Plex is asking to share your data for ads, but your opt-out might not be sticking

Published Aug 24, 2026, 4:37 PM EDT Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech. Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he would eventually move on to its sister site, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics. Sign in to your XDA account Summary Plex prompts you to allow it to sell/store personal data for targeted ads. You can opt out by clicking "I do not agree"; Plex still works, but ads aren't personalized. The consent toggle can flip back to "yes"; verify Consent Preferences and select "All No". It's always good to know where your data is going and who's selling it. If you use Plex, there's a good chance you'll see, or have already seen, a big data collection consent screen pop up that asks if you're okay with personalised ads. And while you can opt out of this data collection from this screen, users are reporting that Plex will sometimes opt them back in seemingly by itself. Plex's data collection may be turned on without you realising it It only takes a few seconds to check Over on the Plex subreddit, user FreeThinker76 posted a screenshot of a consent screen from Plex. The screen asked for permission to sell data to third-party companies for the sake of advertising: I consent to Plex to: (i) sell certain personal information (hashed emails, advertising identifiers) to third-parties for advertising and marketing purposes; and (ii) store and/or access certain personal information (advertising identifiers, IP address, content being watched) on my device(s) and share that information with Plex's 294 advertising partners, who are listed at www.plex.tv/vendors. This personal information is used for the purpose of delivering and presenting advertising and content. Certain information (like an IP address, device capabilities, content being watched) is used to ensure the technical compatibility of the content or advertising, and to facilitate the transmission of the content or ad to your device. The good news is that Plex does allow you to opt out of this via the "I do not agree" button at the bottom of the terms. If you click this, you'll still gain access to Plex and your media, but the ads you'll be shown won't be customized to your preferences. The bad news is that, according to users on the thread, Plex's consent toggle will sometimes shift over from "no" to "yes," seemingly by itself. If you want to double-check that Plex is still respecting your privacy choices, head over to the Consent Preferences page while logged in and ensure you click "All No."