What does this mean? My friend got this, but I have a lifetime plex pass as server owner:
“As of April 29, 2025, we’re changing how remote streaming works for personal media libraries, and it will no longer be a free feature on Plex.
We noticed that you’ve accessed libraries from friends and family in the past and you may be affected by this change.
To continue streaming from these libraries remotely, you’ll need a Remote Watch Pass.
Alternatively, server owners can purchase a Plex Pass, which will grant you continued remote streaming of libraries that you have been given access to.
To keep streaming now, take advantage of our free 14-day trial and enjoy intro pricing on a Remote Watch Pass.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Plex”
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I received a similar e-mail yesterday for my test account which does not have a Plex Pass.
I sent friends/family who stream from my server a quick note saying “I’ve a Plex Pass, you don’t need one or a Remote Watch Pass to stream from my server.”
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If they report an inability to stream from your server, the first thing to try is to stop the server for a few minutes, then restart it.
(Only if you didn’t perform a restart already, since the changes went into effect.)
Will this change come into effect automatically or on the next release/update to the server?
What change precisely?
They are already in effect.
https://www.plex.tv/blog/important-2025-plex-updates/
I have had family members say they are now needing to purchase a Plex pass to watch my media.
I am not happy about this. Increasing subscripion costs - sure, I get that. Changing the rules of existing passes will piss of your users; it has for me.
I’ve had lots of freinds purchase Plex passes because I advocate for Plex - even after ALL my problems.
Now, that has just stopped. If you need more cash: go and get it from new subscribers, not ones hwo have got you this far based on your earlier programs.
You have a Plex Pass so you shouldn’t be affected. Do your friends and family have access to other servers? The message may refer to one of those. The message doesn’t specify which server they can’t connect to.
They wrong. As long you pay for Plex Pass they can stream from you.
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You have a Plex Pass. Nobody needs a Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass to stream from a server claimed by your account (as @MovieFan mentions, they may need a Pass to stream from a different server).
Why do your family members believe they need a Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass?
Did the Plex Mobile app tell them or did they receive an email?
Plex sent an email regarding the remote streaming changes that led many people to believe they needed a Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass when they did not.
If they are receiving a notification from the Plex mobile app, then there may be a configuration or other error that needs to be corrected.
You can emulate your family’s remote streaming from your server. Create a Plex account using a free email from Google, Yahoo, etc. and share libraries with it. On your phone, turn off Wi-Fi then sign in to the Plex app with the new account.
Because they received a message from Plex to that effect and they contacted me about it.
If that’s the case, I will send an email to the small group and tell them to ignore the messaging but I would submit that perhaps those messages were not 100% clear.
I did the same with people who stream from my server.
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