How to Get Started with Jellyfin
You can start with Jellyfin in two ways: try the official demo first if you just want to see how it looks and works, or run the Jellyfin server on your own system if you are ready to collect, manage, and stream your own media. The demo is the low-commitment option; self-hosting is what actually gives you a working library.
Try the demo before installing anything
The Jellyfin site offers a Try the Demo entry point. Use it if you want to understand the interface before committing to a server.
The demo walks through the main screens:
- Home screen — highlights your media library, with sections that can be customized per user.
- Library screen — lists your media with filter and sort options.
- Details screen — shows all information about a specific item.
- Playback screen — provides controls to play or cast media, or to start a SyncPlay session with friends or family.
This is useful for deciding whether the layout and navigation fit how you want to browse movies, shows, music, books, and photos. It does not test your own hardware, storage, or network, so treat it as a UI preview rather than a performance check.
Run the Jellyfin server on your own system
Jellyfin is described as a free-software media system that you run on your own system to gain access to the entertainment system, "bells and whistles included." The core step is installing and running the Jellyfin server; clients then connect to it.
At a high level:
- Set up a system to host the server. This is the machine that stores and serves your media.
- Install and run the Jellyfin server on that system.
- Add your media so Jellyfin can collect and organize it.
- Connect a client to browse and play.
The site's Get Started Now entry is the intended starting point for this path.
What you can manage and stream
Once running, Jellyfin handles several media types from the same library:
| Media type | What the site says you get |
|---|---|
| Movies | Enjoy your entire movie collection, easy to browse with artwork |
| Shows | Watch favorite shows, automatically sorted by season |
| Music | Listen to music, artists, and playlists at home or on the go |
| Live TV & DVR | Watch TV and set automatic recordings to expand your library |
| Books | Read books, comics, and magazines |
| Photos | Organize photos and share memories with friends and family |
| SyncPlay | Share a movie night remotely |
Access it from the devices you already use
Jellyfin is available on most popular platforms through official and third-party clients, so your media follows you across devices. The site lists:
- Web
- Desktop
- Android
- Apple
- Amazon
- Roku
- Kodi
- And more
There is a Find a Client entry to locate the right client for your platform. If you are unsure which client fits your setup, that page is the place to check rather than guessing.
Licensing and project nature
Two facts matter if you plan to build on or redistribute Jellyfin:
- Free Software — licensed under the GNU GPL. You can use, study, modify, build, and distribute it for free, as long as your changes are licensed the same way.
- Community built — the project relies entirely on contributions from volunteers, and the site notes there are many ways to help, including without coding, via the contribution guide.
A practical order of operations
If your goal is a working setup rather than a quick look:
- Try the demo to confirm the interface suits you.
- Choose the system that will run the server.
- Install and run the Jellyfin server there.
- Add media and let Jellyfin organize it.
- Install a client on the device you watch from and connect it.
If your goal is only to evaluate the experience, stop after step 1 — the demo covers the home, library, details, and playback screens without requiring your own server.