How to Use the Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP in Claude

Control your self-hosted media library and track active streams directly from your Claude Desktop chat.

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Connect Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP to Claude Desktop

Create your Vinkius account to connect Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) to Claude Desktop and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) with Claude Desktop

Ask AI about this MCP

ChatGPT

Claude

Perplexity

Browse media libraries inside Claude Desktop

`list_items` queries your movie, show, or music libraries so your agent can find media without you opening a browser tab using this MCP Server. Your agent calls `list_virtual_folders` to map out your root directories like Movies or TV Shows. It then pulls detailed metadata for any specific file using `get_item` to display release years, runtimes, or episode details.

Track active playback sessions in your chat

`session_playing` tells your local server when a media stream starts so you can monitor active playback. As the stream runs, the agent uses `session_playing_progress` to update the server on the exact playback position. Once the file ends, `session_playing_stopped` shuts down the session tracking to keep your server dashboard clean.

Inspect server configuration from Claude Desktop

`get_system_configuration` pulls your global server settings directly into your workspace to check transcoding or network rules. This MCP Server lets your agent analyze system preferences without you logging into the admin dashboard. The agent also calls `get_system_info` to grab the server version and operating system details.

Setup guide

Set up Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP in Claude Web or Desktop

1

Open Claude Settings

Go to claude.ai, click your profile icon, then navigate to Customize → Connectors.
2

Add Custom Connector

Click the "+" button and select Add custom connector. Paste your Vinkius endpoint URL: https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com. For OAuth-protected servers, expand Advanced settings to add credentials.
3

Start a conversation

Open a new chat. The Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP tools are available immediately — no restart needed.

Endpoint URL

https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

No configuration file needed — paste the URL directly in the Claude web interface.

Available on Free (1 connector), Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans.

Prerequisites

Claude Desktop installed (macOS or Windows)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open Claude Desktop Settings

Click the menu icon at the top-left corner, go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json in your default text editor.
2

Paste the Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP configuration

Copy the JSON snippet on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Desktop

Close and reopen the application. Claude needs a full restart to load new MCPs — refreshing a conversation is not enough.
4

Verify the connection

Open a new conversation. Click the 🔌 icon at the bottom of the message input. You should see tools listed under jellyfin-plex-alternative-mcp.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "jellyfin-plex-alternative-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Jellyfin. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about Jellyfin (Plex Alternative) MCP in Claude Desktop

Ask your agent to find a specific title or genre directly in the chat window. The agent uses `list_items` to scan your libraries and returns matching media files. You get back the exact titles, release dates, and file paths without leaving the app.

Yes, your agent tracks live streams using playback monitoring tools. It listens for status changes via `session_playing` and updates the server on progress. This gives you a real-time view of what is playing on your home network.

Yes, if you are logged in as an administrator. Your agent runs `list_users` to pull the complete list of registered accounts on your server. You can audit active users and check their profiles directly from the chat prompt.

You provide your username and password to your agent, which runs `authenticate_by_name`. The server returns an active session token that authorizes all subsequent library queries. This token keeps your agent connected without requiring manual API key generation.

Your password and session tokens stay inside your local Claude Desktop configuration file. The desktop app handles these credentials locally and sends them directly to your self-hosted server over an encrypted connection. No third-party servers ever touch your login details or media metadata.

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