Windows Service Installation?

[macromark]

I've been trying to find some documentation on running Jellyfin as a Windows service but I can't find anything. Is there something posted somewhere?

If not, this is my experience so far: I installed Jellyfin as a service. The service does appear in the services app but does not run by default, even though it's set for "Automatic delayed start". Changed that to just "Automatic" but it still does not start by itself. When I start it manually, it runs. After starting it, there's no obvious way to access JF. Do I also need to start the system tray app? assume so... Anyway, looking for a little help.

[tmsrxzar]

accessing jellyfin is always through the browser, http://127.0.0.1:8096 (or however you configured the server listen ip/port)

[TheDreadPirate]

IIRC, you need to edit the service and provide it with different credentials to run as.

[macromark]

accessing jellyfin is always through the browser, http://127.0.0.1:8096 (or however you configured the server listen ip/port)

Thanks. To clarify, do you mean changing this setting?

https://imgur.com/a/B2Vp5th

Do I need to create a new Windows user account for this? sorry if these questions annoy...

[TheDreadPirate]

Yes. I don't know what people typically use or what you're supposed to use. A user that has access to ffmpeg and your media.

If I were to do a service install I would use my user's credentials. Someone feel free to correct me if this is "the wrong way", but that's what I'd do.

[tmsrxzar]

i can see you are very new to this so the best thing i can offer is the documentation; https://jellyfin.org/docs
it's not feasible to answer every question just to have it give birth to a new how-to guide when the guides are already written

according to the doc installation as a service should be reserved for advanced users and is not recommended for new users; https://jellyfin.org/docs/general/installation/windows

i concur with TDP that you would select your own user to run jellyfin as a service, i could not find an answer for this in the doc which probably means it's up to the user to decide (/advanced user)

[macromark]

Yes.  I don't know what people typically use or what you're supposed to use.  A user that has access to ffmpeg and your media.

If I were to do a service install I would use my user's credentials.  Someone feel free to correct me if this is "the wrong way", but that's what I'd do.

After I posted above, I found a 3 year old post on Reddit and included basically the same instructions. Tried it and works perfectly now. Thanks for your help!

i can see you are very new to this so the best thing i can offer is the documentation; https://jellyfin.org/docs
it's not feasible to answer every question just to have it give birth to a new how-to guide when the guides are already written

according to the doc installation as a service should be reserved for advanced users and is not recommended for new users; https://jellyfin.org/docs/general/installation/windows

i concur with TDP that you would select your own user to run jellyfin as a service, i could not find an answer for this in the doc which probably means it's up to the user to decide (/advanced user)

Appreciate your post. FWIW, I did try docs first and found the Windows installation doc too but nothing that was specific to running JF as a Windows service. In my case I'm currently also running Plex as a service and there are plenty of "how tos" on doing that.

Here's the Reddit post that helped me out:

This worked for me after changing the service to Logon with the user that added the share.
Steps to reproduce.

1. Add network share on This PC \\192.168.1.100\Movies
   
2. Go to "Services". Find "Jellyfin Server" service. Right Click on the service go to "Properties". Switch to "Log On" tab. Make sure "This account..." is selected and press "Browse". Find your acccount by typing the username and click "Check names". Select it and press OK. Hit Appy, then OK (you may be told to restart service)
   
3. Restart service
   

Now going to the add the folder in Jellyfin dashboard you need to use fully qualified path like:
\\192.168.1.100\Movies
This took some poking around to get working but I thought sharing step by step may help others