Pick a guide and press play

Each guide walks you from your first login to watching or listening.

Welcome

What’s on the server, which app to use and how to ask for something new.

Plex

Accept your invite, install the app and start watching movies and TV shows.

Jellyfin

Sign in, pick an app and watch the same movies and shows without a Plex account.

Audiobookshelf

Sign in, install a listening app and start on audiobooks, podcasts and ebooks.

Where to go for each app

Bookmark these. When an app asks for a server address, this is what to type.

Plex

Movies and TV shows. Open app.plex.tv and sign in with the Plex account the admin invited.

Jellyfin

Movies and TV shows. Server address jelly.ourshelfmedia.com.

Audiobookshelf

Audiobooks, podcasts and ebooks. Server address audiobooks.ourshelfmedia.com.

Requests

Ask for new movies and shows at request.ourshelfmedia.com, signing in with Plex.

Have a question? Start here

Quick answers to the things people ask most. The guides go into more detail.

Getting started

Accounts, apps and your first login.

Requests

Asking for new movies, shows and books.

Help & trouble

When something doesn't work.

Which app should I use?

Plex and Jellyfin show the same movies and shows; Plex works on more devices, so start there. Audiobookshelf is for audiobooks, podcasts and ebooks. Watch progress is not shared between Plex and Jellyfin.

How do I get a Plex account?

Create a free account at plex.tv, then send the email address you used to the server admin. They invite your account and our libraries appear in Plex. You never need to pay for Plex to watch our library.

How do I get a Jellyfin or Audiobookshelf account?

The admin creates your account and sends you a username and temporary password. Sign in on the website first and change the password right away.

How do I ask for a movie or TV show?

Go to request.ourshelfmedia.com, sign in with your Plex account, search for the title and click Request. If you don't have a Plex account, ask the admin to request it for you. New titles usually appear within a day.

How do I ask for a book or audiobook?

Send the admin the title, the author and whether you want the audiobook, the ebook or both. New books show up in Audiobookshelf on their own, usually within a day.

An app says the server is unavailable

The server restarts for updates on Sunday mornings. Wait 10 minutes and try again. If it lasts longer, tell the admin.

Playback keeps buffering

Set the app's streaming quality to Original or Maximum on a good connection, or lower it one step for that video. On Wi-Fi, move closer to the router or use a wired connection for 4K.

Who do I contact for help?

Contact the server admin: {{ADMIN_CONTACT}}. Include the device and app you're using, what you were watching or listening to, and what you saw.