(res.read().decode())
  ```
</CodeGroup>

You should receive a response containing one or more `Directory` entries representing your libraries.

## Request JSON responses

Plex returns XML by default. Add an `Accept` header to get JSON:

```bash theme={null}
curl -H "X-Plex-Token: $PLEX_TOKEN" \
  -H "Accept: application/json" \
  "$PLEX_SERVER_URL/library/sections"
```

Many integrations prefer JSON, but some response fields and nested arrays are easier to read in XML. Use whichever format your tooling handles best.

## List items in a library

Use the library key from the previous response to list its contents. Replace `<library-key>` with the value of the `key` field, for example `1`:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash title="curl" theme={null}
  curl -H "X-Plex-Token: $PLEX_TOKEN" \
    -H "Accept: application/json" \
    "$PLEX_SERVER_URL/library/sections/<library-key>/all"
  ```

  ```js title="Node.js" theme={null}
  const libraryKey = "<library-key>";
  const res = await fetch(
    `${process.env.PLEX_SERVER_URL}/library/sections/${libraryKey}/all`,
    {
      headers: {
        "X-Plex-Token": process.env.PLEX_TOKEN,
        "Accept": "application/json",
      },
    }
  );
  console.log(await res.json());
  ```

  ```py title="Python" theme={null}
  import os, urllib.request

  library_key = "<library-key>"
  url = f"{os.environ['PLEX_SERVER_URL']}/library/sections/{library_key}/all"
  req = urllib.request.Request(
      url,
      headers={
          "X-Plex-Token": os.environ["PLEX_TOKEN"],
          "Accept": "application/json",
      },
  )
  with urllib.request.urlopen(req) as res:
      print(res.read().decode())
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Check active sessions

See what is currently playing on the server:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash title="curl" theme={null}
  curl -H "X-Plex-Token: $PLEX_TOKEN" \
    -H "Accept: application/json" \
    "$PLEX_SERVER_URL/status/sessions"
  ```

  ```js title="Node.js" theme={null}
  const res = await fetch(`${process.env.PLEX_SERVER_URL}/status/sessions`, {
    headers: {
      "X-Plex-Token": process.env.PLEX_TOKEN,
      "Accept": "application/json",
    },
  });
  console.log(await res.json());
  ```

  ```py title="Python" theme={null}
  import os, urllib.request

  url = f"{os.environ['PLEX_SERVER_URL']}/status/sessions"
  req = urllib.request.Request(
      url,
      headers={
          "X-Plex-Token": os.environ["PLEX_TOKEN"],
          "Accept": "application/json",
      },
  )
  with urllib.request.urlopen(req) as res:
      print(res.read().decode())
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Identify your client

When you move beyond experiments, add `X-Plex-*` headers so the server knows which client is calling. See the [Authentication guide](./authentication) for the full list.

## Next steps

* Read the [Authentication guide](./authentication) for token management best practices and how to obtain a token.
* Explore the [API Reference](/api-reference) for available endpoints and parameters.
* Learn how to request `Accept: application/json` and interpret Plex XML responses.