How to Install Jellyfin on Ubuntu: Step by Step for Media Addicts

Ever wish you could build your own Netflix-like home media streaming service? If so, you’re going to adore Jellyfin. Either you’re a film enthusiast, a music aficionado, or simply a person who likes to keep their digital life in order, Jellyfin is an incredibly capable open-source media server that allows you to completely manage your media library without having to pay for expensive premium subscriptions or cope with privacy-violating data collection. In this article, we’ll take you through the whole process of how to install Jellyfin on Ubuntu from setup and dependencies to configuration and accessing the web dashboard. No jargon tech speak just a no-nonsense, beginner’s guide for anyone willing to take back their media.

What is Jellyfin?

Let’s begin with the fundamentals. Jellyfin is an open-source, free alternative to Plex and Emby. It enables you to manage, stream, and share your digital media library to all your devices. The best part? It values your privacy no tracking, no ads, and no fees. It’s really your media, your server, your rules.

Some highlights:

• Stream to your phone, smart TV, tablet, or browser
• Organize videos, music, and photos
• Live TV and DVR support (with plugins and tuners)
• Multi-user support with access control
• Supports Windows, Linux, macOS, Docker, and more

Prerequisites

Before we jump into installation, let’s ensure you have everything in place:

• Ubuntu system: Ideally Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or higher
• User with sudo rights
• Internet connection
• Basic terminal familiarity

You don’t have to be a Linux guru we’ll walk you through it all.

Step 1: Update Your System

First things first always a good idea to get your Ubuntu packages updated before installing anything new.

Open your terminal and enter:

<code>sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y</code>

This keeps your system up to date with the latest security patches and software versions.

Step 2: Add the Jellyfin Repository

To install Jellyfin on Ubuntu, Jellyfin has official repositories for Ubuntu, and this makes installation easy.

Install HTTPS transport and dependencies:

sudo apt install apt-transport-https software-properties-common gnupg curl -y

Import the GPG key

curl -fsSL https://repo.jellyfin.org/jellyfin_team.gpg.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/jellyfin-archive-keyring.gpg > /dev/null

Add the Jellyfin repository:

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

Update the package index again:

sudo apt update

Step 3: Install Jellyfin

Now that the repository is added, to install Jellyfin on Ubuntu is as easy as:

sudo apt install jellyfin -y

That’s it! The server will be installed and ready to run

Step 4: Start and Enable Jellyfin Service

Once installed, you’ll want Jellyfin to start automatically on boot.

sudo systemctl enable jellyfin<br>sudo systemctl start jellyfin

You can check the status of the service:

Enhance Your CyerPanel Experience Today!

Discover a world of enhanced features and show your support for our ongoing development with CyberPanel add-ons. Elevate your experience today!

Learn More

sudo systemctl status jellyfin

If everything is working, you’ll see something like “Active: active (running)”

Step 5: Configure Firewall (if enabled)

If you’re using ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall), you’ll need to allow traffic to the default Jellyfin port: 8096

sudo ufw allow 8096/tcp

Check status with:

sudo ufw status

Step 6: Access the Web Interface

Here’s the exciting part!

Open your web browser and navigate to:

http://:8096<br>Example: http://192.168.1.100:8096

You will be presented with the Jellyfin setup wizard.

Step 7: Finish Initial Setup through Web Interface

Choose your desired language:

• Create an admin user — Select a secure username and password
• Add media libraries — Direct Jellyfin to directories on your server where your movies, TV shows, music, or photos reside
• Set up metadata downloaders — You can have Jellyfin download movie posters, descriptions, actor names, etc.
• Select remote access settings (optional) — You can have external access, but it’s a good idea to set this up using HTTPS or VPN for security.
• Hit “Finish” and you’re in!

Step 8: Add Media to Jellyfin

Let’s discuss media organization. To install Jellyfin on Ubuntu, Jellyfin needs your files to be structured in a manner that it can interpret.

Here’s an easy example structure:

/media/<br>Movies/<br>Inception (2010)/<br>Inception (2010).mp4<br>TV Shows/<br>Breaking Bad/<br>Season 01/<br>Breaking Bad - S01E01.mkv<br>Music/<br>Coldplay/<br>Parachutes/<br>Yellow.mp3

To add these, go to:

Dashboard > Libraries > Add Media Library

Select the type of content (Movies, TV, Music), and provide the proper folder path.

Step 9: Install and Use Jellyfin Apps

You can play your media using a variety of apps:

• Web Browser: Primary interface
• Android / iOS App: Search “Jellyfin” in your app store
• Smart TVs: Certain Android TVs or Roku devices have Jellyfin apps
• Kodi Plugin: Good if you already use Kodi

Ensure your server is running and accessible before attempting to connect.

Step 10: Hardening Your Jellyfin Server (Optional but High Recommendation)

In default, Jellyfin uses HTTP. To make it secure:

• Use Nginx as the reverse proxy via HTTPS
• Procure an SSL certificate via Let’s Encrypt
• Install fail2ban to harden against brute-force attacks

Here’s an outline of minimal setup for Nginx + HTTPS:

Install Nginx:

sudo apt install nginx -y

Create reverse proxy configuration

Create file: /etc/nginx/sites-available/jellyfin

server {
listen 80;
server_name yourdomain.com;
location / {
    proxy_pass http://localhost:8096;
    proxy_set_header Host $host;
    proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
    proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
}
}
Enable config and get SSL with Certbot

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/jellyfin /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/<br>sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y<br>sudo certbot --nginx

Step 11: Backups and Maintenance

To safeguard your library and metadata:

• Backup the Jellyfin config directory: /var/lib/jellyfin/
• Backup the system regularly
• Keep your system up to date
• You can even automate daily backups using rsync or cron.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Web page not loading?

Check if Jellyfin is running:

sudo systemctl status jellyfin

Media not showing up?

Check proper folder permissions and rescan the library.

Access from outside not working?

Port forward 8096 on your router or use a VPN or reverse proxy with HTTPS.

Advanced Tips

• Hardware Acceleration: Enhance performance with GPU support (Intel QuickSync, NVIDIA NVENC, etc.)
• Plugins: Add functionality — Trakt sync, Subtitles, Intros, etc.
• Live TV/DVR: Needs compatible tuners and EPG sources

Conclusion

And that’s a wrap this is how you can Install Jellyfin on Ubuntu!

You’ve just transformed your Ubuntu computer into a high-performance personal media server with Jellyfin. You now have a self-hosted platform that can arrange your media elegantly, stream it to any device, and provide a clean, private, and secure experience all without a subscription or intrusive tracking.

Whether you’re a casual user looking to watch home videos or a media junkie with terabytes of files, Jellyfin is a fantastic tool to bring it all together. So go ahead load up your favorite movies, kick back, and enjoy the show.

FAQs