this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2025

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520

Plex has paywalled my server! (lemmy.giftedmc.com)

submitted 1 day ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

318 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I tried testing a movie from my home server in plex through firefox and repeatedly got this message, even after reloading.

I knew that they had paywalled the apps on mobile and streaming from outside the network but now they have also blocked watching your own movies through your own hardware.

I do get the point that making software should be able to sustain people but I dont see the move of plex as a fair thing to do. Yes, they have made great software but taking your home server hostage feels like the wrong move.

Even a pop up that says "we need you to donate please" would have been fine. make it pop up before every movie, play donation ads before any movie but straight up disabling the app is kinda cruel.

Anyway, i have switched to jellyfin and it is insanely good. please give it a try. you can run it alongside plex with not issues (at least i had none) and compare the two.

In any case, good luck. Let me know if you need help.

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Welp, i killed mine yesterday as it wouldnt let me stream while offline. Modem died so no Internet for me. Why do i have everything local if it dosent work while offline...

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Exactly. Thats why i use jellyfin now. Try installing it alongside. For me it worked well.

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[–] [email protected] 94 points 1 day ago (14 children)

Every non-Free Software will betray you eventually. It's only a matter of time.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I just wonder if plex will ever sell the list of movies and IP address of everyone. Many people have the ARRs to auto download, even stuff still in theaters. What good is a VPN when plex knows your email and IP.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago

Honestly, I'd be rather shocked if this wasn't already the case.

Moreover they probably have a database of everything you've ever watched and your IP and email address, just waiting to be leaked to the internet through sale or ransom.

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[–] [email protected] 154 points 1 day ago (45 children)

Jellyfin is great, but in defense of Plex, they announced that remote streaming would require one of the two parties to have a Plex pass was coming back in March so I don't know if it's fair to say they are holding anything hostage.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

Access via IP address and not the name. I've been having to do it that way for several days now, too.

Edit to add: It's due to a change I made in my OpnSense setup. I restored a ZFS snapshot and it's working again as it should.

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[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 day ago (43 children)

In this thread:

An OP that doesn’t understand how their network is working
People rushing to suggest a solution that they fawn over because it’s open source. I have yet to see anyone recommend Emby.
“Tailscale will solve all your problems!” Great - how do I make that work on an LG TV that’s 100 miles away?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Seriously. I hate when people assume default settings are the only option. You don't even need a Plex account to set up Plex. It will just be less seamless and user friendly. Never adopt the server, configure these via localhost (ssh tunnel works) and then set up your networking. Don't even need to update it, it will run for as long as the database stays stable. Which should be years or more.

[–] [email protected] 49 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (21 children)

Open source has high immunity to devs making changes at the expense of user for their benefit because anti-features can be removed. Recommending another proprietary alternative here would be like saying they aught to leave an abusive partner but then recommend someone with the same red flags.

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