[Solved] How to Play Movie as ISO File with Plex Media Server

Plex does not support ISO image formats natively. If you'd like to stream and play ISO files with Plex, you need to convert ISO to Plex compatible formats. Here is the simple how-to.

ISO image file is an archive file of an optical DVD or Blu-ray disc and it can maintain full contents and original quality of the discs. You can easily play ISO files on computer with VLC, 5K Player and some other media players. But if you want to play movies as ISO file with Plex, you will end up with failure. So, what's the matter? Doesn't Plex support ISO image formats?

The fact is that Plex officially makes it clear in its supported sources list - Plex does not support the use of ISO, IMG, Video_TS, or other "disk image" formats. And if you wish to play ISO movie files with Plex, you'll need to convert ISO to a compatible format (e.g. MP4 H.264) for Plex. In this page, we will show you an easy way to convert ISO to Plex-supported format. Also we will explain why Plex refuses to play any ISO file natively.

Why Plex Doesn't Support ISO and Other Disk Image Files?

ISO image file is an archive file of an optical disc. It is a sector-by-sector copy of the source DVD or Blu-ray by specific disk imaging software, and it contains all written contents from an optical disc and owns large file size - almost the same file size as original DVD or Blu-ray disc. ISO image files hide content behind built-in menu systems. Not only would the menus add extra UI that a user would need to wade through to get to the content, but there also simply isn't any good way that they could be presented in the myriad different Plex apps that are available – from iOS to Android, from the web browser to the Roku. It just isn't feasible to try and present a DVD menu type interface in some of the devices.

Simply put, ISO formats and other similar disk image formats like Video_TS, BDMV just don't fit into the idea behind the Plex ecosystem. To make Plex play ISO files, the easiest way is to convert ISO to Plex compatible formats or remux the content for Plex. And this is the suggestion from Plex's official site.

How to Convert ISO to Plex Supported File Formats

Whatever you want to transcode or remux the ISO files for Plex, you'll need a third-party program. MakeMKV and HandBrake are the top two choices to get the job done and they are also the recommended tools by Plex official site. However, MakeMKV just extracts the video and audio from ISO. The output MKV file contains all DVD data without quality loss but it can as large as 4~8GB for a DVD ISO movie. HandBrake is able to convert ISO to Plex MP4, but it can't handle protected ISO image files unless you install libdvdcss library.

So what's the best program for converting ISO image files for Plex?

If you don't want to be held back by slow processing, file decryption, and poor output quality, EaseFab DVD Ripper will be your best choice. It can batch convert any protected ISO files to Plex compatible file formats like H.264 MP4 for direct playback while maintaining nearly original quality.

Key Features of EaseFab DVD Ripper:

• Convert DVD/folder/ISO to Plex supported MP4, MKV, H.264, H.265 etc. as well as iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iMovie, etc.
• Bypass any DVD/ISO copy protection: DVD region code, UOPs, CSS encryption, Disney DVD with X-project DRM, etc.
• 1:1 backup DVD to ISO image, VIDEO_TS folder, MPEG2 with full or main title.
• Convert a full-length ISO image to Plex in 5 minutes, using GPU acceleration.
• Edit DVD video: merge titles, trim video, cut out trailers/extras, crop video, and add external subtitles.

[Tutorial] How to convert ISO to Plex supported file formats

To begin with, you need to download and install EaseFab DVD Ripper Windows or Mac version on your computer. The guide below takes the Windows version for an example. Mac version has the same process.

Step 1. Load the ISO file you want to import to Plex.

Launch EaseFab DVD Ripper on your computer. Click IFO/ISO button to load the DVD ISO image file you want to convert. Batch conversion is supported so you can add multiple ISO image files to convert at a time.

Step 2. Choose an output format that Plex supports.

Go to Profile bar and choose MP4 (h264+aac) from Common Video category. Optionally choose preferred audio track, subtitle, output folder according your needs.

Click the Settings icon, you can adjust video audio parameters. Videos in MP4 container with H. 264 video encoding and AAC audio is the best ISO to Plex conversion setting.

Step 3. Start conversion.

Finally, hit the Convert button to convert ISO to Plex at lightning speed with best quality.

How to Add Converted ISO Files to Plex Media Server?

After the ISO files have been ripped into Plex format, you can proceed to add the local ISO files to your Plex NAS server, such as Synology NAS, QNAP, or other storage devices. Here are 3 ways to do it.

If you've converted a large amount of ISO files for Plex, and now want to add the converted ISO movies to Plex server, you need to make sure that your server has enough free space. For example, a full quality SD ISO will take up being 4-8 gigs per movie while a Blu-ray disc will end up being 25-40 gigs per movie. You may need another server for Plex based on the size of your ISO file collection.

Option 1: How to build Plex movie library for the first time?

Step 1. Download and install Plex Media Server. When the installation is finished or when the server is run for the first time, a browser will pop up and ask you to either sign in or sign up.

Step 2. Set Plex to search specific folder for media. Here you can set Plex to search the folder where the converted ISO files are stored, such as C:\Users\GIGABYTE\Videos\WinXVideos\. Once done, your movies will be displayed in the media list. So, that's how to add movies to Plex when installing Plex.

Option 2: How to add ISO files to Plex with Plex already installed?

It's easy. Just store the movies into the folder you specified for movies when setting up Plex. Plex will automatically scan the folder for changes and update your media list. Alternatively, you can force Plex to scan your folder: go to the Library in Plex and click Update Library.

Option 3: How to create a movie library in Plex?

Step 1: Run the Plex Media Server on your computer, or compatible NAS device, or others.
Step 2: Click the Settings icon to get more settings options.
Step 3: Select Libraries under the Manage section.
Step 4: Click Add Library, select the library type and name the library.
Step 5: Put your movie files in a folder and back to Plex. Step 6: Select the Add folder. Click the "BROWSE FOR MEDIA FOLDER" button and select the movie folder with movie files you want to add. Click the ADD button and finish the steps Plex shows.

After you have added the ISO movies to Plex media server, install Plex app on any of your devices. Then you can stream and watch the converted ISO videos from Plex anytime and anywhere you want.

FAQs about Plex and ISO Image Files

1. Can I display the menus and choose subtitles if I convert ISO file?

If you convert ISO to MP4 and the like, DVD menu will disappear and subtitle will be embedded if you select desired subtitle tracks when ripping.

2. Can Plex play Blu-ray ISO file?

No. You can use EaseFab Blu-ray Ripper to convert Blu-ray ISOs for Plex. The process is similar as the steps above.