New Plex Mobile App With Streamlined Interface Rolling Out to Users

[MacRumors]

Plex is rolling out a new version of its mobile app, and it's a fairly major redesign that features expanded artwork, streamlined navigation, and a dedicated tab for centralized media libraries designed for "personal media pros."

Plex said in a forum post that the updated app is being fully deployed over the course of the week, and introduces several key improvements based on user feedback received during its preview testing phase. If you installed the beta version of the app, which was made available via TestFlight in November, then you'll know what to expect.

Among the changes, users will notice new title artwork for movies and shows, a dedicated spot for the Watchlist feature in the top navigation, and a simplified user menu. Performance enhancements include improved load times, better scrolling performance, and added support for portrait mode, according to Plex.

For those who use Plex to manage personal media collections, the update adds TV show shuffle options, improved library reordering, and enhanced access to item context menus via a long press.

Several other changes have been made that Plex wants existing users to be made aware of. The company says pre-existing downloads will lack some metadata after updating, which can be fixed by re-downloading content. The new version also removes music and photo functionality from the main app, as Plex has developed dedicated companion apps – Plexamp and Plex Photos – for these media types.

The mobile update arrives just weeks before Plex implements its previously announced subscription price changes. Starting April 29, the company will increase the cost of its Plex Pass to $6.99 monthly or $69.99 annually, up from $4.99 and $39.99 respectively, marking its first price hike in a decade.

Plex also noted that a new app for TV platforms, including Apple TV, will follow the mobile update "soon," continuing the company's refresh of its entire app ecosystem. The redesigned app is still in beta, but it is already available for testing on the Apple TV.

Article Link: New Plex Mobile App With Streamlined Interface Rolling Out to Users

 

[numberfour]

And the users absolutely hate it

 

[attohs]

Plex has jumped the shark.

 

[Innovati0n]

And the users absolutely hate it

A vocal minority does.

As usual with reviews, those who don't have issues with it are not saying anything.

With the amount of Plex users, the tally of complaints shows the majority don't have problems.

I used it as Plex Preview for months and it's good.

 

[Doomtomb]

And the users absolutely hate it

Color me shocked that a software update would ever upset users.... maybe they hate change?

 

[vmachiel]

No.. it’s bad. So many bugs with my library and view activity syncing. Can’t remove the TV and movie crap they are pushing from the nav bar. UI is horrible on iPad.

It’s management pushing the devs to release in Q1: it was not ready

 

[mike090910]

Very easy pass

 

[Innovati0n]

Color me shocked that a software update would ever upset users.... maybe they hate change?

The problem also is that Plex discontinued features around the same time (Watch Together, Music, etc) and people think the app is just missing those features when in reality, they were gone regardless.

 

[knoxer]

For anyone who has found Plex to be bloated and complex, try Jellyfin. It's a little rough around the edges, but it's a great little media organizer/server!

 

[iamgalt]

Might be in the minority here, but from what I’ve seen, I like it. Haven’t played with it much yet though. We’ll see.

 

[Innovati0n]

Might be in the minority here, but from what I’ve seen, I like it. Haven’t played with it much yet though. We’ll see.

You're in the majority. It's just that reviews always skew negative. People tend not to take time to make reviews about things they like.

 

[spillled typos]

I only use Plex for music so I use https://prism-music.app instead

 

[LeeW]

Been using, it fine for me, not seeing the issues the moaners are. Odd bug here and there nothing significant.

 

[fockx]

The amount of gaslighting in this thread is quite unreal. A lot of basic functionality has been removed like offline syncing, Live TV is shoved down our throats with no way to disable it, but sure the 'moaners' must be a vocal minority. Oh, and have I mentioned the upcoming price hike for their premium product? You're paying double for less functionality, but hey let's defend the company.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

The amount of gaslighting in this thread is quite unreal. A lot of basic functionality has been removed like offline syncing, Live TV is shoved down our throats with no way to disable it, but sure the 'moaners' must be a vocal minority. Oh, and have I mentioned the upcoming price hike for their premium product? You're paying double for less functionality, but hey let's defend the company.

Curious -- do you have a Plex Pass?

I updated my iPad just now and I basically use Plex just for my personal media library. Period. Movies and TV Shows. I see the normal stuff when I launch it -- "Continue Watching", "Recently released...", etc., with Live TV recommendations after that.

I tap "Browse" at the top and I can browse my Movies library and my TV Shows library.

As far as "a lot of basic functionality has been removed", you listed one thing. Care to expand on that because, to be honest, the basic functionality I use is there and works just fine.

EDIT: With regards to offline syncing (Downloads)...it seems to work fine for me.

 

[chriscl]

I have used Plex for years and have the Plex Pass; the constant tinkering with the UI is a bit annoying — I am not interested in their own streaming services they are trying to push to the front of my attention, and you cannot easily hide that stuff.

What does annoy me, is that with every release, the actual media player seems to get worse. Multiple times, I get weird errors from Plex about files that it complains it cannot play, inevitably, said file will always play perfectly well in VLC, from the same source (my local NAS).

 

[crsh1976]

Time to migrate to Jellyfin for those who self-host - it's a little rougher around the edges, but it skips on the ensh*tification (realistically it's has all the important features, Plex has gotten bloated and now punishes its customers).

 

[dg1974]

longtime Plex Pass user, I use Plex server but Infuse as player (since in latest months I had issue in Plex with 4K content).
the new app on iPhone/iPad is just a beta. it wasn't ready to replace the old one.
it's full of lags, it hangs, it now always default to "recommended" and "forgets" that I want to "browse" my content (the old one worked correctly), and the list goes on.
go to Plex forum and see all the complaints.

 

[neuropsychguy]

The amount of gaslighting in this thread is quite unreal. A lot of basic functionality has been removed like offline syncing, Live TV is shoved down our throats with no way to disable it, but sure the 'moaners' must be a vocal minority. Oh, and have I mentioned the upcoming price hike for their premium product? You're paying double for less functionality, but hey let's defend the company.

Live TV does not show up in the newly update iOS app with that setting turned off. You can turn it off on the web under settings --> Online Media Sources --> Live TV (set the Disabled).

If you are not the admin of your Plex server, then contact the admin and have them turn it off for you.

Also, if you don't like the price hike but use the software and need the features paying unlocks, then buy a lifetime pass before the price hike. At least the company gave a warning and didn't just one morning raise the price.

Edit: For those being pedantic, yes, the button is there at the bottom of the app, but Live TV does not show up on the home screen if it's disabled. Ignore the non-functioning button.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I only use Plex for music so I use https://prism-music.app instead

Can you sort playlist with the Comments data field in that App?

I have hard coded dates into my music files comments metadata field so I know (and always will) when they were added to my library.

 

[chenks]

Live TV does not show up in the newly update iOS app with that setting turned off. You can turn it off on the web under settings --> Online Media Sources --> Live TV (set the Disabled).

If you are not the admin of your Plex server, then contact the admin and have them turn it off for you.

not true.
i have that setting disabled (always have), and the "live tv" button shows in the iOS app with no way to disable it.

in fact, tapping on the live tv button in the app actually tells me that live tv is disabled on the server.
iOS app version 2025.10.2 (981)

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

I have used Plex for years and have the Plex Pass; the constant tinkering with the UI is a bit annoying — I am not interested in their own streaming services they are trying to push to the front of my attention, and you cannot easily hide that stuff.

What does annoy me, is that with every release, the actual media player seems to get worse. Multiple times, I get weird errors from Plex about files that it complains it cannot play, inevitably, said file will always play perfectly well in VLC, from the same source (my local NAS).

I just don't see their streaming services as being pushed to the front of my attention. I have disabled most of that stuff, and in the new app, there is a "Live TV" button at the bottom. Not interested? Don't select it! In Recommendations, my library stuff comes first, then the Live TV and Streaming stuff. Not interested? Don't keep scrolling past your stuff.

And just to say, Plex is a free app. Free as in they don't get any money for their work from most people. Nice of them, right, because I don't work for free...do you? There is no successful business model that can sustain "free" forever. So everyone who hasn't paid for Plex for a Pass really can't complain and if you're not happy, use something else. And their streaming services (I assume) bring in revenue so it is in their best interests (and my best interests as I want Plex to stay in business) to keep the revenue flowing by putting their services front and center. It really doesn't bother me.

Lastly, if you just can't stand the new Plex app, try another Plex-compatible client like Infuse (on Apple hardware).

 

[deanylev]

For anyone who has found Plex to be bloated and complex, try Jellyfin. It's a little rough around the edges, but it's a great little media organizer/server!

Jellyfin + Infuse for HDR support is *chef's kiss*

 

[chenks]

And just to say, Plex is a free app.

it wasn't up until they released this new version, previously you had to pay to unlock it otherwise you were restricted to 1 minute playback.

everyone with the app already installed (and using it) paid for the app (either by having to pay to unlock or by having a plex pass).

Lastly, if you just can't stand the new Plex app, try another Plex-compatible client like Infuse (on Apple hardware).

this is the correct answer. Infuse wipes the floor with the plex client app (on both iOS and tvOS).

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

longtime Plex Pass user, I use Plex server but Infuse as player (since in latest months I had issue in Plex with 4K content).
the new app on iPhone/iPad is just a beta. it wasn't ready to replace the old one.
it's full of lags, it hangs, it now always default to "recommended" and "forgets" that I want to "browse" my content (the old one worked correctly), and the list goes on.
go to Plex forum and see all the complaints.

"Browse" is right next to "Recommended" so it's literally the easiest 1-tap thing you can do and you're complaining?
Which I wonder why you're complaining because you said you use the Infuse app as a player...?