So I’ve got young children and really don’t want them watching R Rated stuff in my library. So each person has a Plex profile. The adults’ accounts are password protected.
However, plex wont let my TYPE the password in Apple TV. They make you scroll around. My kids peek around the corners and watch my inputvtye password! Apple let’s you type in passwords using your iPhone or iPad when there is a text entry box. But plex doesn’t use the text entry box. Can you please add the option to enter text? Thanks!
I agree and I am advocating for Plex pin security to be better aligned with convenience and privacy.
The Plex PIN authentication method greatly increases the risk of my personal information getting into the wrong hands. I want to be able to authenticate my personal information in person without the intervention of another. That is the very definition of “personal”.
A pin entry handoff to another device (phone, watch, remote…) that offers the convenience of authenticating with thumb print or face recognition on some of those devices all the while making for a very fast response time. This is arguably the current standard for the masses.
Are there any updates on whether this is being actively worked on? This is my first post, so I have no idea if Plex even responds directly to these posts from their customers. Do they?
Please have the PLEX iOS/tvOS development team update the PIN entry form to support standard entry methods—via iOS remote keyboard entry and Siri dictation.
The Apple TV version needs to support standard tvOS number input methods when entering a user’s profile PIN (used for parental controls).
This way you can use your iPhone/iPad or Siri to enter the password. The current design uses only a horizontal number picker. This allows my kids to see which numbers are entered for the PIN, thereby opening the gate for them to access adult content.
PIN entry in other TV streaming apps…
Netflix (BEST): A perfect example of a proper PIN entry interface
HBO Max (WORST): An extremely clunky design, though it does work with keyboard and Siri entry
Most AppleTV apps allow text input via an iOS device on the same network. This would allow for profile password entry to be done without exposing the password to others in the room and would make it easier to search using text when in the app.
I haven’t been entering a PIN on the Apple TV in some time… but search is most definitely allowing to enter text via an iOS device. From what I’m seeing, that’s actually handled entirely by tvOS and not do much depending on a specific app’s implementation. Just make sure you’re focusing the text input — e.g. with search, switching from the recent searches pane to the text field.
This is a big one! Every time I try to login to my profile with my kids in the room I have to force them all to cover their faces so they don’t see my pin. I’m a fairly new user of plex, and so far this is definitely my number one complaint.
Given this is specifically about entering the account pin via the the remote app / control on an iOS device, I’ve merged it with another existing suggestion.
I’d like to be able to use my phone’s keyboard input when using a PIN to login to the Plex client app. I do this to hide what the PIN is from my children as opposed to selecting the numbers on the screen as they watch. The Plex client app allows keyboard input from your phone on the search screen, but does not allow it from the PIN login screen like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video do. See photo for reference.
