Get Instant Push Notifications for Every New Jellyfin Session on Android

Get Instant Push Notifications for Every New Jellyfin Session on Android

You are away from home, and someone just started a stream on your Jellyfin server. You have no idea until you manually check the dashboard. Sound familiar?

JellyWatch solves this with real-time push notifications - instant alerts sent directly to your Android device whenever activity happens on your Jellyfin server.

Why Jellyfin Admins Need Push Notifications

Jellyfin itself does not provide native push notifications to mobile admins. The only way to know something is happening on your server is to actively open the web UI or refresh an app. For a hands-on admin, this is frustrating.

JellyWatch's notification system works by running a background monitoring service that continuously polls your server and fires Android notifications for events you care about - without draining your battery.

What Events Trigger Notifications?

JellyWatch supports granular notification control. You choose which events notify you:

Each event type has its own Android notification channel, so you can customize sound, vibration, and importance per event type in your system notification settings.

How to Enable Push Notifications in JellyWatch

Prerequisites

• JellyWatch installed from Google Play
• Your Jellyfin server connected and authenticated
• JellyWatch Premium subscription (notifications are a Premium feature)
• Android 13+ users must grant the POST_NOTIFICATIONS permission

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Open Settings Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner of the main dashboard.

2. Navigate to Notifications Scroll to the "Monitoring & Alerts" section and tap Notification Settings.

3. Enable the monitoring service Toggle on "Background Session Monitor". JellyWatch will ask for permission to run as a foreground service - grant it for reliable background operation.

4. Choose your events Toggle on each notification type:

• ✅ New session started
• ✅ Session stopped
• ☑️ Playback paused (optional - can be noisy on active servers)
• ✅ New device connected

5. Set your polling interval Choose how frequently JellyWatch checks your server:

• 10 seconds (free)
• 5 seconds (Premium - near real-time)

6. Save and test Start a stream from any Jellyfin client. You should receive a notification on your Android device within the interval you set.

Grouped Notifications for Busy Servers

If multiple sessions start simultaneously (e.g., at movie night when everyone hits Play), JellyWatch automatically groups notifications to avoid flooding your notification shade. You'll see a summary notification like "3 new sessions on MyServer" instead of three separate alerts.

Battery Optimization: What You Need to Know

Android's battery optimization can kill background services. To ensure JellyWatch notifications are reliable:

1. Go to Android Settings → Apps → JellyWatch
2. Tap Battery → select Unrestricted or No restrictions
3. On Samsung devices: disable Adaptive Battery for JellyWatch

JellyWatch uses WorkManager for background tasks, which is designed to survive battery optimization on most devices.

Notification Example

Here is what a typical new-session notification looks like:

🎬 JellyWatch - New Session
alice is watching "Dune: Part Two" on iPhone
Server: MyHomeServer · Just now

Tapping the notification opens JellyWatch directly on the session dashboard, so you can see the full details in one tap.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to keep JellyWatch open for notifications to work? No. The background service runs independently. You can close the app and notifications will still arrive.

Does this work when my phone is in Do Not Disturb mode? JellyWatch respects Android's DND settings. Configure notification priority if you want to break through DND for critical events.

Can I get notifications for a specific user only? Not yet - this is a feature planned for a future release. Currently, notifications cover all sessions on the server.

Conclusion

Push notifications for Jellyfin sessions transform JellyWatch from a monitoring dashboard into a true always-on admin companion. You stay informed about your server's activity 24/7 without lifting a finger.

Want instant alerts every time someone streams on your Jellyfin server? 👉 Upgrade to JellyWatch Premium and enable push notifications today. Learn more at jellywatch.app.