Plex Overhauls Its App to Improve Streaming Experience and Compete With Other Services

Streaming service and media software maker Plex has introduced a redesign of its software that puts more emphasis on discovery, easily accessing your watchlist, and other personalization features. This latest update is the culmination of two years of work by the company’s team and is aimed at making it easier for users to find new content and enjoy their favorite shows and movies.

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Balancing Tradition with Innovation

Over the years, Plex has walked a fine line between its roots as a software maker focused on home media organization and its future as a streaming service. The company generates revenue through ad-supported content, but it’s also committed to providing users with the tools they need to manage their media libraries. With the goal of nearing profitability around year-end or early 2025 in mind, Plex has taken careful steps to ensure that its redesign is successful.

Redesigned Navigation for Easier Discovery

The new interface includes redesigned navigation that makes it easier to explore the different parts of Plex’s service. Instead of hamburger menus (the three-line menus that hide navigation), Plex’s update offers a return to tabbed navigation with buttons at the bottom of the screen, which tends to work better on mobile devices.

Tabbed Navigation: Users can move between their media library, Live TV channels (ad-supported streams), On Demand streams, and more.
Discovery Section: A dedicated button for the Discovery section provides easy access to new content.
Personalized Home Page: The personalized home page points users to content they may want to continue watching.

Enhanced Features for Home Media Enthusiasts

People who continue to use Plex to manage their home libraries will appreciate that they’ll have a dedicated button that centralizes access to this feature. They’ll also be able to favorite libraries to customize the experience to their needs.

Improved Watchlist Access

Your Plex Watchlist, where you track the shows and movies you want to see, has been given a more prominent spot in the top navigation for faster access. This is because more people have begun to use this feature over time.

Reorganized Personal Details

The updated app has expanded its use of visual imagery, too. Plex says this will be particularly noticeable in the movie and show detail pages, plus cast and crew profiles, and users’ own Plex profile pages. Title artwork for movies and shows has also been added, in response to user feedback.

Under-the-Hood Changes

Plex notes that the redesign isn’t all surface level — it’s rewritten its apps under the hood and streamlined its codebase as a part of this process. Now that the codebase is unified, the team will be able to release new features across all supported platforms quickly, speeding up the development cycle.

Early-Access Preview

The redesign is first rolling out to mobile devices in an ‘early-access preview’ because Plex wants to test the experience with users and get their feedback before expanding it across all devices. A few features, including playlists and cast support, are also still in the works but will be added during the preview period. Support for TV platforms will soon follow, the company says.

Conclusion

Plex’s redesign is a significant step forward for the company as it continues to balance its tradition of providing home media organization tools with its future as a streaming service. By putting more emphasis on discovery and personalization, Plex is making it easier for users to find new content and enjoy their favorite shows and movies.

With a focus on user feedback and continuous improvement, Plex is poised to become an even more popular choice for users looking for a comprehensive media management solution. Whether you’re a home media enthusiast or just starting out with your first streaming device, Plex’s redesign is definitely worth checking out.

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