So I know that Plex has the ability to filter a library based off of labels, but I’ve never used them before, I just let the library autoload the information from the metadata, and I leave it be. Last night my family was complaining about how their kids can now see the horror movies I recently added to the library, and wished they couldn’t see them. Now, I understand that I could put a label and give them access to only X label, but the problem is I have HUNDREDS of movies (close to 1,000), and it would take a huge amount of time to create labels for everything that’s “ok” for them to watch. It would be so much easier if I could create a label for 20 movies and say I DON’T want to share that with them, than it would be to create a label for 980 movies that I DO wan’t to share with them. Also, if I delete the file, and put it back on, I’d lose the label right? So if I had to migrate data from one hard drive to another hard drive, I’d run the risk of losing that label (there’s ways around that I know, but I don’t like the added risk of having to execute it perfectly to preserve meta data when I could just click and drag, and have Plex auto load the metadata, but lose the label)? Then I’m back to square one having to create 980 labels just so 20 movies wouldn’t show up… Super inconvenient.
Why not just give the kids a different user account with, a children folder
you can just modify
Simplifies things and you can just add a password to their account
These kind of labels are already automatically assigned if you insert movies into your library:
content ratings/age certifications.
They may not be 100% right if you are not living in the U.S., but you should be able to get a good approximation with them.
Of course, for this to work, Plex must recognise which movie you are placing in it.
For that, your movie’s file name must be following the naming guidelines.
Why not give them their own password? Because, my sisters family uses my Plex, they have their own account, and it’s signed in on iPad’s, Xbox One, and an Amazon Fire TV… the account just stays signed in at all times. They watch movies with their kids, and by themselves (without kids), so it’s not a practical solution.
Content Rating isn’t a practical solution either since my sisters family HATES horror movies, and not all horror movies are a particular rating, nor are all movies of that rating a horror movie.
I mean, these are solutions that aren’t TERRIBLE, they’re just not idea, or even good. As much as I LOVE Plex (life long membership right here), they made an error in judgement on execution of their label filtering. Rather than saying you can ONLY watch movies with this label, they should have programmed it to be that with X label you DON’T see it… or let you choose which one (to see, or not to see) you want.
That’s an acceptable solution, though not ideal… since it is only just a filter on the user end, and not on the server. It’s like walking into a video store and asking to see the “Action” section and having to walk by the “Adult Movie” section, but focusing solely on the action section. I want to be able to get rid of the section in general for that user, not simply have them hide it (which could be undone at any moment by anyone in their house). So not really a lack of effort, just looking for a real solution that fixes the problem, not avoid it.
Early 2021 clean-up: implemented (Plex Home / Managed users vs. sharing with friends – sharing restrictions, parental controls)
