Tips, updates, and guides from the JellyWatch team.
Stop guessing encode settings. This guide gives you exact Handbrake and FFmpeg configurations that produce files every Jellyfin client can Direct Play - H.265 CRF values, dual audio tracks (EAC3 + AAC), HDR preservation, GPU encoding, and batch automation with Tdarr.
Direct Play uses zero CPU. Transcoding can max out your server. This guide explains every playback method in Jellyfin, why transcoding happens, how to identify it, and how to force Direct Play on every client for the best quality and lowest server load.
Not everyone has a home server. A VPS from Hetzner (€4.50/month) or Contabo gives you a dedicated Jellyfin instance with a public IP, 1 Gbps bandwidth, and 24/7 uptime. This guide covers VPS selection, Docker deployment, storage mounting, the no-GPU reality, and when Oracle free tier is enough.
Jellyfin handles video well but comics and manga need a dedicated reader. Kavita and Komga are the two best self-hosted options in 2026. This guide compares both (AniList vs ComicVine metadata, Tachiyomi integration, EPUB support), covers Docker setup, and shows how to run them alongside Jellyfin.
LG is the second best-selling TV brand worldwide and runs webOS - a platform with an official Jellyfin app in the LG Content Store. This guide covers installation, codec compatibility, OLED-specific settings, and what to do when the native app falls short.
Jellyfin handles music libraries alongside video - but getting the best experience requires the right folder structure, metadata plugins, mobile clients, and scrobbling setup. This complete guide covers everything from FLAC organization to Last.fm integration.
Hardware transcoding in Docker requires passing your GPU into the container. This guide covers Intel QSV, NVIDIA NVENC, and AMD VAAPI passthrough with verified Docker Compose configurations, driver checks, and troubleshooting for every common failure.
Jellyfin is a media server. Kodi is a media player. Stremio is a streaming aggregator. They solve different problems but many users confuse them. This guide explains each one clearly, compares features side-by-side, and shows how they work together for the ultimate setup.
That old laptop gathering dust can become a powerful Jellyfin server. Covers minimum specs, Ubuntu Server install, Docker setup, hardware transcoding on older GPUs, power management, and 24/7 operation.
