How to Create Your Own Jellyfin Server 

In the age of digital media, having access to your favorite movies, TV shows, and music—at any time, from anywhere—is no longer a luxury, but an expectation. If you’re seeking a powerful, free, and open-source personal media server that puts you in full control of your content, look no further than Jellyfin. This self-hosted solution allows you to organize, stream, and share your media across devices without relying on paid subscription services or third-party cloud platforms.

TL;DR

Jellyfin is a free and open-source media server software that allows you to self-host your personal media library. This guide walks you through everything from hardware and software requirements to installation and remote access. With Jellyfin, you control your media without subscriptions or data tracking. It’s a perfect solution for personal use and for tech-savvy users who value customization and privacy.

What is Jellyfin?

Jellyfin is a powerful and flexible multimedia streaming server that lets you organize and stream all your digital content—movies, TV series, music, audiobooks, and even live TV if you have the hardware. Originating as a fork from Emby after it turned proprietary, Jellyfin is 100% open source and supported by a passionate community. You can install Jellyfin on a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and even on Docker containers or single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi.

Step 1: Determine System Requirements

Before diving into installation, it’s important to evaluate the hardware needed. While Jellyfin can run on modest systems, better hardware will deliver smoother streaming and faster performance.

• CPU: A multi-core processor (Intel i5, AMD Ryzen 5 or better if you plan on hardware transcoding).
• RAM: At least 4GB, though 8GB or more is recommended.
• Storage: Enough internal or external drive space to store your media collection.
• Network: A wired Ethernet connection is preferable for stability, especially when streaming high-definition content.

Step 2: Choose Your Operating System and Environment

Jellyfin is versatile and can be run on several environments:

• Windows: Offers easy graphical installation and wide hardware support.
• Linux: Considered the most stable option for long-term servers; Ubuntu and Debian are recommended.
• Docker: Ideal for those wanting a containerized environment for easier updates and clean installs.
• Raspberry Pi: Great for small, energy-efficient setups.

For this article, we’ll focus on setting up Jellyfin on a Linux-based system (Ubuntu), but the steps will be very similar on other platforms.

Step 3: Installing Jellyfin on Linux (Ubuntu)

Follow these steps to install Jellyfin on an Ubuntu system:

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Install dependencies:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install apt-transport-https software-properties-common

3. Add the Jellyfin repository:

   wget -O - https://repo.jellyfin.org/ubuntu/jellyfin_team.gpg.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/jellyfin.gpg
   echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/jellyfin.gpg] https://repo.jellyfin.org/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jellyfin.list

4. Update packages and install Jellyfin:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install jellyfin

5. Start and enable the Jellyfin service:

   sudo systemctl enable jellyfin
   sudo systemctl start jellyfin

You can now access the web interface by going to http://localhost:8096 in your browser.

Step 4: First-Time Configuration

Once Jellyfin starts, you’ll be guided through an initial setup process:

1. Create User Account: Set up your admin username and password.
2. Specify Media Library: Point Jellyfin to folders where your movies, TV shows, music, or other media are stored.
3. Metadata Language: Select your preferred language for movie and show titles and descriptions.
4. Optional: Plugins — such as metadata providers — can be added to enrich your user experience.

After these steps, you’ll land on the Jellyfin dashboard, ready to start using your self-hosted streaming platform.

Step 5: Adding Media Libraries

Organizing and importing your media correctly can make a major difference in how well Jellyfin categorizes your content.

• Store movies in a format like “/Movies/MovieName (Year)/MovieName (Year).mp4”.
• Place TV series under “/TVShows/ShowName/Season 01/Episode s01e01.mkv”.
• Music should be arranged as “/Music/Artist/Album/Track.mp3”.

To add a new library:

1. Go to the Admin Dashboard.
2. Select “Libraries” and click “Add Media Library.”
3. Choose the content type and navigate to the correct folder path.
4. Specify metadata download options and saving preferences.

Step 6: Enable Remote Access

One of the advantages of Jellyfin is streaming your content remotely. To enable this safely:

• Open Ports: Forward port 8096 in your router for HTTP access (you can also enable HTTPS on port 8920).
• Dynamic DNS: Use a DDNS service (e.g., No-IP or DuckDNS) if you don’t have a static IP address.
• Reverse Proxy (Optional): Set up Nginx or Apache for better control, HTTPS support, and more secure remote access.
• Use SSL: Encrypt remote traffic using a Let’s Encrypt certificate for HTTPS access.

Step 7: Install Jellyfin Apps for Better Experience

Jellyfin is accessible via web browser, but there are dedicated apps for a smoother experience on specific devices:

• Smart TVs: LG and Samsung offer community apps. You can also use Kodi or install a browser-based launcher.
• Streaming Devices: Use Jellyfin Android TV or FireTV apps for native integration.
• Mobile: Jellyfin has official apps for Android and iOS, with offline sync support.
• Desktop: Use web UI or native desktop clients supported by the community.

Step 8: Managing Users and Permissions

If multiple users in your home will be accessing Jellyfin, user management becomes key. You can create individual users with custom access rules.

To add or manage users:

1. Go to “Admin Dashboard” → “Users.”
2. Create new accounts or manage existing ones.
3. Set restrictions: limit content access by ratings, block specific libraries, or set screen time rules.

Maintenance and Updates

Keep Jellyfin secure and feature-rich by updating the server regularly. If you installed it via official repositories or Docker, the update process is straightforward.

• Manual Installation: Check the official documentation for update instructions.
• Docker: Pull the latest image using docker pull jellyfin/jellyfin.

Back up your configuration and metadata directories regularly to protect your setup.

Final Thoughts

Setting up your own Jellyfin server isn’t just a fun tech project—it’s an investment in digital independence. You’ll have complete control over your growing media library, eliminate reliance on third-party services, and enjoy cross-device accessibility from the comfort