Downgrade to old iOS Version and turn off updates only for Plex - Howto! - no jailbreak required

Plex Players Mobile Devices
106

thanks, follow the new ipatool,and install the old plex successfully.

plex is usable again on my ipad!

107

Anyone on iOS/iPadOS 26 yet with the downgraded app and can confirm everything still works..?

108

I have no issue with it. Been running it since mid August on iOS26.

1 Like
109

This was simply amazing! Thanks for sharing

110

I accidently updated the plex app on IOS, and I tried this today, and this process doesn’t seem to work anymore, the only way I found is to use xcode on a mac and there is a 7 day expiry that needs the app to be refreshed or pay for a apple developer licence for a 12 month expiry, maybe someone know how to do this way with modifications

I used AI and it said

Summary of why iOS 26.0.1 breaks sideloading older Plex versions (like 8.45):

  • Apple changed the signing system: iOS 26 uses a new “Lockdown v4” framework that blocks older tools (AltStore, iMazing, AppManager, etc.) from pairing or installing apps.

  • FairPlay app encryption is now enforced: App Store IPAs can’t be reused or decrypted; iOS rejects anything not downloaded directly via the App Store.

  • Free Apple ID certificates now expire after 7 days and must be refreshed; older “permanent” sideloading tricks no longer work.

  • Third-party signing tools haven’t been updated to support the new handshake and token system in iOS 26.

Result: only Xcode (with a valid developer certificate) or a paid Apple Developer account can install and keep older Plex versions working.

anyone have some suggestions? thanks in advance

111

I have been a Plex Pass member since 2013 and have stopped using it entirely this year since the app was updated this spring and it stopped working with my Chromecast and PS5. It seems like lots of people have this issue and I may try downgrading to the old app on my iPhone but I really should not have to.

What has the response been from Plex? This is a known issue so what is their ETA for a fix?

112

I don’t know what didn’t work in your case, but I was able to download the IPA following this guide, and install it with AppManager (Windows) on a 13 with iOS 26.0.1.

113

thank you, I ended up doing it with iMazing.

1 Like
114

The iOS apps should be working okay now for Live TV as long as you have Plex Live TV enabled in the settings. Settings → Online Media Sources → General - Live TV → Enabled.
Plex says that this will be fixed in the next release so that you will be able to disable Plex Live TV.

115

thanks for the update, on IOS does PIP work for you with Live TV?

116

I can start up a video on Youtube or a News app and swipe up to minimize it. Then open up plex and start up a live stream, either during a recording in process or not, and the video will pause while plex is streaming. If I hit play on the video, Plex will pause while the video is playing. If I then hit play on Plex, the video pauses while Plex continues to play. If that is what you mean by PIP working, then yes. No one in our family uses it though.

117

yes many other apps have PIP that works, unfortunately the last Plex version for PIP to work was 8.45, the rewrite of the app hasn’t restored this feature yet. still waiting and still using 8.45 till then.

118

Pip does not work with live tv on the new app and one reason why I am not using it. Live TV functions poorly on the new app.

119

thanks for the confirmation Deihmos, still playing the waiting game, hopefully one day it comes back to at least what it was at version 8.45

120

@flipper2222222

I got a brand new phone with iOS 26.1

I couldn’t drag and drop the Payload file directly anymore with Apple Configurator, but as @stefan_karakolev did, I just airdropped the Plex 8.45.ipa file and it is working totally normal. Only what I have to keep attention is, not to update it now from the AppStore.

It would have been better to have the Payload app version only, but somehow the Apple Configurator didn’t transferred it. Like earlier it was always working… Strange.

Now I’ve checked the solution from @davemichaud , with brew and ideviceinstaller

That worked as well. Thank you all!

121

Many thanks for this.

I have a MAC on OS 26.1 and an iPhone on iOS 26.1

I followed the MAC method from @davemichaud and it worked well. It’s straightforward.

I just had to make one small change to the final step.

Instead of;

ideviceinstaller -i 383457673_8.45.ipa

I had to use;

ideviceinstaller install 383457673_8.45.ipa

122

Still using the old app after all this time. I was appalled to try the new one again and find it’s still terrible (e.g., playlist view with TV show episodes is still just a grid of boxes with the season poster on each). Has there been no effort to fix it up? I’m grateful to have the old app still but I’m actually contemplating a switch to Jellyfin for the first time.