Third-party players
Many video apps, such as Infuse, SenPlayer, VidHub, Hills, Streamyfin and Findroid, were built for Emby or Jellyfin. Kryspal Media can answer them as if it were an Emby or Jellyfin server, so you keep your app and your libraries, artwork and watch progress work as usual. Emby’s and Jellyfin’s own official apps cannot connect.
On this page
Third-party player compatibility#
The server answers one third-party player protocol at a time. Choose it in the setup wizard on first start, or later under System → Settings → Third-party player compatibility. Whichever you choose, Kryspal's own web player and apps always work.
| Mode | For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd-party players for Emby (recommended) | Apps built for Emby: Infuse, SenPlayer, VidHub, Hills and others | If you used Emby before, your players need no changes |
| 3rd-party players for Jellyfin | Apps built for Jellyfin: Streamyfin, Findroid and others | Only the Jellyfin 12 protocol is supported. Use an app version that supports Jellyfin 12 |
| Off | Only the Kryspal web player and the admin console | No third-party player can connect |
- Pick one. The two protocols share some addresses and would interfere with each other if both were on.
- After you switch, players that are already connected must sign in again.
- Some apps, such as Infuse, support both Emby and Jellyfin. They work in either mode; choose the matching server type in the app.
Connect a player#
Add a server in the player and enter:
- Server type: Emby or Jellyfin, matching the mode above.
- Address: for example
http://192.168.1.10:<port>. The port is the HTTP port you set at install time. Do not add/embyor any other path.- At home, use the server's local IP address.
- Away from home, set up remote access first.
- Username and password: a member account on this server. Give each family member their own account, so watch progress, favorites and parental controls stay separate.
Many players can also find the server on your local network. Pick it from the list when it shows up. In the compose file, discovery (7359/udp) is off by default; see Install. If discovery gives players the wrong address (for example behind a Docker bridge network, or with several network cards), enter the right one, such as http://192.168.1.10:5797, in LAN discovery address under System settings → Network.
If the player cannot connect, check the third-party player compatibility setting, the address and the port first.
How playback works#
- The server does not transcode video. The player must be able to play the video codec directly. The server sends the file as it is (direct play), or repackages it as HLS when needed, without re-encoding audio or video.
- Audio is also sent as it is. If your player cannot decode an audio format (for example DTS or TrueHD on some TVs), handle it in the player or use a player that can.
- Subtitles are converted on the server into a format the player can read, including text encoding for text subtitles. Image-based subtitles such as PGS are passed through unchanged.
- For a Blu-ray ISO that meets the conditions in Blu-ray ISO in the browser, an external player is given a direct m2ts link to the main feature instead of the ISO file.
- For files on a cloud drive or remote streams (.strm), the server fetches them for you. The player still talks only to Kryspal Media.
Resume position, watched state and favorites are shared between third-party players and the Kryspal web player for the same member.
Players known to work#
These combinations are known to work.
| Player | Protocol | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Infuse | Emby | Browsing, playback, subtitles, resume, watched marks, skip intro and outro (PRO · MAX) |
| SenPlayer | Emby | Browsing, playback, subtitles, search, resume |
| Hills | Emby | Browsing, playback |
| Streamyfin, Findroid | Jellyfin 12 | Browsing, playback and resume work. Other clients usually work too |
Players not in this table that work with Emby or Jellyfin will often work too. If you hit a problem, report it with the player name and version.
Plan limits#
Third-party players count toward your plan's limits on members, devices and simultaneous streams, like the Kryspal web player.
- Each signed-in device counts as one, even if you switch members on it.
- Over a limit, the player can still sign in and browse. When you press play, it shows a short notice video of about 10 seconds that says which limit was exceeded.
- Skip intro and outro markers in third-party players need PRO · MAX.
Limits#
- No video transcoding. If a player cannot decode a codec (for example HEVC or AV1 on some older TVs), the server will not convert it. Use a player that can play it directly, or turn off "force transcoding" in the player's settings.
- Jellyfin 12 only. Older Jellyfin protocols are not supported.
- Emby-only add-ons and extensions are not supported, because they depend on Emby's own plugin endpoints.
- Not supported: playlists created only inside an app, live TV and recording, and music.
- Search in third-party players finds both titles and people. The order of results can differ slightly from Emby.