As we all know thanks to this post: Can't Open Folders Anymore! Android! "Other Videos" - the bug that prevents you from opening albums within a folder will not be fixed any time soon. I have found a workaround for the time being which basically lets you install an older version of Plex alongside the current version.
Some of you will ask why that’s necessary when you can just install the latest working version (Plex Android 9.20.1), but I find that the Google play store will nag you to update Plex if you do install the older apk, and if you have auto updates turned on, it’ll automatically upgrade you to the latest version which is extremely annoying. You can turn auto update off in the Play store, but the icon will still always be there, and if you’re like me, you will accidentally update it when you click update all. This workaround will prevent the older version from being detected by Google Play store AND allow you to keep the Play store version of the app installed as well. In short, the goal is to achieve this:
This does not require you to uninstall the current Plex app on your android device, so leave that untouched. I find that the newer UI in the current apk has some small benefits like keeping track of where you left off in large folders much better, so there is a use to it.
First step is to download Plex 9.20.1 from the official thread here:
Do not install it, simply move it somewhere on your device in a folder.
Next step is to install an app called apk-signer off the Play store. The developer is Tra-On. Do note that this is a free app, so it will be inundated with ads. Use adguard or some sort of system wide ad blocker when opening the app and beware of malicious pop ups. The app will guide you on how to sign an app (the process basically self signs the app, which prevents the play store from associating it with Plex to prevent update nagging). Follow the steps and select the downloaded apk. The free version only let’s you change the icon color so go ahead and do that and rename the app to whatever you want so it’s distinguishable from the up to date Plex client.
Once the signing process is complete, install your newly signed 9.20.1 Plex app (you might to enable a security override setting on android). Set up everything and sign in, and you should be good to go. You now have two instances of Plex on your device, with the old one never nagging you within Google Play store to update. Once again it should look like this:
