Jellyfin is a fully open-source media server and a popular alternative to Emby and Plex. It costs nothing, has no premium features locked behind subscriptions, and works great on Raspberry Pi systems. This article explains how to install Jellyfin, what it can be used for, and whether the Raspberry Pi is capable of transcoding video through Jellyfin.
Why Use Jellyfin on Raspberry Pi?
Jellyfin is ideal for Raspberry Pi users because it is:
- Free and open source
- Lightweight and runs well even on low-power hardware
- Flexible with plugins and customization
- Privacy-friendly (no cloud accounts required)
What You Need
- Raspberry Pi 3, 4, or 5 (Pi 4 and 5 recommended)
- Raspberry Pi OS Lite or Desktop (32-bit or 64-bit)
- External SSD/HDD or NAS for media storage
- Internet connection
How to Install Jellyfin on Raspberry Pi
Step 1: Update Your System
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
Step 2: Enable HTTPS Transport
sudo apt install apt-transport-https -y
Step 3: Add the Jellyfin Repository
curl -fsSL https://repo.jellyfin.org/debian/jellyfin_team.gpg.key | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/jellyfin.gpg >/dev/null
echo "deb [arch=$( dpkg --print-architecture )] https://repo.jellyfin.org/debian $(lsb_release -sc) main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jellyfin.list
sudo apt update
Step 4: Install Jellyfin
sudo apt install jellyfin -y
Step 5: Access the Jellyfin Web Interface
http://<em>your-pi-ip</em>:8096
Follow the setup wizard to add your media folders and create an admin account.
What Jellyfin Can Be Used For
- Streaming movies and shows to any device
- Managing music libraries
- Hosting photos
- Live TV & DVR (with tuner)
- Multiple user profiles
- Metadata downloads and artwork
- Plugins (intro skip, anime libraries, themes, etc.)
Can Raspberry Pi Transcode with Jellyfin?
Jellyfin is more flexible than Plex or Emby, but the Raspberry Pi still has limitations.
Raspberry Pi 3
- Underpowered for transcoding
- No practical transcoding support
- Best for direct play only
Raspberry Pi 4
- Decent CPU, but not strong enough for high-bitrate transcoding
- Software transcoding: Limited (480p or very light 720p)
- Hardware transcoding (h264_v4l2m2m): Experimental
- Direct play works well for most formats
Raspberry Pi 5
- Much improved CPU
- Software transcoding still not powerful enough for 1080p or 4K
- Hardware transcoding: Under development, not stable for production
- Excellent for direct streaming
Conclusion
Jellyfin runs extremely well on a Raspberry Pi, especially for users who direct-play their media. It is powerful, free, and customizable, making it one of the best media server options for Raspberry Pi owners. However, like all ARM-based devices, the Pi is not ideal for heavy transcoding—so keeping your media in compatible formats will give you the best experience.