Help & FAQ
Most problems come down to one question: can the car reach your server right now? Start with the Connection Test in the app's settings. It runs the same checks Momentum uses internally and tells you in plain language which step failed.
The app says my server is unreachable
Momentum reaches your server the same way the official Plex app on your phone does over cellular. Run the two-minute test on the Before You Install page: official Plex app, WiFi off, VPN off, play a track. If that fails, the problem is server reachability, not the car. Check Plex's Remote Access page on your server; it should read "Fully accessible outside your network".
If the phone test works but the car still cannot connect, run the in-app Connection Test and note which of its checks fails. That result is the fastest thing to include if you contact support.
Why did my music quality drop, or a track play as MP3?
When the connection cannot sustain a file's full bitrate, Momentum automatically falls back to a converted stream rather than stopping playback. This is most common on Plex Relay connections, which are bandwidth-limited by Plex, and on weak cellular stretches. Your files on the server are never touched; the conversion happens in transit, and direct play resumes when conditions allow.
If this happens constantly, check whether your server is connecting via Relay instead of a direct port-forwarded connection.
Does Momentum work with Android Auto?
No, and there is no Android Auto version planned. Momentum is built natively for Android Automotive OS, the operating system inside cars with Google built-in. If your car uses Android Auto (phone projection), the official Plexamp app covers that platform well.
Can I use Tailscale, WireGuard, or another VPN to reach my server?
Not directly, with one real exception. The car runs a locked system that cannot join a VPN or overlay network, so a server reachable only at a private overlay address (a Tailscale 100.x address, a WireGuard peer, ZeroTier) will not work from the vehicle, even though it works from your phone with the VPN app installed.
The exception is tunnels that publish a public endpoint, such as Tailscale Funnel or Cloudflare Tunnel. Those give your server a publicly reachable address, which the car can use like any other public path, and some Momentum users run this way. Two caveats if you do: the tunnel's public URL needs to be added to your Plex server's "Custom server access URLs" (Settings → Network) so apps can discover it, and the tunnel becomes part of your streaming path, so its bandwidth limits or outages will look like an unreachable server from the car.
A port-forwarded direct connection is still the fastest and most reliable option.
Why does playback pause or skip in weak coverage?
Momentum buffers ahead aggressively, so short gaps in cellular coverage usually pass unheard. In a longer outage the app holds your place, tells you on screen that the connection was lost, and resumes when the network returns. If you regularly drive through dead zones and hear interruptions, lower-bitrate files will ride through longer gaps than high-resolution ones, simply because the same buffer holds more seconds of audio.
What data does Momentum collect?
Momentum includes crash reporting and diagnostic logging so problems can actually be fixed on a platform with no debugging access. Diagnostics never include your Plex password, and your Plex token is removed from logs before they leave the device. Uploaded logs are deleted after 14 days. The full details are in the privacy policy.
I found a bug, or something looks wrong
Use Send Diagnostics in the app's settings right after you see the problem, then email a short description of what happened. The diagnostic log is what makes car-side problems fixable, and sending it close to the incident matters because it captures a rolling window.
Support: support@momentumcar.app