A new Plex interface is being tested that will make it easier to find free movies and TV shows to stream
Starting life as a humble personal media streamer, Plex has made big strides in the streaming game, trying to firmly establish itself as one of the best free streaming services around.
While recent changes have placed an emphasis on promoting the wealth of free content available on the platform, it can be somewhat tricky to navigate. That’s about to change, however, as Plex has announced that it’s testing a new interface that will eventually roll out to all users in early 2025, which should bring everything together into one seamless user experience.
What is Plex?
Most fans of digital libraries will be familiar with Plex Media Server, a free piece of software that allows users to create a client server to stream all their personal media libraries locally and, at the premium levels, remotely and with other users, with apps across the whole world. all major platforms. In 2019, amid concerns about making piracy easier, Plex pivoted away from solely personal media and introduced ad-supported free streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows, plus free-to-stream live TV channels.
In 2022, Plex added the ‘Discovery’ feature, which notified users when content was available on other streaming platforms, and in 2024 a movie rental service was introduced. Meanwhile, it became increasingly difficult to navigate to the OG Plex Media Server from the app, while the other offerings took precedence. But now, Plex says, that will change, with a streamlined overhaul that makes the app equally easy to use for everyone. You can take a look at the new UI being tested here:
So what’s new?
Simply put: a lot. Plex says: “This revision is more than a facelift. We made the important decision to rewrite our apps from the ground up and unify our codebase, creating a streamlined, consistent experience across all platforms.” And it sounds like this isn’t just an exaggeration either. The streamer has been working on this redesign for over two years, and it shows in the preview you can see above.
The app’s navigation has undergone a complete overhaul, with the three main features – ‘Libraries’, ‘Live TV’ and ‘On Demand’ – now receiving equal billing centrally on dedicated tabs. That will be music to the ears of veteran Plex Media Server users who have spent the last few years trudging through menus to find their personal media content, something Plex seems to be sympathetic to, saying: “We’ve lost our core features brought to the forefront of the market, saying goodbye to the days of hidden hamburger menus and making it easier to explore with one hand on your phone.”
But for newcomers or those who don’t have their own libraries, the new design looks just as useful, making it a breeze to navigate to all the free movies and shows Plex offers, whether that’s live TV or on-screen. demand is. The new app also expands the use of illustrations, making pages easier to navigate and adding “visual richness and more depth to your experience.” All in all, this could be the update Plex users have been waiting for.
