What you need before you start

To connect your phone to a Jellyfin server, you need three things: the Jellyfin app installed on your phone, the server's address (a web link or IP address), and a username and password that work on that server. The server itself must already be running on another device — usually a computer or network storage box — and your phone must be able to reach it over your home network or the internet.

Jellyfin is free software that stores your movies, TV shows, music, and photos on a device you control, then lets you watch or listen from anywhere. Unlike Netflix or Spotify, you own the content and the server. The phone app is the remote control that talks to your server.

If you do not yet have a Jellyfin server running, you cannot connect to one. That setup happens on a different device first. This guide assumes your server is already installed and working.

Key Takeaways

  • read the official Jellyfin app from your phone's app store — search for "Jellyfin" and look for the logo that looks like a blue circle with a play button.
  • Open the app and tap the button to add a server, then enter the server address (usually something like 192.168.1.100:8096 on your home network).
  • Sign in with the username and password you use on the Jellyfin server itself, not your phone's account.
  • If you cannot reach the server, check that both devices are on the same network and that the server is actually running.
  • Once connected, the app will remember your server and sign you in automatically next time.

Finding and installing the Jellyfin app

Open your phone's app store. On Android, that is Google Play Store. On iPhone, that is the App Store. Search for "Jellyfin" — not "Jellyfin server" or any variation.

The official app has a blue circular icon with a white play button in the center. It is published by the Jellyfin Project. Tap "Install" or "Get" and wait for the read to finish. The app is free and does not require a subscription.

Once installed, open the app. You will see a screen asking you to add a server. This is where you tell the app where to find your Jellyfin server.

Getting your server address

Your Jellyfin server runs on a device somewhere on your network — a computer, a Raspberry Pi, a NAS box, or similar. That device has an address that other devices use to reach it. You need that address to connect your phone.

The easiest way to find it: open a web browser on any computer on the same network and type http://localhost:8096 if you are on the server device itself, or ask whoever set up the server. They should know the address. It usually looks like 192.168.1.100:8096 or 192.168.0.50:8096 — a series of numbers separated by dots, followed by a colon and the number 8096.

Write down this address exactly as it appears. If the server is set up to work over the internet (not just your home network), the address might be a web link instead, like jellyfin.example.com. Either way, you need the exact address.

Entering the server address in the app

Open the Jellyfin app on your phone. You should see a screen with a button that says "Add Server" or a plus icon. Tap it.

A text field will appear asking for the server address. Paste or type the address you found in the previous step. Do not add http:// at the start unless the address is a web link — if it is an IP address like 192.168.1.100, leave it as is. The app will add the connection method automatically.

Tap "Connect" or "Next". The app will try to reach the server. If it succeeds, you will see a sign-in screen. If it fails, you will see an error message — jump to the troubleshooting section below.

Signing in with your server username and password

The sign-in screen asks for a username and password. These are the credentials you use to log into the Jellyfin server itself, not your phone's account or email password. If you do not know them, ask whoever set up the server.

Type your username in the first field and your password in the second. Tap "Sign In". The app will verify your credentials against the server.

If sign-in succeeds, the app will load your library — all the movies, shows, music, and photos stored on your server. You can now browse and play content. The app will remember this server and your login, so next time you open it, you will be signed in automatically.

What to do if the app cannot reach the server

If you see an error like "Could not connect" or "Server not found", the app cannot reach your server. This usually means one of three things: the server address is wrong, the server is not running, or the phone is not on the same network as the server.

First, check that the server is actually running. Walk to the device where Jellyfin is installed and make sure it is powered on and not in sleep mode. If it is a computer, check that the Jellyfin process is open and running — it should show a window or a system tray icon.

Second, check that your phone is on the same network as the server. Open your phone's Wi-Fi settings and confirm you are connected to the same network name (SSID) as the server device. If the server is wired to the network with an ethernet cable, your phone still needs to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Third, double-check the server address. Go back to the device where the server runs, open a web browser, and navigate to the address you wrote down. If the Jellyfin web interface loads, the address is correct. If it does not, the address is wrong — ask whoever set up the server for the correct one.

Connecting from outside your home network

If your Jellyfin server is set up to work over the internet (not just on your home network), you can connect from anywhere — at work, at a friend's house, on mobile data. The setup is the same, but the server address will be different. Instead of an IP address like 192.168.1.100, it will be a web link like jellyfin.example.com or a domain name that the server owner set up.

Ask whoever manages the server for the external address. Once you have it, follow the same steps: add the server in the app, enter the address, and sign in. The app will work the same way whether you are on your home network or away from home.

Note that connecting over the internet requires the server to be set up for remote access, which is a separate configuration step. If you only have a local IP address (192.168.x.x), you can only connect when you are on the same network as the server.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to create a Jellyfin account to use the app?

No. You use the username and password that already exist on your Jellyfin server. The server administrator creates user accounts. If you do not have one, ask the person who set up the server to create an account for you.

Can I connect to multiple Jellyfin servers?

Yes. In the app, tap the menu or settings button and look for "Add Server" or a plus icon. You can add as many servers as you want. The app will let you switch between them.

What if I forget my password?

Contact the person who manages the Jellyfin server. They can reset your password through the server's admin settings. You cannot reset it through the phone app.

Will the app work if my server is turned off?

No. The server must be running for the app to connect. If you turn off the device where Jellyfin is installed, the app will show an error when you try to use it.

Does the Jellyfin app cost money?

No. The official Jellyfin app is free. There are no subscription fees or in-app purchases required to use it.