The one-time activation didn’t cover downloading media.
You might have been dealing with downloads from a user’s Plex Pass Server. If their account & Plex Pass membership predates the requirement to have a Plex Pass for downloads, you could have benefited from that (Plex is calling that „grandfathering“).
It seems there’s currently an issue with that „inherited“ option to download. Plex have commented earlier that they’re working to fix this.
Edit: the basic playback / app usage of the mobile clients will no longer require an activation fee (starting with the release of the new apps). Though you’ll require a Plex Pass or the new Watch Pass to watch media remotely from your own or a shared server.
What if I’ve already paid the one-time mobile app activation fee?
For users who have already paid a one-time, in-app activation for either our mobile Android or iOS app, an extended trial for the new Remote Watch Pass subscription is available. To make use of it, you need to:
- Start your Remote Watch Pass subscription through our mobile app.
- Make sure it is on the same mobile platform where the original purchase was made (e.g., iOS/iPadOS if your activation was through the App Store).
- Ensure you’re using the same app store account that made the original purchase (e.g., the same Apple ID).
Example: If you originally did a one-time activation of our iOS app, then you need to use our new mobile app on an iOS/iPadOS device to start a Remote Watch Pass billed through the App Store, while signed in to the same Apple ID that made the original purchase.
