Option 1 Substitute Paths using PKC

This approach will work for about 90% of the Plex/Kodi setups out there.

Be aware that all paths are potentially case-sensitive, even when using Windows.
Make sure that all paths are exactly spelled as you created them.

Setup of the Shares

If your media is accessible as follows, then this approach should work for you:

Linux/Mac Server:
Local path to the media on your server (where the media lies):
    /volume/.../<movies, tv shows, music>
SMB path for the same folders to make media accessible via LAN:
    smb://myNAS/.../<movies, tv shows, music>

Windows Server:
Local path to the media on your server (where the media lies):
    C:\...\<movies, tv shows, music>
SMB path for the same folders to make media accessible via LAN:
    \\myNAS\...\<movies, tv shows, music>

If you have several different Plex libraries of the same kind (e.g. "movie") on different harddrives, this approach will not work. See the other approach instead.

One working example setup:

• Linux/Mac Server:
  • Plex movie categories: /volume3/users/Patrick/media/movies and /volume3/data/media/kids
    • /volume3/users/Patrick/media is shared as smb://myNAS/plex-movies. Thus these are both accessible under smb://myNAS/plex-movies/movies and smb://myNAS/plex-movies/kids
  • Plex tv shows categories: /volume3/data/TV shows
    • Directly shared as smb://myNAS/shows
  • Plex music categories: /volume3/users/Patrick/My-Cool-Music/music
    • Directly shared as smb://myNAS/music
• Windows Server:
  • Plex movie categories: C:\users\Patrick\media\movies and C:\users\Patrick\media\kids
    • C:\users\Patrick\media is shared as \\myNAS\plex-movies. Thus these are accessible under \\myNAS\plex-movies\movies and \\myNAS\plex-movies\kids
  • Plex tv shows categories: E:\data\TV shows
    • Directly shared as \\myNAS\shows
  • Plex music categories: E:\My-Cool-Music\music
    • Directly shared as \\myNAS\music

Configure PKC

3. In the PKC Settings under Customize Paths,

   • disable Plex UNC paths..._
   • enable Replace Plex paths.... More settings will appear.

4. Looking at the example above, enter the following:

   • Linux/Mac Server:
     • Original Plex MOVIE path to replace: /volume3/users/Patrick/media
     • Replace Plex MOVIE with: smb://myNAS/plex-movies
     • Original Plex TV SHOWS path to replace: /volume3/data/TV shows
     • Replace Plex TV SHOWS with: smb://myNAS/shows
     • Original Plex MUSIC path to replace: /volume3/users/Patrick/My-Cool-Music/music
     • Replace Plex MUSIC with: smb://myNAS/music
   • Windows Server:
     • Original Plex MOVIE path to replace: C:\users\Patrick\media
     • Replace Plex MOVIE with: smb://myNAS/plex-movies
     • Original Plex TV SHOWS path to replace: E:\data\TV shows
     • Replace Plex TV SHOWS with: smb://myNAS/shows
     • Original Plex MUSIC path to replace: E:\My-Cool-Music\music
     • Replace Plex MUSIC with: smb://myNAS/music

5. In the PKC Settings under Sync Options, switch Playback Mode to the setting Native (Direct Paths)

6. Restart Kodi to enable the new settings!

7. Under Advanced, trigger a resync with the yellow Repair local database (force update all content)

8. Restart Kodi just to be on the safe side

You're done! If you messed up, Kodi playback will fail with an error message that is unfortunately unrelated to PKC.