Your Jellyfin username is the name you created when you first set up the server, and you can find it by logging into the Jellyfin web interface or checking the server's user settings

If you set up Jellyfin yourself on your own computer or network, you chose a username during installation. If someone else set it up for you, they created one for your account. Either way, the username is stored in Jellyfin's user database and you can retrieve it without reinstalling anything.

The fastest way is to look at the Jellyfin dashboard while logged in — your username appears in the top right corner. If you cannot log in because you forgot both the username and password, you will need to access the server's settings files directly or reset the server, which takes a few more steps but is still straightforward.

Key Takeaways

  • Your username displays in the top right corner of the Jellyfin web interface when you are logged in.
  • If you are locked out, the server administrator can view all usernames in the Dashboard under Users and Profiles.
  • On Windows, Jellyfin stores user data in AppData\Roaming\Jellyfin\Jellyfin-Server, where you can find a config file listing all accounts.
  • On Linux and Mac, user information is stored in ~/.local/share/jellyfin or ~/.jellyfin, accessible through the file manager or terminal.
  • If you cannot access the server at all, you may need to reset it using the command line, which erases all settings and creates a new default admin account.

Check the Dashboard if you are already logged in

Open Jellyfin in your web browser and log in with whatever username and password you remember. Once you are on the main dashboard, look at the very top right corner of the screen. You will see a small icon or circle with your username next to it. Click on it and you will see your account name displayed.

This is the simplest path and works when ready if you can remember your password. Your username is exactly what appears there — use it the same way when logging in from another device or when you need to tell someone else how to reach your account.

Ask the server administrator to check the Users section

If you share a Jellyfin server with others, the person who set it up (the administrator) can see all usernames without needing your password. They should open Jellyfin, log in with their admin account, and go to the Dashboard. In the left menu, they will find a Users or Profiles section that lists every account on the server with its username displayed.

The administrator can also use this section to reset your password if you need that as well. They do not need to know your current password to do this — they can set a new one directly from the admin panel.

Find your username in the server's configuration files on Windows

If you cannot log in and no administrator is available, you can look at the files where Jellyfin stores user information. On Windows, open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[YourWindowsUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Jellyfin\Jellyfin-Server. The AppData folder is hidden by default, so you may need to show hidden files first. In File Explorer, click View at the top, then check the box for Hidden Items.

Once you are in the Jellyfin-Server folder, look for a file called users.json or a folder called users. Open users.json with Notepad or any text editor. You will see a list of all usernames on the server in plain text. Find the name you are looking for — it will appear as "Name": "YourUsername" in the file.

Find your username in the server's configuration files on Linux and Mac

On Linux and Mac, Jellyfin stores user data in a hidden folder in your home directory. Open a file manager or terminal and navigate to ~/.local/share/jellyfin on Linux or ~/.jellyfin on Mac. The tilde (~) represents your home directory. If you are using a terminal, type cd ~/.local/share/jellyfin on Linux or cd ~/.jellyfin on Mac and press Enter.

Look for the same users.json file or users folder. Open users.json with a text editor like nano, vim, or any graphical editor. Search for "Name": and you will see all the usernames listed in the file. The username you created is the one you need to remember.

Reset the server if you cannot access any files

If you cannot find the configuration files or do not have permission to view them, you can reset Jellyfin entirely. This erases all settings and user accounts and creates a new default admin account, so use this only as a last resort. On Windows, uninstall Jellyfin from Control Panel, then delete the folder at C:\Users\[YourWindowsUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Jellyfin. Reinstall Jellyfin and you will be prompted to create a new admin account during setup.

On Linux, stop the Jellyfin service with sudo systemctl stop jellyfin, then remove the data folder with sudo rm -rf ~/.local/share/jellyfin or sudo rm -rf ~/.jellyfin depending on where it was installed. Restart the service with sudo systemctl start jellyfin and you will have a fresh server with a new default admin account. You will lose all your libraries, settings, and other user accounts, so only do this if you have no other way forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username after I create it?

Yes. Log into Jellyfin with your current account, click your username in the top right, and look for a Profile or Account Settings option. Most versions of Jellyfin let you edit your username from there. If you do not see that option, the server administrator can change it from the Users section in the Dashboard.

What if I see multiple usernames in the users.json file?

Each username in that file is a separate account on the server. If you set up the server yourself, you created at least one admin account during installation — that is usually your username. If other people use the server, their usernames will be listed too. The one you are looking for is the one you remember using to log in.

Does Jellyfin store usernames in plain text?

Usernames are stored in plain text in the configuration files, but passwords are encrypted. This means anyone with access to the server's files can see what usernames exist, but they cannot read the passwords directly. This is normal and expected for how Jellyfin works.

Can I log in with my email address instead of my username?

No. Jellyfin requires you to log in with the username you created, not an email address. Some versions let you add an email to your account for password recovery, but the login itself always uses the username.