Plex has confirmed that it will require a Remote Watch Pass or Plex Pass for remote streaming on its TV apps. The change is going into effect for the Roku app first, followed by all other TV apps and third-party clients in 2026.
Earlier this year, Plex increased its pricing for Plex Pass and stopped supporting all options for free remote streaming in the Plex apps, such as adding a custom server connection in the app settings. The company said at the time, “The reality is that we need more resources to continue putting forth the best personal media experience, and as a result, we will no longer offer remote playback as a free feature.” That’s also when Plex introduced the Remote Watch Pass as a less expensive way to enable remote streaming again.
Plex is now rolling out the remote watch changes to its Roku TV app. If you have Plex Pass, or the owner of the server you’re streaming from has Plex Pass, you don’t need to do anything. Otherwise, if you are streaming on a different network from the server’s home network, you need Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass.
I don’t think that’s it.
There were complaints when Netflix started enforcing password sharing rules.
I think the main driver of complaints is “you promised the thing I’m paying for would be X, and now you’re changing the deal.”
And the main answer is “Pray we do not change it any further.”
And as you’re done praying, they change 10 more, because they can.
Which is not what Plex is doing. There’s no change for paid users.
There were complaints… and then subscription numbers increased.
Overall. They went down in the affected areas.
There was never an explicit deal on providing free shit. Although they seem to be honoring paid stuff. If your account is old enough, content shared with friends can be downloaded even if they don’t have a Plex pass.
Not for users who paid the mobile unlock fee.
They soften the landing with the “extended trial”, but anyone who paid the “one-time fee” is finding out what that really meant.
I wouldn’t be surprised if a year from now there’s an announcement for Plex 2.0 and my lifetime account only applies to legacy Plex.
Apparently this extended trial is 3 months. I would have thought that it was just the terminology they needed to use to get it to work with the mobile platforms. This is a really shitty thing to do.
Thought it would have happened by now. Life time doesn’t make sense as there are recurring costs.
Then they shouldn’t have offered it.
What exactly does this mean?
Previously you could pay a one time fee to watch remotely on Android and iOS without having the Plex Pass and now it sounds like they’re rolling this into the Plex Pass and asking users to pay again.
Yeah that sounds fucked if true. I’m asking specifically because people’s experiences will help so much more than search results.
That the one-time fee was a lie.
How so
How would you define “one-time fee” in this context?
I am asking about the lie part. I know what a “one time fee” means. I know nothing else.
I’m not sure you do know what it means though. Because if you did, then it would be obvious how requiring another fee for the thing you already paid the one-time fee for makes the original promise of the one-time fee a lie.
Yes
Which part?
Is there a difference between the two?
You might not understand :
I’m not a mind reader, mate. Even less so on the internet. I could be ESL, or from a different part of the world. Whatever’s obvious in your head isn’t going to be obvious in mine.
So, if you want me to tell you what “this” means, you’ve got to tell me what “this” is.