Plex sunsets ‘allowed without auth’ setting.
In Winter 2023, Plex introduced an ad for clients accessing a local Plex server without logging in to Plex’s authentication servers (or Facebook, et al). It advertised the benefits of using a Plex account to enjoy a more enriched experience, though a simple press of the back button quickly dismissed it.
That ability was scrapped this week, now requiring clients to authenticate with Plex’s remote auth servers. All clients tested were known to have successful connections with a local Plex server prior to this week’s change.
Roku Ultra (2x)
Firefox on Ubuntu
Firefox on MacOS
The following tested the same, but are not confirmed to have, in the past, succesfully connected without logging in:
Chrome
Plex iOS app
Edge
Roku TV
That means if there is internet outage, I cannot access my own media through Plex. Right?
Edit: add “through Plex”
Sounds like it. The more Plex does things like this, the closer I get to adopting Jellyfin.
This was the inevitable outcome. Plex has been on the enshitification path for a while. Been telling people to save themselves some grief and just move to Jellyfin now. You’ll have to do it eventually once Plex hits another step on their path.
I agree. But I have a list of things Plex still does better. I’m hoping I can hold on until Jellyfin can adopt these features.
- Intro skip on AppleTV
- TV Collections
- Skip credits
- Editions
- Hide from on deck
- Downloads
- Home Users or some other way to easily switch users on common devices.
I’m hoping that if Plex pulls something really stupid, we get a dev effort like the Reddexit last year that made Lemmy so much better.
what do you as an AppleTV client? I’m in a similar boat, but development around anything official (or nearest) in swiftfin et., al. Appears to have stalled out completely.
I don’t. I use Plex until Jellyfin has been built out more.
And have filter “Unplayed” stick every time.
Glad you made that point. For anyone like me who’s been putting it off for ages, this was the motivation I needed. Finally installed it on Monday, immediately after noticing the change.
Still configuring, so can’t compare.
well plex doesn’t even advertise itself as a fully self host thing anymore. it’s a way to watch locally dtored media alright, but a lot of stuff requires reaching out to the online services
*Through Plex
Glad I started a jellyfin server last month
Terrible
This will present a great deal of issues… but does the network loopback workaround still work?
Yeah, I have had some personal issues which have kept me from keeping the community alive.
I really could use some help! Just stick to the rules and make sure others do, too!
Also, there’s a Plex release forum, and if you fav it, you get email updates on every Plex release/update before it gets posted anywhere. It contains the platform, version number, and a new/fixed list. Subscribe to this, and use it for new version posts. I’ll chat with you more re: tweaks if they’re needed!
Edit: Welcome aboard!
Oh, uh… I’m really sorry to hear that, but I’d be happy to help out until you’re cool to come back! I’ll DM you with some questions…
That’s a great question, this is the first I’ve heard of that.
Does that apply to local network too?
Read through this a couple days ago but now going through my server to check, is the setting ‘List of IP addresses and networks that are allowed without auth’? Because I’m on the latest linuxserver docker image and still have that setting in the server network settings.
Yeah but some clients don’t care about that setting.
Yea, the setting is still there as is the documentation page on how to use it (last updated in 2019). It’s just stopped being honored.
