Plugin: WatchingEye - Manage viewers

[bakes82 167]

On 11/18/2025 at 10:16 AM, Lessaj said:

I have retested 1.5.2.0 and the Resolution Blocking toast message is working properly now, but with confirmation button enabled it is still disappearing quickly on my phone and again on my Shield is stayed one time to press okay - it looks like when I relaunch the app that I'll get the confirmation dialogue one time, after that it's being automatically dismissed. I've yet to see it on my phone, I just see it disappearing.

youll never see it stay on the screen for more than a second or two unless it the web, the clients dont support it.

[Lessaj 467]

Just now, bakes82 said:

youll never see it stay on the screen for more than a second or two unless it the web, the clients dont support it.

Don't worry it's been resolved.

[bakes82 167]

2 minutes ago, Lessaj said:

Don't worry it's been resolved.

But its not lol, the client code doesnt support confirmation popups or setting the duration its hard coded client side

[Lessaj 467]

9 minutes ago, bakes82 said:

But its not lol, the client code doesnt support confirmation popups or setting the duration its hard coded client side

That's fine.

[DMazer 7]

I am running Emby Server on a SynologyNAS, I can't seem to figure out how to install this plugin.  I downloaded the .DLL you provided above, but am stuck on what to do next.  Sorry, new to plugins that don't appear available in the Emby app.

[yocker 1247]

5 hours ago, DMazer said:

I am running Emby Server on a SynologyNAS, I can't seem to figure out how to install this plugin.  I downloaded the .DLL you provided above, but am stuck on what to do next.  Sorry, new to plugins that don't appear available in the Emby app.

I don't own a Synology so sadly don't know where to put the DLL.
A bit of googling and it looks like you should put it in either /volume1/@appdata/EmbyServer/plugins or /volume1/Emby/plugins.

[DMazer 7]

12 hours ago, yocker said:

I don't own a Synology so sadly don't know where to put the DLL.
A bit of googling and it looks like you should put it in either /volume1/@appdata/EmbyServer/plugins or /volume1/Emby/plugins.

 

Thank you for the quick reply... While I don't know much about Linux/Unix and never used PuTTY or anything like it. After hours of internet digging, I managed to install PuTTY on my Windows PC machine, and tried coping it, but ran into issues and frustration.  Further digging, I found a file manager "Midnight Commander (MC) for SynologyNAS.  I managed to figure it out and this is what I did to get it installed in case someone else needs it in the future.... 

NOTE: I downloaded and installed Midnight Commander (MC) on the SynologyNAS to make it easier to copy the file to the right directory.

Download and install instructions for Midnight Commander:

Developer:  https://midnight-commander.org/
Cheat Sheet:  https://fekir.info/post/mc-cheat-sheet/
Install:  https://think.unblog.ch/en/how-to-install-midnight-commander-on-synology-nas/ 

Install "WatchingEye" on SynologyNAS

01. Download latest "WatchingEye.dll"
02. Copy "WatchingEye.dll" to Emby Server (Any folder you can reach from within PuTTY on the Server)
03. Launch PuTTY
04. Enter IP
05. Enter Port
06. Enter User ID 
07. Enter User PW
08. Follow these steps to allow Midnight Commander to work better with PuTTY:
     TYPE: echo "export NCURSES_NO_UTF8_ACS=1" >> ~/.bashrc source ~/.bashrc
09. Follow these steps if Midnight Commander does not work with your mouse:
     TYPE: echo "alias mc='TERM=linux mc -x'" >> ~/.bashrc source ~/.bashrc
10. TYPE: SUDO MC  (to launch Midnight Commander with ADMIN rights)
11. Enter ADMIN PW
12. Left Pane, Navigate to
     /volume1/<Your Folder where you put the saved "WatchingEye.dll" file>
13. Right Pane, Navigate to
     /var/packages/EmbyServer/~var/plugins
14. Left Pane, select "WatchingEye.dll"
15. Hit F5 (Copy), then hit ok to copy the file.
    NOTE: If prompted to overwrite existing file, do so.

Thank you again, I have been looking for something like this for a few years now. 

Edit:

After launching Emby, the "WatchingEye" doesn't appear in my Advance/Plugin section.  Did I miss something I needed to do.  Below is an image showing the file in my plugin directory.

 

Edited December 23, 2025 by DMazer

[Neminem 1518]

MidnightCommander is golden

It reminds me so much of Nortom commander from my MsDOES days  

[yocker 1247]

3 hours ago, DMazer said:

Thank you for the quick reply... While I don't know much about Linux/Unix and never used PuTTY or anything like it. After hours of internet digging, I managed to install PuTTY on my Windows PC machine, and tried coping it, but ran into issues and frustration.  Further digging, I found a file manager "Midnight Commander (MC) for SynologyNAS.  I managed to figure it out and this is what I did to get it installed in case someone else needs it in the future.... 

NOTE: I downloaded and installed Midnight Commander (MC) on the SynologyNAS to make it easier to copy the file to the right directory.

Download and install instructions for Midnight Commander:

Developer:  https://midnight-commander.org/
Cheat Sheet:  https://fekir.info/post/mc-cheat-sheet/
Install:  https://think.unblog.ch/en/how-to-install-midnight-commander-on-synology-nas/ 

Install "WatchingEye" on SynologyNAS

01. Download latest "WatchingEye.dll"
02. Copy "WatchingEye.dll" to Emby Server (Any folder you can reach from within PuTTY on the Server)
03. Launch PuTTY
04. Enter IP
05. Enter Port
06. Enter User ID 
07. Enter User PW
08. Follow these steps to allow Midnight Commander to work better with PuTTY:
     TYPE: echo "export NCURSES_NO_UTF8_ACS=1" >> ~/.bashrc source ~/.bashrc
09. Follow these steps if Midnight Commander does not work with your mouse:
     TYPE: echo "alias mc='TERM=linux mc -x'" >> ~/.bashrc source ~/.bashrc
10. TYPE: SUDO MC  (to launch Midnight Commander with ADMIN rights)
11. Enter ADMIN PW
12. Left Pane, Navigate to
     /volume1/<Your Folder where you put the saved "WatchingEye.dll" file>
13. Right Pane, Navigate to
     /var/packages/EmbyServer/~var/plugins
14. Left Pane, select "WatchingEye.dll"
15. Hit F5 (Copy), then hit ok to copy the file.
    NOTE: If prompted to overwrite existing file, do so.

Thank you again, I have been looking for something like this for a few years now. 

Edit:

After launching Emby, the "WatchingEye" doesn't appear in my Advance/Plugin section.  Did I miss something I needed to do.  Below is an image showing the file in my plugin directory.

 

Note: i know it says Emby Reporter (it's just me to lazy to change a logo on another plugin.  

It should show up if you press the plugins section.
Might be a permissions problems since it wasn't installed by Emby it self.
Usually 644 or 755 afaik.
The plugin should be compatible. You can try and enable debugging logs in Emby and send me a log and i will see if Emby finds it at all.

If i remember back to when i had a Synology NAS it had a file manager you might be able to use instead of putty.

I don't like the idea of having this (or at least this specific) plugin in the catalog as it looks to be popular with piracy servers and i don't want to make it too easy for them to get it..

Try asking in the Synology forum section how to install it.
Really sorry i can't be of more help, i don't own a Synology and last i did i never used it for anything but backup so i really don't know.  

Edit: In a bit of a desperation move i asked an AI:

To ensure Emby can actually "see" and execute the code within that DLL, follow these steps while still in PuTTY:

• Exit Midnight Commander (Press F10).

• Run this command to give ownership to the Emby service:

  Bash

  sudo chown emby:emby /var/packages/EmbyServer/var/plugins/WatchingEye.dll
  

• Run this command to set standard read/write permissions:

  Bash

  sudo chmod 644 /var/packages/EmbyServer/var/plugins/WatchingEye.dll

Edited December 23, 2025 by yocker

[DMazer 7]

23 hours ago, yocker said:

Edit: In a bit of a desperation move i asked an AI:

To ensure Emby can actually "see" and execute the code within that DLL, follow these steps while still in PuTTY:

• Exit Midnight Commander (Press F10).

• Run this command to give ownership to the Emby service:

  Bash

   

  sudo chown emby:emby /var/packages/EmbyServer/var/plugins/WatchingEye.dll
  

• Run this command to set standard read/write permissions:

  Bash

   

  sudo chmod 644 /var/packages/EmbyServer/var/plugins/WatchingEye.dll

That WORKED !!!  Thank you so much, it now shows up for me under Advanced/Plugins....

Now time to play with it....

[DMazer 7]

Not sure if this is a bug....

When I click "Enable Global Watch Time Rules"

Click on "Restrict playback to specific time windows per day"

Click the box for each day of the week and set the times to 8am to 00am, then click save, it doesn't seem to save the settings.  I also, tried another combination, like 8am to 11pm.

I was able to create "Specific Rules for individual users", but was hoping for a global rule.

Edited December 24, 2025 by DMazer

[yocker 1247]

Fixed it.
Settings were saved as they should, the settings page just failed to read the settings and reverted to default values.

Thanks for reporting it!  

WatchingEye.dll

Edited December 25, 2025 by yocker

[DMazer 7]

On 12/24/2025 at 11:03 PM, yocker said:

Fixed it.
Settings were saved as they should, the settings page just failed to read the settings and reverted to default values.

Thanks for reporting it!  

WatchingEye.dll 472 kB · 2 downloads

Working Great now, thank you !!!

[bandit8623 213]

will this be added to the emby plugins so i dont have to go to github? this could be considered a security issue? App looks great from what ive seen though.

[yocker 1247]

2 hours ago, bandit8623 said:

will this be added to the emby plugins so i dont have to go to github? this could be considered a security issue? App looks great from what ive seen though.

I'm a little worried that if i put it in the catalog that it would make even more use it for their paid piracy service servers.
It seems to be a rather popular plugin for them and i don't want it to be too easy for them to find the plugin, though i guess the cat is out of the bag on it anyway.

If people really want this and perhaps my other plugins there then i will for sure think about it.

Edited December 28, 2025 by yocker

[TrainAss 22]

Paid piracy service servers?

1 minute ago, yocker said:

I'm a little worried that if i put it in the catalog that it would make even moreuse it forr their paid piracy service servers.
It seems to be a rather popular plugin for them and i don't want it to be too easy for them to find the plugin, though i guess the cat is out of the bag on it anyway.

 

[yocker 1247]

3 minutes ago, TrainAss said:

Paid piracy service servers?

 

People who run Emby as a service they take money for access to a pirate library of movies.
The time limit feature added to the plugin for managing children's watch time seems to be really loved by them.

Making it possible for them to sell hours of access instead of just full access.

Edited December 28, 2025 by yocker

[yocker 1247]

@ebr Sorry for bothering you but would it even be possible for this plugin to get into the catalog because of what has just been discussed?
 

[DMazer 7]

Just a quick question.  I see we can set a limit on the number of minutes the family members can access Emby.  If I set a global setting so they all have the same minutes, is there a way to see how many  each member has left, before granting additional minutes.

Edited December 31, 2025 by DMazer

[yocker 1247]

Happy New years from Denmark

[blithewu12 0]

Is there a restriction on the version of Emby Server? I downloaded the dll file and placed it in the /volume1/docker/emby/config/plugins folder, but after restarting Emby Server, this plugin is not present.

[yocker 1247]

13 hours ago, blithewu12 said:

Is there a restriction on the version of Emby Server? I downloaded the dll file and placed it in the /volume1/docker/emby/config/plugins folder, but after restarting Emby Server, this plugin is not present.

On Synology devices you need to change the permission of the dll for Emby to be able to read it.

[PeteGul 37]

Hi

Is there an possibility to add a future for message to user if the streaming capacity is full?

If I have set the server to max 5 streams, and the 6. try to connect they would get a message? 

BTW, the message and kick out of paused to long. Is really nice thing

 

Thanks for good plugins!

[yocker 1247]

On 1/3/2026 at 7:28 PM, PeteGul said:

Hi

Is there an possibility to add a future for message to user if the streaming capacity is full?

If I have set the server to max 5 streams, and the 6. try to connect they would get a message? 

BTW, the message and kick out of paused to long. Is really nice thing

 

Thanks for good plugins!

I can look into it. No promises as so when since i'm rather busy with another project.

[DMazer 7]

Quick question.  I see we can set a limit on the number of minutes the family members can access Emby.  If I set a global setting so they all have the same minutes, is there a way to see how many  each member has left, before granting additional minutes.

I noticed, when I set a global setting (times emby can be active 8am to 00am (midnight)), and Minutes of 360 per family member), it worked fine.... however, I wanted to be able to see how many minutes they are using to see if I even needed to have that restriction... mainly to prevent someone from leaving it on all day/night long.  I didn't see a way to view the number of minutes by individual on the global setting.  So, I removed the minutes from a global setting and set it for each individual, as I noticed it shows 0/360 when I do.  However, the global setting of Times during the day no longer works.  So, it seems it doesn't like the global setting for Times to use and individual minutes to use. I hope I conveyed this correctly.   

Edited January 5 by DMazer