# Plex vs Plex HTPC **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Players\ **Tags:** player-mac, plex-htpc\ **Created:** [February 2, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-vs-plex-htpc/829290 "2023-02-02T17:33:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ke5343](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dfb087/32.png) [@ke5343](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ke5343)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-vs-plex-htpc/829290/1 "2023-02-02T17:33:48Z")
I apologize in advance, but was not able to easily find answers to my question. I am new to Plex. I downloaded and installed the Plex app on my mac, and nicely enough was able to get it setup pretty quickly. I was digging around the website and then found Plex HTPC. What are the differences between the ‘standard’ app and the HTPC version? I am trying to understand the advantages/disadvantages and I was unable find details that would explain for me. ---
**Author:** ![prassel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9bcb4/32.png) [@prassel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/prassel)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-vs-plex-htpc/829290/2 "2023-02-02T17:54:14Z")
Have you read the announcement thread? I tried installing it but I cant get my controller to work, but it looked pretty much like the apps you get on Smart TVs while the non-HTPC version is made to be used on a regular PC with keyboard and mouse. > [@Introducing Plex HTPC!](https://forums.plex.tv/t/introducing-plex-htpc/703075): > > Today we’d like to invite you to kick the tires on Plex HTPC, a brand new app for home theater PCs! (or Macs, Linux coming soon) Plex HTPC is the phoenix rising from the proverbial ashes of the Plex Media Player TV layout: it’s a dedicated home theater app with a gorgeous UI designed specifically for the big screen and all the HTPC essentials like sophisticated remote/controller support, refresh rate switching, multi-channel audio, and more. Plex HTPC brings together the app framework used by t… ---
**Author:** ![BigWheel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/bigwheel/32/78783_2.png) [@BigWheel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BigWheel)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 6:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-vs-plex-htpc/829290/3 "2023-02-02T18:02:41Z")
The desktop app just called Plex is meant for using directly on a computer with a keyboard and mouse. Many folks just use the web app in the browser for this but the desktop app can play more types of files natively and has the Downloads feature. Plex HTPC is for folks who connect a computer to their TV instead of getting a device like a Roku, Apple TV. It is meant to be controlled with a remote ---
**Author:** ![BanzaiInstitute](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/banzaiinstitute/32/293273_2.png) [@BanzaiInstitute](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BanzaiInstitute)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 9:39pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-vs-plex-htpc/829290/4 "2023-02-02T21:39:33Z")
Plex HTPC allows you to automatically force the refresh rate of the display to the frame rate of the media. That may let you play 24 fps movies without judder. I don’t think the regular Plex app lets you do this. ---
**Author:** ![BigWheel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/bigwheel/32/78783_2.png) [@BigWheel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BigWheel)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 9:49pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-vs-plex-htpc/829290/5 "2023-02-02T21:49:51Z")
it does ![Plex](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/b/1/8/b18232f29f4cd9b770687442f8d6158dc49feea8.png) ---
**Author:** ![BanzaiInstitute](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/banzaiinstitute/32/293273_2.png) [@BanzaiInstitute](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BanzaiInstitute)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 11:56pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-vs-plex-htpc/829290/6 "2023-02-02T23:56:55Z")
Hey, cool! Was it always there? I could have sworn that Plex Media Player and then Plex HTPC were the only Windows clients with that option. ---
**Author:** ![BigWheel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/bigwheel/32/78783_2.png) [@BigWheel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BigWheel)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-vs-plex-htpc/829290/7 "2023-02-03T01:10:01Z")
for about a year-ish ---
**Author:** ![BanzaiInstitute](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/banzaiinstitute/32/293273_2.png) [@BanzaiInstitute](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BanzaiInstitute)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2023, 1:40am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-vs-plex-htpc/829290/8 "2023-02-03T01:40:49Z")
Thanks – I wasn’t totally crazy then! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 1:41am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-vs-plex-htpc/829290/9 "2023-05-04T01:41:51Z")
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