• Resolve playback error on some 2018-2019 models
• Merge Movies and Shows into a new Movies & Shows tab in mixed content libraries

• Update Intel drivers on Linux platforms
• Add user option to set user's auto remote quality
• Add library option to use legacy folder scanning method
• Music transcoding fixes
• Add landing tab option for book libraries
• Support volume control with youtube trailer player
• Update mixed content tabs to combine Movies & Shows
• Fix maintenance mode blocking some settings screens
• Fix embedded audio fields not getting rescanned on file changes
• Fix loss of genre and collection images after deleting a movie

Why a Native Linux App?

While Emby’s web app works well across platforms, there are limits to what a browser-based player can achieve, especially when it comes to modern video and audio playback. The Linux app was created to go beyond those limits. At the core of this decision is one simple goal: BEST IN CLASS VIDEO PLAYBACK.

Browsers continue to improve, but they inevitably lag behind native applications when it comes to advanced video technologies, hardware acceleration, and reliable fullscreen playback. Emby users expect smooth, high-quality playback — and delivering that consistently requires a native application.

Benefits Over the Web Player

The new Linux app provides several advantages over watching through a browser:

• More reliable video playback with fewer browser-related limitations

• Better performance and lower system overhead

• Improved full screen behavior across Linux desktop environments

• Direct integration with native video playback technologies 

• A cleaner, distraction free viewing experience

By separating video playback from the browser entirely, the app is able to take full advantage of the system and deliver a smoother experience.

Designed for Linux Desktops

The Emby Linux app is built to feel at home on Linux. It works across major Linux environments . The result is a modern Emby experience that’s faster, more consistent, and purpose built for Linux users.

Available Now

The new Emby Linux Beta app is now available and we are waiting for your feedback! Want to get started right away? Head on over to the beta instructions page for more!

Please provide feedback in this forum: Linux Beta

• Improve performance of detail screens
• Fix playback crash related to live tv subtitles
• Add resume button for in-progress recordings
• Support new auto remote quality option in 4.9.2 server

Let’s break it down.

So, What Is a Media Server?

A media server is simply a system that allows you to store your media in one place and access it from anywhere — your TV, phone, tablet, computer, or even while on the go.

Instead of hunting through drives, folders, or different apps, a media server organizes and presents your library in a clean, familiar interface with artwork, descriptions, cast info, and more.

Think of it as your personal streaming service that is built around your collection, not someone else’s. An important note and one we can not stress enough, is that Emby does NOT provide any movies, shows, channels or other media. Emby is only for organizing and streaming YOUR own content. 

Why Choose Emby?

There may be several media server solutions out there, but Emby has a philosophy that sets it apart:

Your Media. Your Way.

With Emby, you are in control! Your library is yours, your privacy is yours, and your server is yours.

• No forced cloud accounts.
• No data harvesting.
• No locked-down ecosystem.

Emby is built around choice and customization, allowing you to decide:

• Where your media is store
• How your library looks
• Who can access it
• What devices you stream to
• Whether you want to manage media manually or automatically

All while keeping your experience intuitive and easy.

Beautiful and Powerful

Emby automatically fetches artwork, metadata, and episode information to make your library look amazing. The apps are clean, fast, and available across:

• Smart TVs
• Streaming boxes like Fire TV, Apple TV, Shield, Android TV
• Android, iOS, and tablets
• Game consoles
• Web browsers

And with Emby Premiere, there's even more! You can unlock powerful features like:

• Offline downloads
• DVR with Live TV
• Advanced parental controls
• Hardware transcoding for smooth streaming

Whether you're just starting or you're a longtime media enthusiast, Emby scales with you.

This Is Just the Beginning

Over the next few days, we’ll walk through:

1. How to install Emby
2. How to add your media
3. Tips for organizing your library
4. And how to stream anywhere

So stay tuned — your personal media journey is just getting started.

Your Media. Your Way.
Welcome to Emby.

One of the best things about the Emby community is the creativity that comes from it. Every so often, one of our users takes their love for media servers to the next level and builds something that makes life easier for the rest of us.

Today, we’re excited to share EmbyWatch, a brand-new Android app developed by community member @asgard25It is an an incredible example of what happens when passion and innovation meet.

A User-Built Tool, Made for Admins

What makes this story special is that EmbyWatch wasn’t created by a company or a professional app studio. It was created by one of YOU! — just someone who wanted to make managing a server more intuitive and accessible from anywhere. Want to be even more impressed? This is only the second Android app that asgard25 has developed!  

EmbyWatch is designed to help server admins and advanced users keep track of what’s happening on their Emby setup in real time. It’s not about playback or browsing media, it’s about giving you the tools to monitor, manage, and control your server, all from your phone.
 

Powerful Features at a Glance

EmbyWatch brings a surprising amount of functionality for such a young app. Here’s what it can do:

• Real-time monitoring: See who’s watching what, where they’re streaming from, and how much bandwidth they’re using — all live.

• User management: View your users, check activity history, and even send messages directly to connected users.

• Device overview: Identify every connected client, from smart TVs to mobile apps, with connection times and device info.

• Library insights: Quickly review all your media libraries with detailed counts and metadata.

• Task control: Run or schedule maintenance tasks like library scans and metadata updates remotely.

• Plugin visibility: See your installed plugins and available updates.

• Logs and server details: Access logs, CPU load, uptime, and more — wherever you are.

• Notifications and widgets: Stay informed with live alerts and optional Android widgets for quick monitoring.

For anyone managing a shared server, EmbyWatch feels like having a live dashboard in your pocket.

A True Example of Community Ingenuity

We love seeing users like asgard25 take their experience with Emby and turn it into something that benefits everyone. EmbyWatch really is a reflection of how open and flexible the Emby ecosystem can be when people put their ideas into action.

This project shows exactly what makes our community special, a shared passion for improving and creating!  

So whether you’re managing your own home setup or running a multi-user server, EmbyWatch offers a simple, powerful way to stay connected to your system.

Huge thanks to asgard25 for sharing EmbyWatch with the community and for showing what’s possible when creativity meets passion. We’re proud to see our users building tools like this that make Emby not just a media server, but a thriving ecosystem shaped by its fans.

If you’re an admin or an advanced user, check out EmbyWatch on Google Play and see how it can make managing your server easier than ever.

We can’t wait to see what asgard25 — and others in our amazing community — build next.

One of the most powerful features of Emby is the ability to create individual user accounts. This becomes especially useful for families as parents can give kids their own profiles while keeping control over what content they can access. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up kid accounts and enable parental controls in Emby, step by step.

Why Create Kid Accounts?

• Age-appropriate viewing: Ensure younger family members only see content suited to them.

• Personalized experience: Kids can have their own watchlists, progress tracking, and favorite shows.

• Peace of mind: Parents maintain control over what media is available while keeping the main library unrestricted.

Step 1: Create a New User

• Log into your Emby Server Dashboard.

• Go to Users in the left-hand menu.

• Click + Add User.

• Give the account a name (e.g., “Kids” or your child’s name).

• Choose whether it will be a local user or linked to an Emby Connect account (for remote access).

Step 2: Assign Libraries

When setting up the account, you’ll have the option to choose which libraries the user can access. For example:

• Allow access to “Kids Movies” and “Cartoons.”

• Block access to “Horror,” “Adult Shows,” or any other unsuitable libraries.

This ensures your child only sees the content you approve.

Step 3: Enable Parental Controls

Within the user’s settings, navigate to Parental Controls. Here you can:

• Set movie and TV show ratings (e.g., allow only PG or below).

• Restrict unrated content if you prefer.

• Block specific titles that you don’t want accessible, even if they meet rating criteria.

Step 4: Add Playback Restrictions

Emby also lets you manage how and where kids can watch content:

• Limit streaming devices (e.g., only the living room TV, not mobile).

• Set time restrictions for viewing.

• Disable certain features like live TV or external plugins.

Step 5: Test the Account

Once set up, log into the kid’s account yourself to confirm:

• Only age-appropriate content is visible.

• The playback settings behave as expected.

• The account has a fun, personalized feel for your child.

This way, you can make adjustments before turning it over to your kids.

Conclusion

By creating dedicated kid accounts and using Emby’s robust parental controls, you’ll give your children a safe and customized experience while maintaining control over the family media server. It’s simple, effective, and ensures that everyone enjoys Emby their way.

User 1: A Family-Centered Build with Emby at the Core

• OS: Ubuntu Server 22.04

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G (iGPU used for transcoding)

• RAM: 32GB DDR4

• Storage:

  4×8TB HDD in SnapRAID

  1TB Samsung NVMe for metadata and cache

• Clients: Fire TV 4K, Chromecast with Google TV, iPads, web browser

• Network: TailScale for remote access to extended family

“I started building this when my parents moved out of state so now they can watch all their favorite shows, and it's been super easy and convenient for them”

This user’s primary motivation? A simplified content experience for family. Emby’s ease of access makes remote media sharing reliable and user-friendly.

User 2: The Portable Plex-to-Emby Convert

• OS: Windows 11 Pro

• Laptop Host: Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (Ryzen 7 6800H, RTX 3070, 32GB RAM)

• External Storage: 20TB RAID 0 in external USB-C enclosure

• Clients: Android tablet, MacBook Air, hotel Smart TVs (via Chromecast)

• Use Case: Frequent traveler with offline-first workflows

“I used to rely on Plex, but when offline access got locked down behind paywalls, I switched to Emby. I use scheduled syncs and download to my tablet before flights — it’s been perfect.”

This portable setup is a great example of Emby working for this users needs on the go from in-flight binge sessions to hotel-room streaming.

User 3: A Clean, Quiet, All-SSD Living Room Build

• OS: Unraid

• CPU: Intel i3-12100 (Quick Sync)

• RAM: 16GB

• Storage:

  2×2TB NVMe SSDs (movies & metadata)

  2×4TB SATA SSDs (TV and music)

• Clients: LG OLED (native app), Android phone, Shield Pro

• Use Case: No spinning disks, no noise — sleek and silent HTPC

“I spent more on SSDs than I probably should’ve, but this is in my living room next to the TV and silence was a requirement. Emby on SSD? Ridiculously fast.”

This build proves that a quiet, modern, and low-watt server can still deliver a premium media experience.

Want to be in the next upcoming Spotlight?

If you’re running Emby in any configuration and love what you use, we want to feature you! Share your build and story in the Emby Community Forums and you may be featured in a future spotlight.

Your Emby home screen is the gateway to your entire media world but for some the default layout isn't the perfect setup. The good news? Emby gives you powerful tools to transform your home screen into a clean, personalized, and intuitive hub that perfectly fits your viewing habits.

In this guide, we’ll walk through everything from organizing libraries and smart collections to customizing artwork and user profiles. Whether you’re new to Emby or looking to take your setup to the next level, this article will help you design a home screen that looks and feels like your own streaming service.

Organizing Your Libraries and Content Types

A clear library structure is the foundation of a great Emby experience.

• Create dedicated libraries: Separate Movies, TV Shows, Kids, Documentaries, Music, and more. This makes browsing faster and lets you apply different metadata settings for each type.

• Use descriptive names and icons: Rename generic libraries and assign custom icons or cover images for visual appeal.

• Fine-tune sorting: Use filters and sort by release date, genre, rating, or watch status to keep your content organized and accessible.

Pro Tip: Keep kids’ content in its own library with separate age restrictions and artwork for a cleaner home screen.

Customizing Artwork and Posters

Visual design has a massive impact on user experience — and Emby gives you full control.

• Replace default artwork: Swap in your own posters, backdrops, and logos for each title.

• Use consistent visuals: Download high-quality images from sources like The Movie Database (TMDb) or Fanart.tv for a cohesive look.

• Customize library icons: Apply themed icons for each library (e.g. a film reel for Movies, a TV icon for Shows).

Hiding or Rearranging Home Screen Sections

A cluttered home screen can be overwhelming to some. Streamline your layout by:

• Disabling unused sections: Turn off “Latest Media,” “Trailers,” or “Music” if you don’t use them.

• Reordering content rows: Move “Continue Watching” or “Favorites” to the top for fast access.

• Simplifying for guests or kids: Remove advanced sections on non-admin profiles for a more focused view.

This keeps your home screen clean and purpose-driven.

Themes, Skins, and Display Options

Give your Emby interface a personal touch with display tweaks:

• Enable Dark Mode or Light Mode: Choose a theme that fits your environment.

• Adjust poster sizes: Larger posters are more visual, smaller ones fit more on screen.

• Tweak text and layout: Adjust font size, spacing, and aspect ratio for optimal readability on TVs, tablets, or phones.

Personalizing User Profiles

If you share your server with family or friends, user profiles let each person have their own home screen experience:

• Individual layouts: Each profile can show different libraries, collections, and sections.

• Parental controls: Restrict content ratings, block libraries, or set watch schedules for kids.

• Profile pictures and colors: Add custom avatars and themes for a personal touch.

This keeps everyone’s experience separate and clutter-free.
 

A well-designed Emby home screen can make your entire media experience feel faster, cleaner, and more personal. By organizing libraries, building smart collections, customizing artwork, and tailoring profiles, you can create a setup that feels like your own private streaming platform.

Spend a little time experimenting — you’ll be amazed at how much more enjoyable Emby becomes when it’s designed just for you.
 

Each setup proves that no matter your budget or complexity, Emby can be tailored to fit your needs!

User 1: 3.3 Million Entries, 400TB of Storage, and a Custom-Tuned Library

• OS: Windows Server 2025

• CPU: Intel i7-7700

• RAM: 48GB

• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1660 (transcoding)

• Storage:

  64GB NVMe (OS)

  500GB NVMe (cache & image storage)

  50TB local RAID (primary library)

  Four Synology NAS units (~400TB raw capacity)

• Transcode Cache: SATA SSDs in RAID 0

• Media:

  Films by decade

  TV series split into "Running" and "Archived" libraries

  Separate volumes for music, audiobooks, ebooks, photos, YouTube downloads

  Comic book library (50TB) stored on a separate Emby instance

• Clients:

  Nvidia Shield TV

  Nokia Box 8000

  Apple TV 4

  Multiple Smart TVs (LG & Samsung)

  Android beamers

  iPhones, iPads, Android phones & tablets across multiple countries

“It’s an old daily driver turned into a serious media server. While the hardware isn’t groundbreaking, the organization and volume of media make this setup incredibly rewarding to use.”
 

User 2: A Low-Cost, Low-Fuss Setup That Gets the Job Done

• Server: OrangePi 5+

  256GB eMMC

  8-core CPU

  16GB RAM

• Storage: Synology DS224+ with 2x8TB WD Red

• Other Infrastructure:

  System76 Meerkat (handles web/misc services)

  Ubiquiti UCG Ultra router

  External backup drive

Clients:

• Android phones (various Pixel models)

• Android tablet

• Roku

• Chromecast

• Web browsers

“It’s small, cheap, and reliable. For a household setup, it works beautifully without drawing much power”

User 3: Old PC, New Life

• OS: (Windows 11 Pro)

• CPU: Intel i5-9400 (Quick Sync for transcoding)

• RAM: 32GB DDR4

• Storage:

  10TB Toshiba N300

  4TB WD Red (2019)

  3TB WD Red (2016, pending replacement)

  1TB WD770 NVMe

  1TB Kingston NVMe (used for cache and transcoding)

Clients:

• TCL 4K Android TV

• LG 4K webOS

• Android phones and tablets

• Roku

• Xbox Series X

“It’s a simple build using my old PC, and it runs Emby without issue. I’m toying with the idea of upgrading soon, but for now, it just works.”

Want to Share Your Emby Setup?

From server racks to single-board computers, the Emby community is full of creative solutions. If you’re running Emby on something interesting, or even something ordinary, and want to be featured in a future spotlight, join the Emby Community Forums and share your setup.

You might see your system in Volume 5!

User 1: “Overkill? Maybe. Worth it? Definitely.”

• OS: Unraid

• CPU: Intel i5-12600

• RAM: 128GB

• Case: Supermicro 847 with 36 drive bays (x2!)

• Storage: ~300TB using 16–22TB WD UltraStar drives

• Network: 3Gbps Internet, all remote access handled via a private domain and tunnel

• Clients: Nvidia Shield (home theater), Onn 4K boxes, Fire Stick 4Ks (friends & family)

“All of my streams are direct play thanks to fast internet. I originally used Plex, but Emby’s DVR support for IPTV brought me over. It’s more responsive, plays files better, and just works.”

This massive setup was assembled from repurposed hardware and drives collected over time — a perfect example of functional tech recycling taken to impressive heights.

User 2: From Dev Work to DJ Sets to Movies

• OS: Unraid (Dockerized Emby)

• CPU: Intel Core i7-9700K

• RAM: 64GB

• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1060

• Storage: 190TB total

  70TB for work-related databases and code

  16TB for NVR recordings

  1TB for a personal DJ music library

  Remaining for Emby movies and TV

This setup shows how Emby can coexist with serious multitasking. Whether it’s running virtual machines, storing video surveillance, or curating a live DJ collection, Emby shares space with a true all-in-one server.

User 3: Evolved Over a Decade (Since Media Browser Days)

• OS: Unraid

• CPU: Intel i7-12700K

• RAM: 128GB DDR5

• Storage: 120TB + dual 20TB parity drives

• Clients: Nvidia Shield, Apple TV 4K, Fire TV

• Use Case: Family streaming with both direct play and transcoding

“This is the 5th iteration of my Emby server. I’ve been using it since the Media Browser days”

This user’s setup has evolved into a full-fledged home server, now hosting everything from Emby to Home Assistant. With multiple family members streaming simultaneously, performance and reliability are essential — and this build delivers.

Want to Be Featured?

Are you an Emby user with a unique setup — whether it’s minimalist or monstrous? We’d love to share your story. Visit the Emby Community Forums and drop your specs, photos (optional), and a few notes on why you chose Emby. You might be featured in an upcoming spotlight!

In this edition, we’re featuring everything from a professionally calibrated home theater server to a budget friendly setup that just works. Whether you're building a server in your basement or streaming from a single-board computer, there's something to learn from each one of these users.

1. Modular, Scalable, and Always Moving Forward

This user built their Emby setup with future expansion in mind, combining Unraid with Docker-based services, remote access capabilities, and a clean, efficient hardware layout.

• Motherboard: ASRock B550 Extreme4

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X

• RAM: 32GB

• GPU: NVIDIA Quadro P620 (for transcoding)

• Storage:

  250GB SSD for Docker containers and VMs

  4.5TB SSD media cache pool

  4x12TB HDD array (36TB usable)

• HBA: LSI 9211-8i

• Chassis: Inter-Tech 4U-4410

• Power: Corsair RM750i PSU

• Remote Access: Sipeed NanoKVM PCIe

• OS: Unraid

Clients include a NVIDIA Shield TV for local playback, Emby for PC, Infuse for mobile, and Chromecast for travel. About 10 remote users also access the server via web and TV apps.

“I’ve been using Emby for about five years. I chose it over other platforms because it had the right balance of app support and flexibility.”

2. Professionally Tuned and Built for Total Reliability

This setup blends enterprise-grade storage, a calibrated video pipeline, and TrueNAS reliability — all focused on delivering uncompromising playback quality through a single, optimized client device.

• CPU: Intel Xeon E-2124G

• RAM: 96GB ECC DDR4

• Motherboard: Supermicro X11SCH-LN4F

• Storage:

  Boot OS (TrueNAS 25.04.1): 2x WD Red 500GB SATA SSD (mirrored)

  Emby App Storage: 2x WD Red 1TB NVMe SSD (mirrored)

  Media Storage: 6x 8TB WD Ultrastar DC HC510 SAS HDDs in RAID-Z2

• HBA: IBM M1215 (IT firmware)

• Network: LACP trunked to switch, isolated subnet

• Power: Platinum Seasonic PSU + UPS

• Location: Basement, rack-mounted with adjacent core network gear

Client: One — but it’s a serious one. A NVIDIA Shield TV Pro (2019) connects to a Lumagen Radiance Pro video processor, which handles upscaling, tone mapping, and color calibration before outputting to a professionally calibrated Panasonic 4K OLED.

“Of all the solutions I’ve tried — madVR HTPCs, Oppo players, Dune boxes — Emby with Shield is the only one that just works. I finally get to enjoy my media instead of constantly troubleshooting. It’s peace of mind.”

3. Small Footprint, Big Results

Proof that a setup doesn’t have to be expensive or complex to be effective, this user keeps it simple — and functional — with a low-cost SBC and NAS combo.

• Server Device: OrangePi 5+

  Storage: 256GB eMMC

  CPU: 8-core

  RAM: 16GB

• Storage Backend: Synology DS224+ (2x 8TB WD Red drives)

• Networking & Extras:

  Ubiquiti UCG Ultra

  External backup drive

  System76 Meerkat for other services

Clients:

• Android phones and tablets

• Roku

• Chromecast

• Web browsers

No frills, just dependable performance for in-home and personal streaming needs. This setup is lightweight, quiet, and gets the job done with minimal power and space requirements.

Have a Setup Worth Sharing?

We’re always on the lookout for more community submissions. Whether your Emby server is built for performance, portability, or just personal fun, we’d love to feature it in an upcoming spotlight.

Submit your setup on the forums or reach out directly to be considered for a future blog post.

• Support animated images on music album and playlist detail screens
• Improve Live TV progress display
• Photo slideshow bug fixes
• Improve remote/seeking behavior
• Support subtitle offset
• Improve live tv guide scrolling
• Restore scan library files context menu option

• Improve ASS/SSA subtitle rendering
• Add text size setting
• Improve the startup behavior option related to remembering login info
• Add option to auto-open single items in folders

Welcome to the first installment of our Emby Community Spotlight — a series where we highlight the unique and diverse ways people around the world are using Emby every day. From globe-trotting servers to enterprise-grade home labs, Emby users continue to push the boundaries of what a personal media server can be.

Today we are focusing on users who use Windows or Windows servers as the base for their servers! Here are three very different and impressive setups that showcase the flexibility and reach of Emby.

1. A Portable Powerhouse That Travels the World

This user lives a truly mobile life, relocating across countries every couple of years. Despite the challenges of frequent international travel, they manage to bring their Emby server (along with their entire media, gaming, and work setup) in just two suitcases and two carry-ons.

• OS: Windows 11 Pro

• Case: XTIA Proto L v2

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3090

• RAM: 32GB

• Storage: 80TB

• Clients: 2x NVIDIA Shield TVs

• TV/Sound: LG C2 OLED + Vizio All-In-One Soundbar

• Router: ASUS ROG AX11000

This setup has successfully traveled routes like Sri Lanka → Philippines → Singapore → UK → Saudi Arabia.

“It just works. No fiddling. I tried the other options and ran into issues — Emby was the only one that delivered the experience I needed.”

The server doubles as a workstation and gaming rig. Truly a server built for work, play, and portability. Super impressive!

2. An Overbuilt Beast with Room to Grow

Built for endurance, performance, and multi-purpose use, this next user has created a server that handles everything they can throw at it!

• OS: Windows Server 2022

• Form Factor: 4U rackmount with 24-drive backplane

• CPU: AMD EPYC 7F52

• Motherboard: Supermicro H11SSL-I

• RAM: 512GB ECC DDR4

• Storage:

  8x 18TB SATA HDDs (pooled via StableBit DrivePool)

  2x 2TB NVMe SSDs (write cache)

• GPU: NVIDIA Quadro P2200

• Clients: Fire TV Sticks, Samsung Smart TVs, iOS/Android devices, browser

“It’s probably overkill for Emby, but I didn’t want to rebuild it for a long time. Transcoding is so seamless you can’t even tell it’s happening.”

After 8 years of using Emby, this setup reflects confidence, stability, and the desire to build once and build well. Live TV via HDHomeRun was described as effortless, and streaming performance is as smooth as it gets.

3. A Well-Rounded Home Media Hub

This setup strikes the perfect balance between performance and practicality. Used primarily in-home across multiple client devices, it serves a large personal media collection with plenty of horsepower under the hood.

• OS: Windows 11 (24H2)

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

• Motherboard: Gigabyte X570 AORUS Ultra

• RAM: 64GB G.Skill DDR4 @ 3600 MHz

• GPU: EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra

• Storage: 40TB HDDs + 7TB NVMe SSDs

• Clients: 5 in-home devices, occasional remote access via Tailscale

• Library: ~2,000 movies, 800,000 photos, 30,000 personal videos, 50,000 songs

“I’ve been using Emby for about 5 years. Most of the time it’s just running quietly in the background, but when I need to access it remotely, it’s ready. It handles everything I throw at it.”

This server doubles as a central storage hub and personal archive, with exceptional performance for both local and occasional remote streaming.

Have a Setup Worth Sharing?

We will be featuring more community builds in this ongoing series shortly! Whether you’re running Emby on a mini PC, cloud server, or something no one’s thought of yet, we want to hear from you. 

Join the forum conversation and submit your setup to be included in a future spotlight.

From silent Raspberry Pi builds to powerhouse servers running multiple 4K streams, Emby users around the world are crafting some incredible configurations. In our upcoming feature, “Meet the Emby Community: Users Share Their Setups,” we’ll take a look at how different people are using Emby — and why they love it.

Want to be featured?

We’re inviting Emby users to share their setups over on the Emby Forums. Tell us about your hardware, streaming devices, and what makes your setup unique. You might just see your system featured in the next blog post — with full credit (if you want it).

Visit the forum thread now and tell us your story.
We can’t wait to highlight the amazing things the Emby community is building.

• Fix playback error when resuming multi-version episodes from Continue Watching
• Add tabbed Books view
• Support sorting playlists and collections by Date Added
• Various fixes related to auto-skip intros
• Various fixes to the profile pin feature
• Various fixes to rewinding and fast forwarding by holding down left and right
• Fix photos not showing in collections
• Fix top portion of home screen cut off when scrolling down (only on certain models)
• Increase allowed range of subtitle offset
• Fix parental rating multi-select filter
• Fix series status filter

Some models were on much older versions prior to this, and for those the list of changes will be much longer as it will incorporate a year's worth of development in some cases.

Here are the features Emby users say they can’t live without:

1. Active Development and Plugin Ecosystem

The Emby dev team has built a strong reputation for listening to users and delivering consistent improvements. Feature requests are often acknowledged in forums, and updates come regularly.

The Emby Plugin Catalog includes tools for metadata management, intro skipping, trakt.tv syncing, theme music, and more — making it easy to expand your setup.

“I’ve been using Emby for years and it just keeps getting better.” – Longtime Emby user

2. Emphasis on Privacy and Local Control

Unlike some competitors, Emby doesn’t force users into cloud integration or tracking services. Features like Trakt and others are optional, and you’re never required to give up control of your data.

“I love that I don’t have to use Emby Connect if I don’t want to. Everything runs locally.” – Reddit user

This focus on local-first architecture makes Emby a great option for privacy-conscious users who want full control over their media experience.

3. Customization and Theming

From custom libraries to visual themes, Emby offers a highly customizable user interface. Users can choose how metadata is displayed, organize content into rich collections, or apply unique visual themes and CSS tweaks.

“I themed my entire Emby setup to match my home theater — it looks amazing on the big screen.” – Reddit user

For families or multi-user households, Emby also supports user profiles with individual settings and parental controls.

4. Direct Play and Efficient Transcoding

Emby is built to take full advantage of Direct Play, reducing the need for CPU-intensive transcoding. For devices that require conversion, transcoding is efficient and can be customized for quality and bitrate.

“Transcoding just works. But on most of my devices, Emby just direct plays perfectly in original quality.” – Emby Forum Member

If you’re running a hardware-accelerated setup with Intel Quick Sync, NVIDIA NVENC, or AMD VCE, Emby can offload transcoding for better performance.

5. Live TV & DVR Integration

One of Emby's most appreciated features is its native support for Live TV and DVR. Whether you're using a TV tuner or loading an M3U playlist from an IPTV provider, Emby makes it easy to stream live television directly from your server.

“Emby’s DVR is rock solid. I use it to record sports and news shows—it works every time.” – Reddit user

With season pass recording, time-based scheduling, and automatic commercial skipping (with optional plugins), Emby turns your home server into a powerful personal PVR.

Bonus: Multi-Platform Support

From Android TV, Apple TV, and Firestick, to iOS, macOS, Windows, and even Linux, Emby has apps for nearly every device. And with Emby Theater, you get a lean-back experience optimized for the big screen.

Final Thoughts

What makes Emby stand out isn't just its feature list — it's the freedom and flexibility it offers to its users. Whether you’re building a streaming server for your family, archiving physical media, or curating a collection for your home theater, Emby puts you in charge.

Ready to try it yourself? Download Emby Server and see why so many users are making the switch.

• Support playback correction in the video player
• Support sleep timer in the audio player
• Support subtitle offset in the video player
• Support new youtube trailer playback (in the 4.9 server)
• Fix home top tabs not being translated

• The download feature is back !
• Improve performance
• Fixes for gamepad input
• Add playback option to disable direct play of various formats
• Add option to configure to login as specific user on startup
• Fix video rotation on Fire TV devices when direct playing
• Add convert unsupported audio option
• Play vtt subtitles directly without conversion from the server
• Support playback correction
• Add a-z picker to add to collection/playlist
• Fixes for closed caption rendering
• Fixes related to autoplay episodes options
• Add video screen up action option to control up button press behavior 
• Add option to control video player long press action

• Fix play next episode automatically option not being honored in certain situations

• Fix up next getting stuck in between episodes
• Fix channel number showing as undefined when a channel doesn't have a number
• Fix genres under music videos being empty

Why Switch from Plex to Emby?

Before we dive into the migration process, let’s highlight some key reasons why users prefer Emby over Plex:

• Greater Customization: Emby allows for more granular control over metadata, streaming quality, and transcoding.

• Privacy-Focused: Unlike Plex, Emby does not require an internet connection for local streaming.

• Better Integration with IPTV & Live TV: Emby offers superior support for IPTV playlists and tuners like HDHomeRun.

• Self-Hosting Benefits: You maintain full control over your server and user data.

Now that you know why Emby is a great alternative, let’s get started with the migration process.

Step 1: Install Emby Server

First, download and install Emby Server on your preferred device:

• Visit Emby’s official website and download the server software for your OS.

• Follow the installation instructions and set up your admin account.

• Once installed, access the Emby dashboard via your web browser. Typically at http://localhost:8096

Step 2: Prepping Your Media Files to move to Emby

Ensure your media files are well-organized before adding them to Emby. The ideal folder structure should be:

/Media
   /Movies
      /MovieName (Year)/MovieName (Year).ext
   /TV Shows
      /ShowName/Season X/ShowName - SXXEXX.ext

• If your Plex media is stored in a different location, move or copy it to your preferred location for Emby.

• Keeping the same structure ensures a smoother migration.

• Emby's media scanners will do a great job if not all of your movies or shows are organized in this fashion, but it definitely helps to have an organized and well structured media folder.

Step 3: Set Up Your Libraries in Emby

Now, it’s time to add your media to Emby:

• Open the Emby Server Dashboard.

• Navigate to Library > Add Media Library.

• Choose the appropriate content type (Movies, TV Shows, Music, etc.).

• Select the folder where your media is stored.

• Choose metadata providers (TheMovieDB, TheTVDB, etc.).

• Click Save and allow Emby to scan your library.

Step 4: Importing Watch History from Plex (Optional)

Emby doesn’t directly have a built-in tool for importing watch history from Plex, but you can use Trakt to sync your progress.

• Install and setup Trakt Scrobbler in Plex and sync your watch history.

• Link your Trakt account in Emby, allowing it to import your watch history.

• Run a scheduled task for importing playstates from Trakt. This should only have to be done once. 

Step 5: Configure Emby for Optimal Performance

To get the best experience, here are some begging tweaks to Emby’s settings that will help get the most out of your new media server:

• Sign up for Emby Premiere: While not required, Emby Premiere offers many benefits like hardware transcoding, offline downloads, Live TV DVR and more! 

• Enable Hardware Transcoding: Navigate to Dashboard > Transcoding and enable hardware acceleration for smoother playback.

• Set Up Remote Access: Under Network, configure remote access settings if you want to stream outside your home network.

• Fine-Tune Metadata Fetchers: Go to Library > Metadata and choose the best providers for accurate metadata.

Step 6: Install Emby Apps & Start Streaming

Emby is available on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and more. Download the Emby client app for your devices and start enjoying your media.

Final Thoughts

Migrating from Plex to Emby doesn’t have to be complicated. By following this step-by-step guide, you can transition smoothly while preserving your media organization and watch history. Emby offers a flexible and customizable media server experience, making it a fantastic choice for those who want more control over their media.

Are you ready to make the switch? Try Emby today and take your media streaming experience to the next level! As always, you will find unrivaled support from our users and staff over at the Emby Forums if you run into any issues or have any questions about this process.