Plex has confirmed that it will require a Remote Watch Pass or Plex Pass for remote streaming on its TV apps. The change is going into effect for the Roku app first, followed by all other TV apps and third-party clients in 2026.
Earlier this year, Plex increased its pricing for Plex Pass and stopped supporting all options for free remote streaming in the Plex apps, such as adding a custom server connection in the app settings. The company said at the time, “The reality is that we need more resources to continue putting forth the best personal media experience, and as a result, we will no longer offer remote playback as a free feature.” That’s also when Plex introduced the Remote Watch Pass as a less expensive way to enable remote streaming again.
Plex is now rolling out the remote watch changes to its Roku TV app. If you have Plex Pass, or the owner of the server you’re streaming from has Plex Pass, you don’t need to do anything. Otherwise, if you are streaming on a different network from the server’s home network, you need Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass.
I’m sticking with plex personally. I have a lifetime plex pass already so no one else needs a pass to stream from my server. Aka, this changes nothing for me or my users.
This is total “fuck you, got mine” energy. You’re part of the problem. As somebody else who owns a Plex pass, I’m done with their bullshit. I downloaded Plex as a way to serve my content to my devices. These morons lost their way a while ago and became a dump, and clearly it’s not getting any better.
Hopefully this latest big-brain move of theirs drives more users off their shit platform to one that’s better.
But you have a Plex pass, so I’m sure it won’t affect you when the money disappears and the company folds lol.
I mean, if you already have a lifetime pass, it’s not like you’re giving them anymore money or supporting them from here on out. Not sure how that’s “fuck you, got mine.” Who exactly is being fucked here? It would make more sense if Plex had a limited number of passes that people hoarded early on like boomers with property. In this case the financial side of things is already a done deal, and doesn’t somehow deprive others of a resource.
for now. I feel like it’s only a matter of time before they say those lifetime passes are expired, or that the product has changes so much it’s not valid, etc. they’ve proven they don’t really care about the user base anymore, it’s all about the money for them now unfortunately.
They care about their users but who those users are has shifted. They make more money off of FASS so that is who they care about.