IINAplex

About

IINAplex is a lightweight browser extension that adds a simple “Play in IINA” button to Plex Web, making it easy to open Plex videos directly in the IINA desktop media player on macOS.

The extension is designed for people who browse and manage their media in Plex, but prefer watching in IINA for its native playback experience, performance, keyboard shortcuts, subtitle handling, picture-in-picture support, and other desktop-player features.

When you open a supported Plex page in your browser, IINAplex detects the standard Plex playback area and adds an extra button alongside Plex’s existing controls. Clicking that button attempts to resolve the direct media URL for the item currently being viewed, then passes that URL to IINA using IINA’s supported `iina://` URL scheme. This allows the media to open in IINA instead of playing inside the browser.

IINAplex is focused on one specific task only: helping the user launch Plex media in IINA from Plex Web.

What the extension does:
- Adds a visible “Play in IINA” button to supported Plex Web pages
- Detects the currently selected playable item in Plex
- Resolves the media URL needed to launch playback externally
- Opens that media in IINA through the local `iina://` protocol
- Works on Plex Web environments including local Plex pages and the hosted Plex web app

How it works:
The extension runs only on Plex pages listed in its manifest. It does not inject itself into unrelated websites.

On supported Plex pages, the content script waits for the Plex interface to load, looks for the normal play controls, and inserts a single additional button into that area. When the user clicks that button, the extension tries to find the best playable media URL using Plex page data and standard Plex responses. It then sends that URL to the extension background worker, which opens IINA through the custom protocol handler.

The extension does not auto-play media without user interaction. Playback is triggered only when the user explicitly clicks the added button.

Permissions and why they are used:
IINAplex keeps its permissions minimal.

- `scripting`: used to trigger the `iina://` URL from the active Plex tab in response to the user clicking the button
- Host permissions for Plex pages only: used so the extension can run on supported Plex Web URLs and access the page needed to add the button and resolve the media URL

The extension does not request broad permissions such as access to all websites, tabs, browsing history, downloads, bookmarks, clipboard contents, or personal data unrelated to Plex playback.

Data usage and privacy:
IINAplex is a local, user-triggered utility. It does not include analytics, ads, remote telemetry, tracking scripts, or third-party marketing code.

The extension does not collect, sell, or share personal information.

It does not transmit user data to an external server controlled by the developer. Its only network activity is interacting with the Plex page and Plex server the user is already using in order to resolve the media item the user asked to open.

The extension is not designed to store personal account information outside the active Plex session. It does not provide cloud sync, background profiling, or unrelated data collection.

Important behavior notes:
- The extension works only on supported Plex Web pages
- The extension requires IINA to be installed on the user’s Mac
- The extension opens media in IINA only after a direct user action
- The extension does not bypass Plex authentication or content access controls
- The extension depends on Plex’s current page structure, so future Plex UI changes may require updates

User benefit:
IINAplex is meant to make an existing workflow easier and more convenient. Users can continue browsing their media library in Plex, while choosing IINA as their preferred playback app. The extension reduces friction by turning that handoff into a one-click action inside the normal Plex interface.

Compliance and scope:
IINAplex has a narrow and clearly disclosed purpose. Its behavior is visible to the user, limited to Plex pages, and directly related to the extension’s stated functionality. It does not hide background behavior, inject unrelated content, or perform actions outside the user’s expectation. The extension’s requested permissions are limited to what is necessary for its core feature: adding the button on Plex pages and opening the selected media in IINA after the user clicks it.