# Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP for AI Agents AI Agent Connect > Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP lets you manage your self-hosted media library through your favorite AI client. You can browse movies, check what's playing, see your host status, and handle user permissions using just your voice or a text prompt. It turns your media collection into a searchable, interactive database for your AI. ## Overview - **Category:** loved-by-devs - **Price:** Free - **Endpoint:** https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_4cabjqy5fZJBpV6YThVzNkYvEGnRf5hc4dAPZFEO/ai-agent-connect - **Tags:** media-server, streaming, home-theater, self-hosted, video-streaming ## Description Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP connects your personal media host to your AI agent so you can manage your entire collection through natural conversation. Imagine you're trying to find that one obscure sci-fi movie from the 90s in your massive media library. Usually, you'd have to open a browser, log into your host, and scroll through endless rows of posters just to find what you want. It's a chore that breaks the flow of your evening. This Connector changes that by letting you just ask your AI for what you want. It knows what you have, where it's located, and what the descriptions say. It handles the heavy lifting of navigating your folders and pulling the right metadata so you don't have to. You can even check if your host is running correctly or see who's currently logged in without digging through admin panels. It makes your home theater feel like a smart system that actually listens to you. Getting this set up is a huge win for anyone who wants a cleaner way to interact with their personal media. When you add this to the Vinkius catalog, you're basically giving your AI a direct line to your home library. It's about getting to your content faster and spending less time clicking through menus. You can ask for specific genres, check your playback history, or get a summary of a show before you decide to watch it. It turns your collection into a searchable, interactive database that works through natural conversation. ## Tools ### get_playback_info Grab the data needed to start a new stream. This helps the agent know how to begin playing your content. ### list_users Show a full list of everyone with an account on your host. This is perfect for admins who need to audit access. ### authenticate_by_name Log in a specific user using their name and password. This lets the AI act on behalf of a specific account. ### get_current_user Pull details about the person currently logged in. Use this to see who is active on the system. ### get_item Fetch deep metadata for a specific movie, show, or song. It's great for getting full descriptions and unique IDs. ### list_items Query your entire library for specific titles. Use this to find exactly what you're looking for in your collection. ### list_virtual_folders See your top-level categories like Movies or TV Shows. It helps the AI understand the structure of your library. ### session_playing_progress Update the host on where a user is in a movie. This keeps the continue watching feature accurate. ### session_playing_stopped Tell the host that a movie or show has finished. It helps keep your playback history clean. ### session_playing Notify the host that a new stream has started. This lets the system know someone is currently watching. ### get_system_configuration View the global settings of your media host. Use this to check your overall system setup. ### get_system_info Pull basic stats like your OS and version number. It's the fastest way to check if your host is healthy. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` What's currently playing on my host? ``` **Response:** ``` You're currently watching **Stranger Things** on the living room device. You're about **45 minutes** into the episode. ``` **Prompt:** ``` Find some action movies in my library. ``` **Response:** ``` I found several action titles in your 'Movies' library: * **John Wick** * **Mad Max: Fury Road** * **Die Hard** Would you like the description for any of these? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Is my host running okay? ``` **Response:** ``` Your Jellyfin host is healthy. It's running version **10.9.11** on a Linux environment. All systems look good. ``` ## Capabilities ### Browse media libraries See what's in your movies, shows, and music folders instantly. ### Get item details Pull specific descriptions and IDs for any piece of media in your collection. ### Track playback See what's playing right now and how far along it is. ### Check host health View your operating system, version, and system configuration. ### Manage users List all accounts and authenticate specific users by name. ### Start and stop playback Tell your agent to begin or end a media session. ## Use Cases ### Finding a specific title A user asks for a 90s thriller; the agent uses list_items to find it and get_item to show the description. ### Checking host health A home labber asks if the host is up; the agent uses get_system_info to report the OS and version. ### Managing playback A user wants to know what's playing; the agent uses session_playing and session_playing_progress to report current status. ### Auditing users An admin asks who's on the system; the agent uses list_users to provide a full list of active accounts. ## Benefits - Stop digging through menus. Use list_items and list_virtual_folders to find content instantly without clicking through multiple library layers. - Get real-time health updates. Use get_system_info to check your host's OS and version status without leaving your chat window. - Precise playback tracking. Keep your watch history accurate by using session_playing_progress and session_playing_stopped to sync with the host. - Easy user management. Use list_users and authenticate_by_name to handle permissions and see who's active on your home theater. - Deep metadata access. Pull full descriptions and IDs for any title using get_item so your AI can give you better summaries of your collection. - Faster navigation. Use list_virtual_folders to let your AI understand your library structure, making it easier to find specific genres or categories. ## How It Works The bottom line is you get a conversational interface for your entire self-hosted media library. 1. Connect your host URL and API key in your AI client. 2. Ask your agent to list your libraries or find specific titles. 3. Get instant results and manage your playback status via chat. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Can I use the Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP with my own self-hosted library?** Yes, this Connector is designed specifically for self-hosted Jellyfin setups. It connects to your own host so you can manage your personal collection. **Does the Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP work with Netflix or other streaming apps?** No, this tool is for self-hosted media. It won't work with paid streaming services, only with your own Jellyfin library. **How does the Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP help me find my movies faster?** It lets your AI agent browse your folders and search titles for you. Instead of scrolling, you just ask the agent to find a specific genre or title. **Can I see who is logged into my Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) host?** Yes, the Connector can list all users on your host. This is great for admins who want to see who's currently accessing the media. **Does the Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP track my watch progress?** Yes, it can update the host on your current playback position. This helps ensure your continue watching list stays accurate across devices. **Is it hard to set up the Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP?** Not at all. You just need to provide your host URL and API key in your AI client, and you're ready to start chatting with your media. **Can I filter my library to only show Movies or Series?** Yes! Use the `list_items` tool and provide 'Movie' or 'Series' in the `include_item_types` parameter to filter your results accordingly. **How do I check if my Jellyfin server is running the latest version?** You can use the `get_system_info` tool. It returns the server version, operating system, and other vital system metrics. **Can I see all the root libraries configured on my server?** Absolutely. Run the `list_virtual_folders` tool to retrieve a list of all top-level libraries like Movies, TV Shows, and Music.