“Do some of you ever think that maybe YOU are using Plex wrong?”
Really? People who’ve used Plex for 5, 10, even 15 years suddenly forgot how to use it, right at the same time the app broke basic features like casting and remote access? That’s your logic?
Let’s be clear: casting from a phone to a TV (Chromecast or AirPlay) isn’t some fringe, “wrong” use case, it’s one of the most common and intended features Plex offered. It was reliable, fast, and user-friendly, especially compared to digging through sluggish TV menus with a D-pad remote. You’re acting like wanting to cast from your phone is a user error, when it’s literally a feature Plex advertised and built an ecosystem around.
“Even the most basic smart TVs have a usable Plex app.”
Sure, if you enjoy lag, a horrible search experience, and clunky navigation. Have you ever tried typing a search query using a TV remote’s D-pad? Or scrolling through hundreds of titles one-by-one? I always have my phone with me (I even use it as a TV remote app and yes the Plex mobile app is still faster), while the actual TV remote is constantly missing under couch cushions or who knows where. On most TVs, the Plex app is slower, buggier, and feature-limited compared to mobile. That’s why so many of us intentionally use our phones to browse and cast. It’s not a mistake, it’s the smarter choice because phones are faster, more responsive, and infinitely easier to search and navigate with. Smart TVs are the compromise option, not the “best” one.
“I’m just saying better solutions are available.”
If your “solution” to broken Plex features is “buy more expensive hardware,” then you’re not offering help, you’re just flexing your gear setup. Not everyone wants to drop $100–$200 just to restore basic functionality Plex used to have. The fact that you can afford or tolerate that doesn’t make it reasonable, it just makes your experience the exception, not the standard.
I’m actually a minimalist. In my view, I prefer systems that work with as little hardware as possible. Fewer devices mean less clutter, fewer points of failure, and a more elegant solution.
“People should adjust how they use the app.”
No. The app should continue to work the way it did when people paid for a lifetime license. You don’t change the deal years later and expect customers to cheerfully “adjust.” That’s not how trust works. That’s not how good software works. And that’s not how you treat loyal users.
The real issue here
Most Plex users just want what they already had: a reliable self-hosted media server app that works with their existing setup. They don’t want workarounds, third-party apps, or equipment upgrades. They want the product they paid for to continue functioning as advertised.
As @ShadowPDX correctly pointed out: Plex is prioritizing their streaming content over the self-hosted features that built their user base. They’re degrading user experience to push their own services.
This isn’t about users failing to adapt. It’s about Plex fundamentally changing the product people bought into. When you sell a “lifetime” subscription based on certain functionality, then remove that functionality years later, you’ve broken customer trust.
Your setup works for you and that’s awesome. But scroll through these forums and you’ll see hundreds of threads from users (including me) experiencing broken functionality.
I’ve been a Plex Lifetime Pass holder for over 8 years, and I’ve worked in tech for over 31 years including more than 13 years at IBM as a systems engineer, IT specialist, and cognitive quality analytics consultant. And after IBM, I built mobile apps and websites.
I don’t know everything, especially about Plex. We’re all constantly learning. There are many Plex users far more knowledgeable than I’ll ever be, and even they’re reporting these problems. But when someone with my background can’t make basic features work that worked perfectly a couple of weeks ago, shouldn’t we take a hard look at Plex itself? This was always meant to be easy and “just work”. That was the whole point. When experienced technical users are running into walls, it’s not user error, it’s product failure.
The evidence is overwhelming that the new app is failing most of us. Your personal satisfaction doesn’t negate everyone else’s legitimate problems.
You’re not defending Plex. You’re defending your personal setup and pretending it’s universal. It’s not. Most people don’t want to buy a new streaming box, install alternate apps, or re-learn how to use a service they’ve supported for years.
Stop gaslighting the community into thinking it’s their fault Plex broke. It’s not.
