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:
Pause for 30 seconds, then resume. Lets the stream buffer on a slow
connection.
Check your quality setting is Auto/Max (see The one setting that
matters). This is the #1 cause of problems.
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.
Restart the app (fully close and reopen). Cures a surprising amount.
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.