How to Install Jellyfin Plugins

You can add new Jellyfin plugins either the easy way—using the built-in plugin catalog—or the hands-on way by installing them manually.

Using the Built-in Plugin System (Recommended)

Access the Dashboard

Start by opening your Jellyfin web interface and heading into the Dashboard. You can access it by clicking the hamburger menu in the top-left corner, then selecting “Admin” or “Dashboard.”

This is your main control hub, where you manage everything from libraries to users—and of course, plugins.

Once you're inside, you’ll have full access to all the tools Jellyfin offers, making it the perfect starting point before installing or customizing any plugin.

Go to Plugins

Once you're inside the Dashboard, scroll down to the Advanced section and look for the “Plugins” option. This is where all the magic happens.

Clicking on it opens the dedicated plugin area, giving you access to installation tools, catalogs, repositories, and everything you need to expand your Jellyfin server's capabilities.

Add Repositories

If the plugin you want doesn’t appear in Jellyfin’s default catalog, no worries—you can add a custom repository. Just head over to the “Repositories” tab inside the Plugins section.

Click the “+” button to add a new source, then paste the raw JSON URL of the repository (you’ll usually find this on the plugin’s GitHub page).

Give the repo a clear name so you can recognize it later, hit “Save,” and Jellyfin will instantly pull in the new plugin list for you. This opens the door to community-made plugins and advanced add-ons that aren’t included by default.

Install from Catalog

To install a plugin from the built-in catalog, head over to the “Catalog” tab inside the Plugins section. Here you’ll find a curated list of official and compatible plugins.

You can scroll through the categories or use the search bar if you already know what you’re looking for. Once you spot the plugin you want, click on it to open its details page, review what it does, and then hit the “Install” button.

Jellyfin will take care of the setup automatically, making the whole process quick and hassle-free.

Restart Jellyfin

After installing a plugin, Jellyfin usually needs a quick restart to activate it properly. Think of it as refreshing the engine so the new features can kick in.

Simply restart your Jellyfin server from the Dashboard, or stop and start the service if you’re running it on a NAS, Docker, or VPS. Once it comes back online, the plugin will load with full functionality, ready for you to use.

Manual Installation

Download the Plugin

Start by downloading the plugin files you want to install manually. Most Jellyfin plugins are shared as compressed releases on GitHub, typically packaged as .zip files containing a .dll or a .jellyfin plugin bundle.

Head to the plugin’s GitHub page, open the “Releases” section, and download the latest version that matches your Jellyfin server version.

After downloading, extract the contents if needed—some plugins require unzipping before installation. These extracted files are what you’ll place inside Jellyfin’s plugin directory for manual installation.

Locate Plugin Directory

Next, you’ll need to locate your Jellyfin server’s plugin directory—the place where all manually installed plugins live. The exact path depends on how and where you installed Jellyfin.

For example, on many Linux systems you’ll find it at /var/lib/jellyfin/plugins/, while Windows installs usually store it under the Jellyfin data folder inside AppData.

Docker setups have their own mapped volume for plugins, typically defined in your compose file.

Once you find this directory, you’ll have a dedicated spot to drop in any manually downloaded plugin files so Jellyfin can detect and load them on the next restart.

Copy Plugin Files

Once you’ve found the correct plugin directory, go ahead and copy the extracted plugin files into it. 

Make sure you place the files exactly as provided—some plugins come with their own folder structure, and keeping it intact helps Jellyfin recognize the plugin without issues.

After copying, the plugin is essentially “installed” on the file system and just needs a server restart to become active.

Restart Jellyfin

After copying the plugin files, restart your Jellyfin server to activate them. A restart forces Jellyfin to rescan the plugin directory, detect the new files, and load the plugin properly.

Once the server is back online, the plugin should appear under your Installed Plugins section, ready to configure and use.

Summary

Jellyfin lets you install plugins in two ways: through the built-in plugin system or by manually placing plugin files in the server’s plugin directory.

The built-in method is the easiest. You open the Dashboard, go to the Plugins section, and install plugins directly from the Catalog. If a plugin isn’t listed, you can add a custom repository by pasting its raw JSON URL. Once installed, a quick restart of Jellyfin activates the plugin.

The manual method gives you more control. You download the plugin files from GitHub, extract them if needed, locate your Jellyfin plugin directory, and copy the files into it. After a restart, Jellyfin detects the new plugin and loads it automatically.

In short: use the catalog for convenience, and manual installation when you want more flexibility or access to community-made plugins.