How to use your PS4 as a media streamer without DLNA

As it stands, the PS4 $399.99 at Delldoesn’t ship with DLNA streaming capability, ironically making the PS3$259.95 at Amazon a better
media center device. It’s certainly possible that we’ll see support for the standard patched in eventually, but how are we supposed to play our media library on the PS4 right now? Thankfully, there is a way, and it’s all thanks to the surprisingly useful web browser included with the PS4′s OS.

With a handy little application called Plex, you can stream just about any video on your computer or NAS directly to your PS4′s web browser. It only takes a few minutes to get going, so let’s jump right in.

Install Plex

First off, you need to install the Plex Media Server. Download it, install it, and then launch the executable. It’s simple enough, and it’s available on Windows, OS X, Linux, and FreeBSD (FreeNAS). That should cover just about everyone.

Configure server settings

Once the application is running, you can configure your settings as you please. Choose your server’s name, add your media folders to the Plex library, and tweak your networking options as you see fit. If you need to change the port configuration, you’ll need to toggle on the advanced mode by clicking the “Show Advanced” button in the upper right. Most people shouldn’t need to tinker too much, but the options are available.

Navigate to your server

Now, you need to navigate to your Plex library on your PS4. At this point, you have two options: Stream locally or stream over the internet. If you want to stream over your local network, you’ll need to find the private IP address of your media server, and then append the port number and the directory of the Plex web interface. Using the default settings, it should look something like this: http://192.168.1.103:32400/web. Obviously, your milage may vary depending on your network and port configuration. (To find your local IP address on Windows, hit Windows key, type cmd and press enter. Then type ipconfig and press enter. Your local IPv4 address will be the one that probably starts with 192 or 10. Mac users can do the same with the Terminal app and the command ifconfig.)

If you’d prefer to stream over the web, you can simply log into your Plex account at Plex.tv. Click the orange launch button, and you’ll be connected to your server. Of course, you’ll be beholden to any bandwidth limitations imposed by your internet connection, so be warned. If you have a data cap, you need to be very careful with the bit rates.

Configure playback settings

On the PS4, you’re going to need to change one setting to get videos to play properly. Under the “Web Settings” tab, click on “Player,” toggle on the advanced settings, and then turn on “Prefer AAC Audio.” Save your settings, and you should be good to go. Also, here is where you can tweak the quality of your video. The default settings should be fine, but slower connections may need some finessing to operate smoothly.

Browse

Now, click the home icon and browse your library. On the navigation bar on the left, you should see all of the folders and channels you added during the initial set-up, and the PS4′s d-pad should allow you to quickly jump between the buttons.

Enjoy

Now, all that’s left is to enjoy your media library. As long as your server remains powered on and connected to the network, you can play your favorite movies and TV shows at your leisure. Even better, Plex offers baked-in DLNA support as well. If Sony ever gets its act together and releases a DLNA client for the PS4, you won’t have to change a thing. If you have an Xbox One, DLNA is already supported, and a Plex client is currently under development, so you’ll be able to play your videos wherever you want.