# Watching Movies & Shows

Apps, settings, and fixes for smooth streaming.

# Where you can watch

The service is called **Jellyfin** (that's the app you'll look for in app
stores). It works basically everywhere:

**In a web browser (easiest)**
Go to https://jellyfin.theduckynerdball.com and sign in. Works on any computer.

**On your phone or tablet**
Install the free **Jellyfin** app (App Store / Google Play). On first launch it
asks for a server address — enter:

```
https://jellyfin.theduckynerdball.com
```

Then sign in with your username and password.

**On a TV**
There's a free Jellyfin app for **Roku**, **Fire TV**, **Android TV / Google TV**,
and most smart TV platforms. Install it, and when it asks for the server address,
enter the same address as above, then your login.

Everything syncs — start a movie on the TV, finish it on your phone, and it
remembers where you were.

# The one setting that matters

Jellyfin apps have a **video quality** setting. Please **leave it on Auto or the
maximum setting** — don't turn it down.

This sounds backwards, but here's why: the server sends you the original file
as-is, and your device plays it directly. That's what makes the picture great.
When an app *asks for a lower quality*, it forces the server to convert the video
on the fly — which this server deliberately doesn't do. Turning quality *down*
is the thing most likely to cause stuttering or errors.

Where to check it:

- **TV / phone apps:** Settings → Playback → set quality options to Auto or Maximum.
- **Web browser:** during playback, the gear icon → Quality → Auto.

If your internet connection genuinely can't keep up with a big 4K file, the fix
is picking the regular HD version when one exists (see the next page), not
lowering the quality slider.

# Subtitles, audio tracks, and versions

**Subtitles and audio:** while something is playing, look for the
**speech-bubble icon** (subtitles) and the **audio-track icon**. Many files
include multiple languages and subtitle options — pick what you want, and the
app remembers your preference per show.

**Multiple versions:** some movies exist in the library in both 4K and regular
HD. If a 4K movie stutters on your connection or device, check whether the play
button offers a version choice and pick the 1080p one — same movie, smaller
stream.

**Skip credits / next episode:** series auto-advance to the next episode like
you'd expect.

# If playback misbehaves

Work down this list — it solves almost everything:

1. **Pause for 30 seconds**, then resume. Lets the stream buffer on a slow
   connection.
2. **Check your quality setting** is Auto/Max (see *The one setting that
   matters*). This is the #1 cause of problems.
3. **Try a different movie or episode.** If other things play fine, the problem
   is that specific file — tell Hayden ([CONTACT]) and he can fix or replace it.
4. **Restart the app** (fully close and reopen). Cures a surprising amount.
5. **Still broken?** Tell Hayden what device you're on, what you were watching,
   and what it did (error message, spinner, black screen). A photo of the screen
   helps.

One expectation to set: 4K files are enormous, and they're streaming out of a
house — not a data center. On hotel Wi-Fi or a weak connection, prefer the HD
version and it'll be smooth.