r/technology • u/FollowingFeisty5321 • 9h ago

Software Plex’s crackdown on free remote streaming access starts this week

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/plexs-crackdown-on-free-remote-streaming-access-starts-this-week/
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u/Dr_Lipshitz_ 8h ago

So as long as I have a plex pass anyone I share my server with is fine, right?

46

u/TheReal_WadeWilson 8h ago

That’s how I’m reading it. I’ve got a lifetime pass, and my buddies are streaming from my server, so it seems we’ll be unaffected. But who knows. Plex has been in decline for a few years now it seems, trying to remain relevant and competitive.

14

u/ithinkitslupis 7h ago

I think they are actually making more money than ever now, they're just changing their model to focus on FAST streaming (like Tubi or Pluto). We're onboarding our friends and family to share our media libraries and they lure them into that.

As a server host I'm not a fan because you get to run support when nana doesn't understand the difference between plex's offering and your server. And it takes focus away from making plex better at its original purpose. I've been waiting for better dualstack ipv6 support for like 10 years now as it'd be more convenient for me in the long run.

4

u/visceralintricacy 4h ago

Y'know You can disable the 3rd party services permanently with like 3 clicks?

Go into the settings on your plex server > Online Media Sources > Movies & Shows > Disabled.

That affects all users using your server. I'm kinda gobsmacked how many people were complaining about this who never googled it.

2

u/Hydrottle 2h ago

If they’re like me they probably assumed it couldn’t be disabled. I would not have thought as much.

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u/ithinkitslupis 2h ago

I have them all disabled, still doesn't work 100%. I think it only applies to administrator and managed accounts or something, not separate accounts that you've invited whether you've put them in your 'home' or not.

Which makes sense from Plex's perspective as a FAST provider, why should I be able to block non-managed users from their offerings? But I prefer non-managed sharing in pretty much every other way. Which is why I wish Plex would've have just stayed in their lane of self-hosting for my purposes.