Plex announce Plex Home, enables grouping of Plex users
Plex Inc, popular in making multimedia player server system and software suite has announced Plex Home that allows users to setup a group of users that all use Plex together. By being Plex administrator, user can manage other user accounts, do fast user switching in supported apps, restrict access to content, make use of plex pass benefits, create accounts with ease. The best part is that all members part of Plex Home group will be able to access applications provided by Plex pass. Do note that Plex Pass is mandatory to get Plex Home.
Process to get Plex Home:
- Download v0.9.11.4 or higher version of Plex Media Server release
- Use apps that support Plex Home: Plex Home Theater, Roku beta version, and of course the web app as of now
- Create a plex home, follow the description in plex’s support section.
Here is a full guide on Plex Home, courtesy support.plex.tv
Plex Home Features
Enabling or joining a Plex Home gives you several features.
Managed Users
The administrator for a Plex Home has the ability to create Managed Users within that home. These are often used by parents to create an account for their children, for instance.
Related Page: Plex Pass > Plex Home > Managed Users
Fast User Switching
Being in a Plex Home allows you to quickly switch between members of the Home in supported Plex Apps. For supported Apps, you can quickly switch between Home members without having to manually sign out and back in to the App.
Currently supported Plex Apps:
- Plex for Roku (pending release by Roku; can use the PlexTest channel in the meantime)
- Plex Home Theater
- Plex Web App
Note: Once in a Plex Home, you can switch to any other member of the Home in supported apps. The only limitation is that members protected with a PIN will need to be unlocked by entering the correct code before they can be used.
Related Page: Plex Pass > Plex Home > Fast User Switching
Protect via PIN code
Members of a Plex Home can have a PIN code set on their account. When set, it means that the code must be entered when switching to that account in a supported Plex App. For instance, parents may wish to put a PIN on their account so that their children can’t switch to the parent account.
Restrict Access to Content
While not technically a feature of Plex Home itself, you can set restrictions on members of the Home. Restrictions allow you to more finely control access to content you share. You can choose whether or not the friend is able to sync shared content. You can also select specific content ratings from your Library to share as well as content that you’ve set with a specific Label.
Related Page: Plex Pass > Plex Home > Restrictions on Sharing
Plex Pass Benefits
Members of a Plex Home receive the benefits of the Plex Pass subscription. This means that members of the Home—whether a Managed User or a regular Plex Account—can make use of Plex Pass features based on the admin’s Plex Media Server.
For example, once the admin account of the Plex Home signs in to a Plex App to activate it, it’s possible to quickly switch to any other member of that Plex Home. This can be used to provide members of the Home free access to certain (supported) Plex Apps that a subscription brings, for instance.
Related Page: Plex Pass
Consequences of Being in a Plex Home
When you create a Plex Home, there are certain things you should be aware of that may be important to you.
- There is a single admin for the Plex Home; this is the user that created the Home originally.
- The admin user can switch to any member in the Home, even if that member has a PIN code.
- When switching to another member, you have all of the access and abilities of that user.
- You may add up to 15 additional members to your Home (any combination of Managed Users or regular Plex Accounts).
- Only the admin user of the Home will be able to access Channels.
- Some changes will be made on the Server:
- Any App, device, or tool communicating with your Server will need to be signed in to a Plex Account.
- The DLNA server will be disabled.
