Setup

Basic setup to get your server running.

Installing Jellyfin

Installing Jellyfin is pretty simple. First, navigate to the website (jellyfin.org) and go to the downloads page. On that page, select “server” and the operating system your computer is running (most likely Windows, Linus, or macOS). From here, follow the steps indicated by your operating system:

  • Windows: Select downloads –> AMD64 –> jellyfin_10.11.5_windows-x64.exe
  • macOS: Select downloads –> AMD64 –> jellyfin_10.11.5-amd64.dmg
  • Linux (Debian/Ubuntu): Paste the command curl -s https://repo.jellyfin.org/install-debuntu.sh | sudo bash into the terminal application. If curl does not work, try using wget -q -O-

From there, follow the instruction given as the application installs. Once everything is installed, open Jellyfin and it should automatically open the server configuration in your browser. If not, type http://localhost:8096/web/index.html#/wizard/start into your browser.

Adding and Configuring Libraries

Now that Jellyfin is installed, it’s time to get the server set up. On the first page, enter a name for your server and select a language. Next, create a username and password for your admin account. This account will allow you to login and manage your server from any device.

The third page is where you will set up your libraries. For each type of media you have, create a library, select a media type, and add the folder containing the media. The navigator in the interface may be difficult to use, so I recommend going to the folder in your operating system’s file manager, copying the path, and pasting it into Jellyfin.

After seting up your libraries, all that’s left is to select the language and region for metadata, ensure remote connections are allowed, and proceeding to the login page. Once you’ve logged in, the basic server setup is complete!

Configuring and Editing Metadata

Within your media library, adding or editing metadata is pretty straightforward. If media being added is able to be identified from external sites, such as TheMovieDB or TheAudioDB, Jellyfin will automatically fill in metadata and images when scanning your library.

When adding personal media or media that cannot be properly identified, you may have to add your own metadata. When you hover over a piece of media, an icon with three vertical dots provides a list of options, one of which is to edit metadata. On this screen, a variety of metadata can be added or edited, such as title, date, description, tags, and genres. Additionally, you can also add or change the image associated with your media by selecting “edit images” instead of “edit metadata”.