Plex reverses TV app redesign after users call it 'tedious and nonsensical'

Plex has officially backed down from its controversial TV app layout overhaul after months of negative feedback from the community. The company is now rolling out a preview update that restores the main navigation panel to the left-hand side of the screen, reverting the most criticized change of the redesign.

The update was announced on the Plex forums and is currently available to Apple TV, Roku, and Android TV users enrolled in the preview program. Fire TV users will receive the update at a later date, with the company promising to communicate availability separately. The new build introduces a collapsible side navigation panel, makes favorite libraries top-level sources, and allows users to favorite and re-order Live TV and DVR sources just like regular media libraries.

Plex launched the redesigned interface last year but faced consistent backlash from preview testers. The company admitted that earlier attempts to address user concerns failed to win over the community. In the forum post, Plex stated that the preview version is a direct response to the feedback, aiming to restore the familiar layout while still offering some of the new customization options.

Beyond the navigation restructuring, the update includes performance patches, focus issue fixes, and general bug corrections. For Apple TV users, Plex has added more TestFlight seats to allow a broader audience to test the preview release before it becomes the default experience.

The original redesign drew heavy criticism on platforms like Reddit, where one user described it as "tedious and nonsensical," noting that it took them five minutes just to find basic navigation options. Others complained that the new layout broke their media library workflows, made live TV browsing cumbersome, and removed essential shortcuts. The negative sentiment was so widespread that Plex had to release multiple smaller updates to try to appease users, but none succeeded in reversing the opinion.

With the new preview, Plex hopes to strike a balance between modernizing the interface and preserving the functionality that long-time users rely on. The company has not yet announced a timeline for when the preview will become the default version for all users.