I appreciate your input, but, I prefer not to be “held captive” by a company that does not listen to it’s customer base AND since I PAID to have ALL services and software work as stated, I have the right as a consumer/customer to proceed with any legal means I feel are necessary to resolve any issue with ANY company or corporation. Also, it is their choice whether they “respond” or not. If they don’t, and what I proceed with is my own concern. This is not a “Threat,” this is a viable way of perhaps getting their attention just as the other class action suits that are currently in process have done and are of considerable concern as follows:
“Based on recent search results and reported knowledge, here is a summary of the current situation regarding class actions related to Plex and Roku:
Plex
There has been a class action lawsuit filed against Plex alleging that it improperly collected and shared user streaming data, violating privacy laws such as the Video Privacy Protection Act. This lawsuit was filed in 2024 and centers on alleged privacy violations related to user data and streaming history.
Reports of data breaches affecting Plex users have also emerged, which could potentially strengthen class action claims related to data security and privacy mishandling.
Roku:
Multiple state-level lawsuits accuse Roku of illegally collecting, selling, and improperly processing children’s personal data without proper consent. Lawsuits from Florida and Michigan focus on violations of privacy laws, especially around children’s data and targeted advertising.
These cases highlight significant legal attention on Roku’s data practices, particularly concerning children, which could also pave the way for wider class actions if proven.
Detailed post on the Plex forum clearly reflects systemic issues with Plex’s app and the “New Experience” Roku app performance which, have been continually ignored plus, the data privacy concerns, which could inspire or contribute to current or future class actions. While no recent specific class suits Plex users regarding the app malfunction or discovery failures so far have been publicly confirmed, ongoing privacy litigation suggests that if a large-scale breach or significant failures are proven, further class actions could be motivated.
I am not going to go into specifics about my experience with the “New Experience (Experiment?) Roku Plex App” I have several issues, as you can find in my prior post. What I would like to ask you though, as said you stated in your post you “moved” to Emby.
How hard was it to setup any “Collections?” I have over 40 libraries some containing several collections. Example: F:\MOVIES(MAIN)\FANTASY, FICTION & HORROR\FANTASY-COMEDY\SHREK (2001-2011). Have you set up any Collections in your library and if so, can you nest them like Plex does or, does it just take collections and put them in a collection folder named “collections” “mixed with other “collections” from other Categories. This is a great concern for me and since I have over 3500 movies and TV Shows I have collected over a 20 year span…..It took me forever to load them the first time on Plex and I understand you can NOT migrate Plex media data and files directly to Emby, Jellyfin or Kodi….. BTW, I have been a Plex Pass owner since 2021…But have used Plex since 2018. I am DONE with Plex and I need to find a compatible alternative, which there doesn’t seem to many good choices.
I run Emby and Kodi out of the same directories that Plex uses. Although each program needs to run its own scan, they pick up the files fine for the most part. I know that Emby and Plex handle editions of a movie differently which requires different file names. That’s the only thing I’ve found that doesn’t translate well.
Subject: Urgent: Severe Issues with “New Roku Plex App” Preventing Server Discovery and Playback
Dear Plex Support Team,
I am a Plex Pass subscriber and have a large media library with over 3500 movies and TV collections. My Plex Media Server runs reliably on a hardwired Ethernet connection with no network changes. However, since the rollout of the “New Roku Plex App,” I cannot use the app on my Vizio TV via Roku.
The Roku app fails to discover my Plex server entirely. When I log in, I receive the error “WolfsPortal Is Currently Unavailable,” and no content loads. Despite multiple attempts following all available Plex troubleshooting guides—reinstalling the app, rebooting devices, checking network connectivity, disabling VPN and firewalls—the issue persists.
Meanwhile, Plex works perfectly on my desktop app and through the web interface. This problem appears to be directly caused by the recent Roku Plex app update and severely limits the value of my Plex Pass subscription, rendering it unusable on Roku.
I request urgent investigation and resolution of this issue, as well as clear communication about expected timelines for fixes or workarounds. Meanwhile, advice on any official supported temporary solutions to access my library via Roku would be appreciated.
Thank you for your attention and help.
Sincerely,
SW Craword
Device Models and Versions: Roku Mode 4850X -Ultra/ Roku OS 15/
This interface is still absolutely stupid and horrible. There is absolutely no thought put into any of these changes. Text overlaps other text. Streaming garbage is front and center instead of my personal libraries. Search is so unfathomably stupid. Random garbage appears before anything that’s in my personal server. My wife kept thinking it was all stuff I added, which it definitely wasnt. It’s not even clear what the sources are, if there even are any. Then, when I try to select what IS in my server, it gives that that stupid “Where to Watch” button. Why? IT’S IN MY F*CKING SERVER. Just revert back to the old app already. This is a disaster. You’re not winning anyone over with this stubborn insistence on making everything worse for everyone.
I wager if you “unfavorite” and “refavorite” your library items, your stuff would appear more front and center.
I also feel like that’s representative of this app’s rollout. My memory is fuzzy, but so far as I know, there was no notification that this was a required step. Also one would think that ALL of your libraries might be Favorited by default as to avoid the appearance of Plex media stealing the focus. If they can’t manage to center your stuff on first launch either nobody thought it through, or worse… they did.
I think it speaks volumes about this app not being intuitive to use. Clicking around in an app should be a fun exploration, not a chore or a fight.
I prefer Pin, as it was device specific. I don’t have a need to access my 4k Movie Library on handheld and remote devices, but prefer it up front on the TVs in the house.
Thanks. I did previously set my favorites. I guess my main complaint about “front and center” was about my personal libraries being pinned on the side in the previous version, with the streaming crap down below it. Now I have to go to a sub menu just to see my libraries while they push streaming in the top menu and the app lags every step of the way.
Emby has been going great for me. If we ignore watch together I feel as though Emby has closer feature parity to the old Plex than the new Plex has with its old self.
Plus making user accounts is so much easier. I don’t have to fight Plex’s bullshit streaming service by walking every single user through removing Plex ad stuff and then pinning my server. And now I don’t have to worry about Plex constantly adding new 3rd party vendors to sell my info too which conveniently ignore my previous opt out preferences.
Also one more thing that Emby excels at. On the windows client of Plex I could never easily screen share to discord. It would always show a grey screen. I had to bullshit using the discord overlay to force it to screen share. And even that was finicky. Never found a permanent solution.
With Emby it just works. It’s so simple to watch movies with friends without doing the “hold on okay join stream… wait crap still broken. Okay nooooow…. ■■■■ third time’s the charm.” I always dealt with before.
Your milage may vary obviously. But Emby has been such low bullshit I wonder why I even bothered to put up with Plex’s problems for so damn long.
been using it now for a bit and honestly I’m surprised I hate it even more than I first did, having to find things an play them is actuality ticking me off. still hate (an can’t stress how majorly stupid it is) to go back and play something I was watching and having to pick where I want to play it from, the same $@&#)$!!! place I was playing it from I don’t see why I’d want to switch to some other service all of a sudden how stupid can a interface be? ***edit/update just realized it’s also slower than dirt too (tried a reboot on the roku and it didn’t help)….
Sorry Good Luck with that!…I haven’t been able to connect the Server to the Roku App in THREE weeks….All I get is “(My Server Name) Is Currently Unavailable!” and NO FIXES in sight and no response from PLEX even though I have done everything under the sky (and more) that is suggested and can find info on the issue….. installed/re-installed EVERYTHING over and over and over again…..The “New Experience” Roku App…..Refuses to “discover” my server even though It works fine on my laptop….I have a huge library and can’t watch a damn movie or play music…..everything worked fine for 4 years until they screwed with the Roku app…..What a disaster and I believe they will not give your money back that I am aware of. And I have a Lifetime Plex Pass….Which is WORTHLESS.
Good Luck!…
P.S. I have moved to Emby and had the server up and running in 10 minutes and connected to my TV without one issue
Good Luck with that!…I haven’t been able to connect the Server to the Roku App in THREE weeks….All I get is “(My Server Name) Is Currently Unavailable!” and NO FIXES in sight and no response from PLEX even though I have done everything under the sky (and more) that is suggested and can find info on the issue….. installed/re-installed EVERYTHING over and over and over again…..The “New Experience” Roku App…..Refuses to “discover” my server even though It works fine on my laptop….I have a huge library and can’t watch a damn movie or play music…..everything worked fine for 4 years until they screwed with the Roku app…..What a disaster and I believe they will not give your money back that I am aware of. And I have a Lifetime Plex Pass….Which is WORTHLESS.