If you have any experience using Plex’s highly configurable media server solution, you are likely a fan. It has become what could quite possibly be the best media server ever designed for consumers and enthusiasts, packed to the gills with features, and offers the best cross-platform performance we have ever seen. And now, they have risen that bar to another level by adding a well-needed feature.
The ability to “skip the intro” of TV shows is quite a popular feature in major platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. It saves the user from having to watch the same intro over and over again and puts them right into the show. This has been a highly requested feature in just about any platform that doesn’t support it yet. I know we have personally discussed it before in regards to Plex. Thankfully, Plex listened to their subscribers (like usual) and added this neat feature to their platform, and is now ready for use.
As long as you have the latest update applied to your Plex server, you’ll be able to enjoy the ability to skip intros within all of your DVR and other saved (TV) content. It may not happen immediately as Plex has to go back and analyze all of your recorded/saved content looking for the unique audio “fingerprint” using a histogram of every episode. However, when it accomplishes this (depending on how much content you have) you should see the skip intro button from that point forward. The new feature is currently supported within the iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, and Web clients (looks like the standalone Windows app in the Microsoft Store is left out as of right now).
If you don’t see the new option immediately, then you may have to manually restart the server. Just right-click on the Plex icon within your system tray and select exit. Then browse for Plex Media Server within your list of installed applications (via start menu) and open it back up. To confirm you have it, log in and head to settings -> library, and then look for “Generate intro video markers” (see in the image above). It should be automatically enabled and ready to start scanning when it is able to.
The only catch is that the intro has to be at least 20 seconds in length for Plex to be able to identify it successfully–you don’t want any false positives causing a random skip intro button to appear in the middle of your episode where it isn’t welcome.
The new feature is only available for Plex Pass subscribers, so you do have to be a paying member. It would be difficult to gain new customers if you didn’t hide all of the neat stuff behind a subscription. Thankfully, we are avid lovers of Plex and stand by the recommendation of subscribing (lifetime subscription is the best option!) as they really do put a lot of work into their platform (and they have to be able to justify all the time spent doing it).
Next on the timeline should be the ability to skip or remove commercials like some other popular DVR options. The option isn’t there yet for Plex, but they have commented that they are actively working on it.
For more stories on Plex, click here
