Server Version#: 4.18.1
Player Version#: Unknown - Vizio Smartcast Plex App.
I’ve been using the built in Vizio Plex app to watch stored videos. I also sometimes use my samsung/andriod phone to cast Plex to my Vizio TV. (2018 75 inch model)…
I recently became a lifetime plexpass member, planning on replacing my Windows Media Center / Guide / DVR / Live TV system with a Plex Live TV/DVR system.
However, I have found no way to use the Vizio/Smartcast/Plex app to watch live TV or DVR recordings. I also see no way to use the Andriod/Plex app to cast live TV or my DVR recordings to my Vizio TV.
The Vizio’s run the older Plex Smart TV app which does not support the LiveTV feature. And no, it will not be getting this feature.
You cannot cast Live TV, but you should be able to cast previously recorded content. There should be no difference between something recorded and something you manually added to your server. This would be a bug. Please post a new thread with logs and tag it to Android mobile and Chromecast.
So, do I understand that there will be no modification/update of the Vizio Plex App? Who authors the apps? Is there no way to plead the case of needing the app updated?
It was maintained by Plex employees. A business decision was made by Plex to discontinue support/updates.
It’s highly unlikely that Plex will change their minds at this point; based on the forums, I would say that the Plex app on Vizio was one of the least used apps.
One option is to “cast” to the Vizio (if it supports SmartCast); another would be purchase a streaming box or stick (which are extremely popular) and use the official Plex app available on those platforms.
Are you able to speak to why it was decided to end support for Vizio TVs? As a Vizio TV owner myself I use the Plex app quite frequently and was thinking about purchasing Plex Pass, however if I can’t play live TV on the TVs native app nor play it via casting it pretty much makes it entirely impractical for me to get.
The app for the Vizio and other Smart TVs were written at a time when Smart TVs were not very powerful. The app worked fine for playing back videos. However, as Plex added more features, that app couldn’t be updated to handle those new features. A new app was needed. This new app is available for newer Samsung and LG TVs. This may eventually come to other brands.
A Plex Pass is not needed for using the Smart TV apps.
That makes sense. Any chance the Plex teams has re-thought about releasing it for Vizio? My co-worker just bought a Vizio Smart TV and my server has to transcode everything, and he has issues with some media outright not wanting to play.
