Ugh, I give up, can someone explain Apple TV controls to me?

Plex Players Streaming Devices
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Server Version#: Version 4.62.1 (unRAID docker)
Player Version#: Apple TV 4k, 7.22 (922)

tl;dr: The Apple TV app is stripped down, featureless, garbage and despite being a 10-year PlexPass member and a f*(&^%ing software developer the controls allude me. Help me understand and explain them before the family gives up on Plex entirely!

The Plex player on Apple TV is… well, one assumes they’re following Apple’s design guide and taking any extra buttons out back and shooting them.

I have an Apple TV 4k, Plex Pass on unRAID, and everything used to be cool. The UI updates are somewhat annoying in the moment but generally look good and I/we warm to them quickly. Until the last few versions when suddenly all the playback controls vanished that is.

I’ve tolerated it, after all media still plays, but the family’s appreciation for Plex is quickly souring. To the point now where the fam prefers YouTube, Netflix, etc., entirely (and loudly :grimacing: ) because the UI is simple and usable.

So, how do the bloody controls on Apple TV work?

Like, I get tap to play, tap to pause, play/pause button is self explanatory, but the rest?
Sometimes when I scrub there’s a little wheel icon that seems to want me to move my thumb in a circle, but it’s unreliable as f#@$k. Sometimes videos skip forward or backward 10 seconds when I puck up the Apple remote, but god help me if I want to do it purposefully… There no longer appears to be any Skip Episode in play lists or Shuffle mode and as a hearing impaired user, having to go to the pull down info window, then click subs, then click language, then go back is… well it’s a pain in the ass. If memory serves, it used to be more like the YouTube player, where these buttons were in the scrub area but… no longer.

I’ve searched and could have missed entirely a “how to” on the Plex site but… ugh. I just want my damn skip button back, maybe faster subtitle/captions access… articles, helpful posts, anything would be appreciated.

Thanks all!

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can you put in the actual revs? this may help people who read this in the future incase there is a bug. I appreciate that this is unlikely in this case, but it does help.

I struggle with the +/- 10sec (clicking in top right/left corner respectfully), but I think that’s more about the nasty Apple remote than Plex.

Scrubbing is harder. I pause and then “swipe” the pad to scrub (followed by unpausing). I hate this, but again think that’s as much to do with the remote than anything. I am thinking of getting the new d-ring remote to overcome this problem.

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Hey, yeah apologies, had to call wife, at the office ¯_(ツ)_/¯ Updated first post.
The Samsung app on the downstairs TV itself is version 5.23, still has the desired controls.

For real, it’s garbage…

Yeah, we’re shopping for smart remotes too - something programmable for the Apple TV and the TV it’s attached to, not a lot of great options for mixing IR and RF (without spending 250$ anyway).

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I have two of the previous 4K model, so not the brand new remote. We don’t use the Apple TV remotes. In one we just use the remote from the TV, as long as CEC is activated it just works. In the other one we use a very old Harmony remote because there is a receiver and a gazillion of devices connected so all inputs in receiver and TV must dance around.

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