What is plex

Plex fills an important void: streaming services are transitory, while physical media require a lot of hardware. Marshall Honorof. Topics Apps. See all comments 3. Marshall, why did you leave out the huge issue from your article that prevents me and an enormous number of individuals from using Plex?

I have amassed a large personal library by ripping my own DVDs and also adding numerous videos I have made. All in ready to watch formats that I can see on my computer all day without problems. They just play and there are n no issues. Can't turn it off. Can't disable it. So I get interruptions and buffering. This makes the software unusable if I simply want to see the movie.

This issue is all over the internet and on forums. Why won't Plex FIX the issue and allow it to be disabled rather than force transcoding of everything? And why didn't you mention it? What you said isn't correct, I have devices that direct play all the time. It all depends on what the client supports and what format your source material is in.

In the vast majority of cases, all your media will be categorized, sorted and tagged automatically, with posters and subtitles even added. With the Plex Pass, you get extras such as movie trailers, behind-the-scenes clips, and interviews with cast members. You can organize your media into virtual folders, create playlists, and use the powerful tagging and filtering options to find the media of most interest to you.

Or, you can stream it to your phone on your commute. Plex is probably the most comprehensive personal media management and streaming system available today.

You can use it to create your own version of Netflix that streams from your home computer. If you have an extensive collection of media files on your computer, Plex is a fantastic way to organize and stream your content to other devices in your home and across the internet.

You can give Plex logins to your friends and family, so they can browse and watch your media too. There are two different apps you need if you want to use Plex:. The Plex Media Server app is the software you need to install on the computer where you store your media files.

The Plex media player app is the software you need to install on your other devices. Here's where to get it:. In addition to the standalone Plex media player app, you can also access your Plex account and your media through the web app using your favorite web browser to navigate to app. Plex is free to download and use, but you don't get access to all the features unless you pay a subscription fee. You can still do a lot with the free version of Plex, but certain features like mobile sync and live television are locked behind the Plex Pass service.

Plex Pass is the fully-featured premium service, which has monthly, yearly, and lifetime subscription options. Subscribers also gain access to new Plex features earlier than non-subscribers.

Some of the most important Plex Pass features include the ability to sync and access media files on mobile for use offline, the ability to connect an antenna and tuner to watch live television, and greater user control, including parental controls.

The features you get with Plex Pass that aren't available with the free subscription include:. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile.

Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Social Media. More Button Icon Circle with three vertical dots. It indicates a way to see more nav menu items inside the site menu by triggering the side menu to open and close.

Emma Witman. Plex is an unconventional streaming service that allows users to share and manage their content libraries. The platform boasts both media uploading and streaming capabilities, and houses free-to-watch content as well. There are paid and free versions of Plex available.

Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories. Emma Witman is an Asheville, NC-based freelance journalist with a keen interest in writing about hardware, PC gaming, politics, and personal finance.

She is a former crime reporter for a daily newspaper, and has also written extensively about bartending for Insider. She may or may not judge your drink order when behind the bar.