NVIDIA recently roll out an Android 11 update to all Shield TV devices, including the original model from 2015. But it seems that the "NVIDIA Experience 9.0" update is causing problems for some users, particularly those who use their NVIDIA Shield TV as a Plex server.

UPDATE: 2/15/22

As reported by 9to5Google, NVIDIA is now rolling out a 9.0.1 update that resolves the Plex library bug. Other media player, file browser, and emulator apps should also function correctly after installing this update.

Bear in mind that it may take a few days for the 9.0.1 update to reach your Shield TV device.

UPDATE: 1/19/22 4:35 pm Eastern

We've added a statement from NVIDIA to this article. But here's the gist---NVIDIA says that an external storage "issue" is to blame for broken Plex servers on updated Shield TVs. NVIDIA and Plex are working on a solution.

The NVIDIA Shield TV is a popular Plex server solution thanks to its powerful hardware, Ethernet support, and port selection. However, as 9t5Google reports, many Redditors find that the Android 11 update breaks their Sheild TV-based Plex server.

It seems that Android 11's new Scoped Storage model is to blame. Scoped Storage changes how apps should handle file management---unfortunately, not all apps support Scoped Storage. NVIDIA has a support guide to address the issue, but the steps in this guide don't appear to help if you store Plex media on an external drive.

Related: Everything You Need to Set Up a Plex Server

So, what's the fix? Affected users on Reddit say a factory reset resolved the issue, though NVIDIA tells us it's working on a better solution:

For PLEX Media Server users, there is a known issue if you have migrated your library metadata to external storage. We are working on a solution with PLEX to get this resolved as soon as possible.

If it makes you feel any better, the Android 11 update is breaking a ton of apps for NVIDIA Shield TV owners. NVIDIA has a list of known bugs for its "Experience 9.0" update, including stuttering issues with HBO Max, broken third-party launchers, audio cutouts, and oddly enough, sideways video feeds.

Here's what NVIDIA has to say about these additional bugs:

The latest software upgrade introduced an issue where "Allow only while using the app" behaves the same as "Don't allow." As a result, many apps that depend on "Files and Media" permissions to browse and view file data -- like PLEX Media Server, MX Player and VLC -- are not working properly.

We are working with Google to address this issue as quickly as possible. In the meantime, functionality for many of these apps can be restored by manually setting the "Files and Media" permission of the app to "Allow all the time" or "Allow," depending on the app and permissions.

If these solutions don't work for you, NVIDIA says that you should uninstall and reinstall any broken apps to restore normal functionality.

Source: 9to5Google