PLEX Update error / can't download PLEX anymore

[TheHoneyPot]

It’s been an awful evening. I was having some PLEX issues. I saw PLEX wanted to update, so I updated. PLEX refused to launch after update, I could not start it manually. I couldn’t figure out why. Quick google search said to uninstall and re-install plex app… ok no biggie. So I deleted the Plex App. When i went to re-install the Plex app it fails to install every time.

FAILED
[EFAULT] Failed ‘up’ action for ‘plex’ app. Please check /var/log/app_lifecycle.log for more details
More info…
Error: Traceback (most recent call last):
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/middlewared/job.py”, line 515, in run
await self.future
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/middlewared/job.py”, line 562, in __run_body
rv = await self.middleware.run_in_thread(self.method, *args)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/middlewared/main.py”, line 627, in run_in_thread
return await self.run_in_executor(io_thread_pool_executor, method, *args, **kwargs)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/middlewared/main.py”, line 624, in run_in_executor
return await loop.run_in_executor(pool, functools.partial(method, *args, **kwargs))
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File “/usr/lib/python3.11/concurrent/futures/thread.py”, line 58, in run
result = self.fn(*self.args, **self.kwargs)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/middlewared/service/crud_service.py”, line 294, in nf
rv = func(*args, **kwargs)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/middlewared/api/base/decorator.py”, line 101, in wrapped
result = func(*args)
^^^^^^^^^^^
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/middlewared/plugins/apps/crud.py”, line 148, in do_create
return self.create_internal(job, app_name, version, data[‘values’], complete_app_details)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/middlewared/plugins/apps/crud.py”, line 193, in create_internal
raise e from None
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/middlewared/plugins/apps/crud.py”, line 186, in create_internal
compose_action(app_name, version, ‘up’, force_recreate=True, remove_orphans=True)
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/middlewared/plugins/apps/compose_utils.py”, line 61, in compose_action
raise CallError(err_msg)
middlewared.service_exception.CallError: [EFAULT] Failed ‘up’ action for ‘plex’ app. Please check /var/log/app_lifecycle.log for more details

Right now, the official Plex app version (1.2.5) in the TrueNAS SCALE catalog is trying to pull a Plex Docker image tag that doesn’t exist anymore, causing that “manifest unknown” error and failing to install.

Does anyone know how to fix this? Any help is most greatly appreciated

[TheHoneyPot]

I am using truenas scale. I don’t know how to use dockers. I just want to install the app.

[NugentS]

What version of Scale are you using?

[TheHoneyPot]

Version: 25.04.2.1

[TheHoneyPot]

[TheHoneyPot]

[NugentS]

Try installing plex with default everything. Don’t worry about media - just do all ix-volumes.

Does it install

If it does then your issue is permissions, somewhere

[TheHoneyPot]

I have tried to install PLEX with default settings, nothing changed. Plex does not install.

[TheHoneyPot]

I’m convinced the problem isn’t in TrueNAS config but in the chart definition iX is shipping

Here’s what’s going on:
The Plex Docker repo (plexinc/pms-docker) is clearly alive and updated — I just pulled the details showing it was updated 1 day ago. TrueNAS SCALE’s Plex app doesn’t just say “grab latest,” it hardcodes a specific tag (e.g., 1.32.5.7439-abc123456) in the chart metadata. If Plex removed that specific tag from Docker Hub (they prune old tags regularly), the app will throw a manifest unknown or generic “compose_action failed” error — because Docker literally can’t find that image anymore. The tag is the same for everyone using the current catalog release (25.04.2.1 catalog).

Anyone doing a new install or re-deploy of Plex right now will hit the same missing-image wall.

On iXsystems’ (TrueNAS SCALE) side
They need to update the Plex chart in their “official” app catalog so it points to a tag that actually exists in plexinc/pms-docker (or switch to latest/plexpass if they want to avoid this problem in the future).
Push that chart update into the catalog so when you “Install” or “Reinstall” Plex, it pulls a working image.

[dan]

The obvious solution is to stop depending on the iX apps and to use your own Compose YAML instead–then you can structure it however you like. Either do the “custom app” thing, or install Dockge or Portainer to manage your Compose projects.

That way you’ll be covered when they inevitably stop maintaining their apps.

[TheHoneyPot]

While advanced users can absolutely bypass the iX catalog and roll their own Compose stack, that’s not realistic for the audience iXsystems needs to win over to grow.

Most potential new SCALE users — especially home NAS owners — are looking for a reliable, plug-and-play experience. If essential apps like Plex become unreliable or require a crash course in Docker just to get running, it sends a clear message: “This platform is only for power users.” That narrows the adoption funnel and limits SCALE’s growth to a niche community.

A strong, stable first-party app experience is more than a convenience — it’s an onboarding tool, a selling point, and a retention strategy. Without it, iX risks losing market share to platforms that do deliver that easy, dependable setup right out of the box.

[dan]

@TheHoneyPot

“This platform is only for power users.”

I believe that’s the case. It’s never really been suitable for non-tech-savvy users, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. In fact, I see iX’ partnership with HexOS as their admission that it never will.

I’ve been using Free/TrueNAS for 15+ years. I’ve seen three iterations of plugins/apps come and go because they were “too much work” for iX to maintain. I don’t believe they’ll be any more dedicated to this iteration; I expect in a couple of years we’ll see this catalog poorly (if at all) maintained. But only time will tell.

[TheHoneyPot]

I just refreshed my catalog again. Within 24hrs iX Systems had already rolled out a patch update. 10/10 iX systems dev team.