Uninstalling Plex Media Server on Ubuntu server

What you will read?

1 Prerequisites
2 Step 1: Stop the Plex Media Server
3 Step 2: Uninstall Plex Media Server
4 Step 3: Remove Additional Files
5 Step 4: Clean Up Dependencies
6 Step 5: Verify Uninstallation
7 Conclusion

If you’ve decided to part ways with Plex Media Server on your Ubuntu server, whether due to a change in preference or performance issues, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of uninstalling Plex Media Server efficiently and cleanly.

Prerequisites

Before starting the uninstallation process, ensure you have administrative privileges on your server. You can log in to your Ubuntu server using SSH or directly via the terminal.

ssh username@your_server_ip

Replace username and your_server_ip with your actual username and server IP address.

Step 1: Stop the Plex Media Server

First, you need to stop the Plex Media Server service to ensure that no processes are running during the uninstallation. Use the following command:

sudo systemctl stop plexmediaserver

This command halts the Plex service, allowing you to proceed with the uninstallation without any interruptions.

Step 2: Uninstall Plex Media Server

Now that the service is stopped, you can uninstall Plex Media Server. If you installed Plex using apt, you can use the following command:

sudo apt remove plexmediaserver

If you want to remove all configuration files as well, use:

sudo apt purge plexmediaserver

This command will remove the Plex Media Server package and its configuration files, ensuring a clean uninstallation.

Step 3: Remove Additional Files

Plex Media Server may leave behind some residual files or folders. To remove them, execute the following commands:

sudo rm -rf /var/lib/plexmediaserver/
sudo rm -rf /etc/plexmediaserver/

This step is crucial if you want to ensure that all data related to Plex is fully deleted from your server.

Step 4: Clean Up Dependencies

After uninstalling Plex Media Server, it’s a good practice to remove any unnecessary dependencies that were installed with it. Run the following command:

sudo apt autoremove

This command will automatically remove any packages that were installed as dependencies and are no longer required.

Step 5: Verify Uninstallation

To ensure that Plex Media Server has been completely uninstalled, you can check the status of the service:

sudo systemctl status plexmediaserver

If the service is not found, then the uninstallation was successful.

Conclusion

Uninstalling Plex Media Server on your Ubuntu server is a straightforward process. By following these steps, you can ensure that all components of the application are removed from your system. Whether you’re freeing up space for another application or simply no longer need Plex, this guide has covered everything you need to know for a smooth uninstallation experience. For more insightful articles and guides, stay tuned to dropvps.com as we continue to help you navigate your server management journey!