Jellyfin Synology: Ultimate Guide to Setup, Features & Media Streaming on NAS

Frank 6 hours ago

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Table of Contents

Introduction: Why Use Jellyfin on Synology NAS?

If you’re looking for a powerful, open-source media server for your Synology NAS, Jellyfin Synology is an unbeatable choice. Jellyfin is a free and fully open-source alternative to Plex and Emby. It allows you to manage, stream, and share your media collection from your NAS across devices — with no subscription fees, no data tracking, and full customization.

Synology NAS devices are already a popular solution for personal cloud storage and backups. Pairing your Synology with Jellyfin creates a robust home entertainment hub that gives you full control over your movies, TV shows, music, and more — all accessible from anywhere.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using Jellyfin Synology:

What Jellyfin is and why it stands out
Step-by-step installation on Synology
Setting up media libraries and user access
Streaming features and device compatibility
Performance tips and best practices

Let’s dive into the ultimate tutorial for getting Jellyfin running on your Synology NAS.

What is Jellyfin?

Jellyfin is a community-driven, free, and open-source media server software. It was forked from Emby when it turned proprietary. Jellyfin gives you full control over your media with no licensing restrictions, usage limits, or hidden charges.

Key Features:

Live TV and DVR capabilities
Multi-user support with parental controls
Rich metadata and automatic media fetching
Support for external players (e.g., VLC, Kodi)
Native apps for Android, iOS, Roku, Fire TV, Smart TVs, and web browsers
Streaming over the local network or internet
Plugins and customization options

When combined with the reliability of a Synology NAS, Jellyfin becomes a powerful, private, and scalable media server solution.

Benefits of Running Jellyfin on Synology NAS

1. Always-On Media Server

Synology NAS devices are energy-efficient and designed to run 24/7, making them perfect for hosting Jellyfin.

2. Private & Secure Streaming

Since Jellyfin is self-hosted, your media never leaves your network unless you want it to. You control access, security, and privacy.

3. Centralized Library Management

Store all your videos, photos, and music in one central location and access them from multiple devices.

4. Easy Backup & RAID Protection

Your Synology NAS can be configured for RAID, automatic backups, and snapshots — ensuring your media is safe from disk failure.

How to Install Jellyfin on Synology NAS

Installing Jellyfin on Synology isn’t as straightforward as Plex (which is in the Synology Package Center), but it’s still simple using Docker. Here’s a full walkthrough.

Step 1: Prepare Your Synology NAS

Make sure your Synology:

Is powered on and updated
Has Docker installed (available in Package Center for compatible models)
Has a shared folder ready for media (e.g., /volume1/media)

Step 2: Install Docker

Open Package Center.
Search for and install Docker.
After installation, open the Docker app.

Step 3: Download the Jellyfin Docker Image

Go to Registry inside Docker.
Search for jellyfin/jellyfin.
Click Download (choose latest or stable version).

Wait for the download to complete in the Image tab.

Step 4: Create a Jellyfin Container

Go to Image, select jellyfin/jellyfin, and click Launch.
Name the container (e.g., jellyfin).
Under Advanced Settings, enable:
- Auto-restart
- Volume Mapping:
  - /config → /volume1/docker/jellyfin/config
  - /cache → /volume1/docker/jellyfin/cache
  - /media → /volume1/media (your actual media location)
- Port Settings:
  - Local port: 8096 (default Jellyfin port)
Click Apply and then Next to run the container.

You can now access Jellyfin via:

Setting Up Jellyfin on First Run

Step 1: Language and Admin Setup

Choose your language
Set up the administrator account with username and password

Step 2: Add Media Libraries

Choose library type (Movies, TV Shows, Music)
Select folder paths (use /media/movies, /media/tv, etc.)
Customize naming formats and metadata options

Step 3: Configure Remote Access

Set up remote access (optional)
You can port forward 8096 on your router or use Synology DDNS

Step 4: Finish Setup

Jellyfin will start indexing your media.
You’ll see beautiful posters, details, and playback options.

How to Stream with Jellyfin Synology

Jellyfin supports:

Web browser streaming
Mobile apps for Android and iOS
Smart TV apps
Media players (VLC, Kodi, MPV)
Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV (via community apps)

You can access your Jellyfin Synology server at home or remotely (with secure port forwarding or VPN).

Transcoding Support

Your NAS hardware plays a role here. More powerful Synology models with Intel or AMD CPUs (or GPU support) can transcode on the fly. Lighter models may need media to be pre-encoded in compatible formats.

Best Practices for Jellyfin on Synology

1. Use Proper File Naming

For accurate metadata, name your files like:

Movie.Name.2023.mkv
Show.Name.S01E01.mkv

2. Use External Metadata (Optional)

You can download metadata locally or use Jellyfin’s built-in scrapers for automatic fetching.

3. Backup Your Configuration

Use Synology’s Hyper Backup to back up /docker/jellyfin folder regularly.

4. Use HTTPS

For secure remote access, set up HTTPS using a reverse proxy via Synology DSM or Let’s Encrypt.

5. Monitor Performance

Use Synology’s Resource Monitor to ensure Jellyfin doesn’t overwhelm your CPU or RAM. Limit concurrent streams if needed.

jellyfin synology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is Jellyfin available in the Synology Package Center?

No, Jellyfin isn’t available directly in Synology’s Package Center. It must be installed via Docker.

Q2: Can Jellyfin transcode media on Synology NAS?

Yes, but performance depends on your NAS model. Higher-end models can handle real-time transcoding better.

Q3: Does Jellyfin support remote streaming?

Yes, with port forwarding or VPN, you can stream your media remotely.

Q4: Is Jellyfin better than Plex or Emby on Synology?

Jellyfin is ideal if you want complete control and zero subscription fees. Plex offers more polish but often requires paid features.

Q5: How do I update Jellyfin on Synology?

Stop the container
Delete it (data stays safe in mapped volume)
Pull the latest Docker image
Create a new container using the same volume mappings

Q6: Can I run Jellyfin without Docker on Synology?

Some advanced users install Jellyfin via chroot or SynoCommunity packages, but Docker is the recommended and easiest method.

Q7: Is my media library secure with Jellyfin Synology?

Yes. As long as your NAS is secured with strong passwords, firewalls, and SSL, your data is private and safe.

Conclusion

Jellyfin Synology is the ultimate free solution for managing and streaming your personal media library. It’s a feature-rich, open-source media server that integrates beautifully with Synology NAS hardware. With Jellyfin, you get a fast, flexible, and private home media hub that rivals paid platforms — all while keeping your content under your control.

While the installation process may seem technical at first, this guide breaks it down step-by-step. Once set up, Jellyfin will serve your movies, music, and TV shows across all your devices — without ads, fees, or third-party tracking.