Want to watch the films and music on your PC from the TV, phone or tablet? Emby Server organizes media from folders on a Windows PC and streams it to supported devices through Emby apps or a web browser.
Add folders to the media library
Use the server dashboard to create libraries and point them to folders containing your media. Emby scans the files and arranges them into browsable collections, so movies, television episodes, music, photos, and personal videos can be managed from the same server.
For supported titles, metadata matching can add details such as artwork, summaries, and episode information. The resulting library is presented with titles and images instead of requiring viewers to navigate the original folder structure.
Stream the library to other devices
The Windows computer hosts the server while viewers access its library through Emby apps or a browser.
When a playback device cannot handle a media file in its original format, Emby can transcode the stream into a compatible format.
Set up the server and user access
After starting the server, open its setup wizard in a browser. It normally launches automatically; if it does not, visit http://localhost:8096 on the server computer. The dashboard is also where an administrator can manage users and control access to the library.
- Create separate accounts for people who use the server.
- Choose which library content each account can access.
- For a portable setup, extract the matching Windows x86 or x64 package and run EmbyServer.exe from its System folder.
Pros
- Organizes movies, shows, music, photos, and home videos
- Streams a shared library to Emby apps and browsers
- Provides a dashboard for managing user accounts and access
System requirements: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11
Where do the media files stay?
The files remain in folders on the computer hosting Emby Server. The server organizes and streams them from there.
Can people use separate accounts?
Yes. The dashboard lets an administrator create user accounts and manage their access to library content.
How do I open the setup wizard?
Use a browser on the server computer to visit http://localhost:8096 if the wizard does not open automatically.
