+- Jellyfin Forum (https://forum.jellyfin.org)
+-- Forum: Support (https://forum.jellyfin.org/f-support)
+--- Forum: Troubleshooting (https://forum.jellyfin.org/f-troubleshooting)
+--- Thread: I feel like I've wasted my time with jellyfin (/t-i-feel-like-i-ve-wasted-my-time-with-jellyfin)
Pages:
1
2
I feel like I've wasted my time with jellyfin - kotton - 2025-09-16
After 2 days of getting Jellyfin and Tailscale working remotely I've now discovered that I can't cast remotely to chromecast, which was the whole point of my setup.
I have a chromecast attached to a monitor at work and have been streaming from my home NAS to an Android phone and casting to it for years.
Now that I have better internet I am casting higher quality video and I've upgraded my home setup. So, I thought I'd use Jellyfin in case I needed transcoding and to get a better experience that I have previously, which wad just using a file browser to connect to my NAS and playing the files on my phone with VLC player and streaming that to my chromecast.
Now. Jellyfin runs perfectly on my phone at work and I can connect to the chromecast no problem. I get a screen saying 'Ready to cast' but when I hit play, literally nothing happens on the phone or the chromecast.
I've tried searching for the answer and have discovered that it's an issue many people have, but I can't seem to find a solution.
I'm amazed and really disappointed that this is still an issue and I feel like I've wasted my time.
I'm not a programmer or a tech wiz, I'm just able to follow guides etc.
I really like Jellyfin and I'd like to keep using it. I'd really appreciate some help.
RE: I feel like I've wasted my time with jellyfin - bitmap - 2025-09-16
Isn't casting dependent upon being on the same network as the device in question? If your phone is on the tailscale network, while the Chromecast is not, it's not gonna work. That's not a Jellyfin issue, that's a networking problem. Why not go with a reverse proxy, which should allow you to do what you're hoping for?
RE: I feel like I've wasted my time with jellyfin - kotton - 2025-09-16
I've no idea what a reverse proxy is?
RE: I feel like I've wasted my time with jellyfin - bitmap - 2025-09-16
A reverse proxy can route a subdomain to the correct service, e.g., Jellyfin.
https://jellyfin.org/docs/general/post-install/networking/reverse-proxy/
You'd have to get a domain name or use a service like DuckDNS to get a free one.
RE: I feel like I've wasted my time with jellyfin - kotton - 2025-09-16
Can I just ditch tailscale and connect to jellyfin remotely?
RE: I feel like I've wasted my time with jellyfin - FistRockbone - 2025-09-16
(2025-09-16, 01:55 AM)kotton Wrote: Can I just ditch tailscale and connect to jellyfin remotely?
What country are you in ?
Why do you think you need tailscale ?
RE: I feel like I've wasted my time with jellyfin - kotton - 2025-09-16
(2025-09-16, 08:47 AM)FistRockbone Wrote:(2025-09-16, 01:55 AM)kotton Wrote: Can I just ditch tailscale and connect to jellyfin remotely?
What country are you in ?
Why do you think you need tailscale ?
Australia
I read it was the best way to use it and was advised on another forum.
It's just me and one other person using it. Both remotely and both with chromecast.
I could probably work out the reverse proxy thing. AI google searches are pretty good with instructions.
RE: I feel like I've wasted my time with jellyfin - bitmap - 2025-09-16
You essentially have three options for remote access with Jellyfin. The most secure is a VPN (e.g., Tailscale, Wireguard) but there are drawbacks, as you've encountered. The least secure, and NOT recommended, is port forwarding. The best option for most use cases is a reverse proxy, which gets rid of the VPN and proxies traffic to your server. There are a lot of options for reverse proxies, including nginx, SWAG (nginx + LetsEncrypt + certbot), Caddy, and NPM (nginx proxy manager).
A RP would replace Tailscale as the secure portion of your setup. You need the RP itself, a config for it, an SSL cert, and a domain to access the server remotely (or something free like DuckDNS).
RE: I feel like I've wasted my time with jellyfin - FistRockbone - 2025-09-16
(2025-09-16, 08:59 AM)kotton Wrote:(2025-09-16, 08:47 AM)FistRockbone Wrote:(2025-09-16, 01:55 AM)kotton Wrote: Can I just ditch tailscale and connect to jellyfin remotely?
What country are you in ?
Why do you think you need tailscale ?
Australia
I read it was the best way to use it and was advised on another forum.
It's just me and one other person using it. Both remotely and both with chromecast.
I could probably work out the reverse proxy thing. AI google searches are pretty good with instructions.
If it's just you and another person using it then you don't need it. I'm in the UK and use Jellyfin on my Synology NAS, Fire TV and my iPhone (via Swiftfin) and I've never used it.
I've got the port open on my NAS as well and I've never had any problems after 12+ years of use, which includes using Jellyfin, Plex and Emby for varying degrees of time as well.
Obviously this doesn't go down well with the "I'm merely seconds away from getting hacked" crowd but I don't care.
I don't know what NAS you have but if it's a Synology then you only need some basic security precautions to be perfectly fine.
RE: I feel like I've wasted my time with jellyfin - KodiUser1138 - 2025-09-16
https://forum.jellyfin.org/t-how-to-reverse-proxy-jellyfin-with-caddy-on-docker-beginner-friendly
That thread will explain in fairly easy to follow instructions on how to setup a reverse proxy using a free dns. This is Windows based so unsure if that is what you are running your server on but for me this was game changing. Previously I had outside LAN access through my direct IP so sharing that with others was complicated. Now it's simple. It might take a bit of re-watching to follow along the steps but it beomes super worth it. And you don't needto use the free dns option if you have a domain already or want to go the paid route for one. I believe that member has some other tutorials as well that might better suit your setup if this one isn't the correct fit.
If others have other suggestions for a similar process and experience I'm happy to check those out for myself so suggest away.
Once you have outside LAN access to your server there are many options to use Jellyfin on what ever display you are trying to. It sounds like you havea TV setup for your viewing. If it has android built in there isa a Jellyfin app that can run directly in the TV and no need to use your phone. If it's not a "smart" tv then there are a plethora of simple cheap devices that plugin to you TV and give it that function, again removing your phone (and casting) from the equation.
If you are dead set on using casting I have no experience with that but I wouldn't bother myself either if the end display is a constant static unit. Connect directly to the source and not have to worry after that. And works for all the friends, family and random people you want to give access to your server with.