i keep getting this error "Critical: libusb_init failed" and plex wont open, anybody got any ideas to fix? thxs David

Which plex container are you using?

I am also having this issue.   I was running the linuxserver version and it worked flawlessly for a couple years, then quit about 10 days ago.  I've been around and around the issue and I keep seeing "if you don't have a USB tuner you don't have to worry about the error message."  Well I don't have a USB tuner (I run a HomerunHD Duo) but Plex will not load.

I tried upgrading my linuxserver Plex, I tried blowing that one away and trying the Official version from Plex. I still get the error message: "critical: libusb_init failed".

 

I'm a network engineer, so not totally unfamiliar with tech issues, but I'm not a linux nor UnRaid guru.  Can anyone tell me how I might be able to repair my libusb package so the _init doesn't fail, or tell Plex to ignore the error and start anyway?  Or some other way to make this work again?  Please?

 

...Rob

 

In reading other posts, I see I should include my docker run command for the Plex server and a diagnostics zip file. The zip is attached and the run command is:

root@localhost:# /usr/local/emhttp/plugins/dynamix.docker.manager/scripts/docker run -d --name='Plex-Media-Server' --net='host' -e TZ="America/Chicago" -e HOST_OS="Unraid" -e 'PLEX_CLAIM'='claim-<sanitized>' -e 'PLEX_UID'='99' -e 'PLEX_GID'='100' -e 'VERSION'='latest' -v '/mnt/cache/appdata/Plex/transcode':'/transcode':'rw' -v '/mnt/user/media':'/data':'rw' -v '/mnt/user/media/tv/':'/tv':'rw' -v '/mnt/user/media/movies':'/movies':'rw' -v '/mnt/user/media/music':'/music':'rw' -v '/mnt/user/appdata/Plex-Media-Server':'/config':'rw' 'plexinc/pms-docker'

bigs-nas-2-diagnostics-20220705-1651.zip

You ever find a solution for this? I'm running into the same issue.

I have this error, but Plex is still running

This error presented to me after an unclean shutdown or maybe OS 7 upgrade

I had this issue till a few minutes ago, error didn't start until earlier today, but I been having with unclean shutdowns for the last two weeks.  Game back from a 3 week vacation and have been trying to resolve that when the Plex container stop working. Did a remove and reinstall, but would not work, log showed this message " "Critical: libusb_init failed"".  Deleted all but the Plex-media-server" folder and reinstalled, but still no go.  Then I say someone change the Key4 from Latest to plexpass applied this than change back to Latest and applied.

 

This fix the problem with Plex not opening and I was able to recreate my libraries.  Earlier today I removed my nvme cache drives for a sata drive and the Plex container didn't like it, now I  have to wait to see if my reboots stop happening on my Unraid server.  

I got the same error, and after trying adding post arguments, install libusb_dev which all failed, I looked through plex docker settings, and realized I just switched to a different nvidia graphics card which has a different GPU ID. After pasting over the new one, the docker started normally.

This may not be the same reason as yours, but it can be helpful for other users.

I got the same error, I had just physically removed my gtx 970 nvidia gpu from the unraid server. I had to go to Apps -> previously installed apps -> Plex, reinstall it and remove the setting in there:

Remove '--runtime = nvidia' in your Docker template in 'Extra Parameters' (you have to enable 'Advanced view' in the template to see this option)

Once I did that, plex was fixed.

On 2/17/2025 at 10:37 PM, rtfill said:

log showed this message " "Critical: libusb_init failed""

This message means that Plex did not find a USB TV Tuner device. 99%+ of all Plex users in the world have this in their log. It can be ignored.

19 minutes ago, ConnerVT said:

This message means that Plex did not find a USB TV Tuner device. 99%+ of all Plex users in the world have this in their log. It can be ignored.

As ConnerVT said, the libusb_init error message can be ignored. The message appears in the logs every time Plex starts (unless you have a usb TV tuner). Note the line in red in my Plex logs. Plex tells you to ignore it.