If you have a large collection of local video and music files that you want to access from all your devices without relying on streaming services like Netflix and Spotify, setting up your own home media server is the right solution. 24 Channels He’s put together a step-by-step guide on how to set up your own home media server using popular programs like Plex or Media Browser.

Step 1: Prepare your media files

The first thing you should do is collect all your media files that you plan to make available to different gadgets in one place. Gather all your favorite music, a collection of movies and TV shows, and all your important family photos from discs and flash drives. Make sure all your media files are organized and stored in one place that you can easily access: somewhere on your computer, an external hard drive, or a completely separate storage.

Step 2: Choose a media server management software

There are several options for media server software, but the most popular are: plex And Media Browser. Both of these options offer servers that can be installed on desktop computers, laptops, NAS devices or dedicated home servers. Plex and Media Browser also offer clients for web interfaces for various devices such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Chromecast, smartphones, tablets and other devices.

Plex offers a more comprehensive set of apps for a variety of devices, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Fire TV support, but some of its services require subscriptions; For example, the Plex app for iOS is $5, while the Xbox and PlayStation apps also require a $5 a month “Plex Pass” subscription.

On the other hand, Media Browser and its applications are completely free but do not support PlayStation or Xbox.

Step 3: Server setup and software installation

After choosing your media server software, you need to set up the server on your chosen system. Install Plex, Media Browser or another program and configure it to specify the location of your media files. Both Plex and Media Browser offer additional account systems that make it easy to log into mobile and TV apps and remotely connect to your server over the Internet.

Next, install the appropriate programs on your TV set-top boxes, smartphones and tablets. This part is pretty easy – just download and install the app from the respective store and log in to your account. If you have a Chromecast, you can install the appropriate app on your smartphone and use it to stream media directly to the Chromecast without having to install a special app on your TV.

Step 4: Set up your main server

You will need a special device to run your own home media server. This can be a desktop computer, laptop or low-power NAS device with a large hard drive to store media files. If you are using a desktop PC or laptop, you can install the program on your current computer and access the server while the computer is running. Alternatively, you can install a dedicated server system where the server software will run continuously and will even allow you to access the media server remotely over the Internet.

Step 5: Start streaming media

Once everything is set, you can start streaming your media to all your devices. Use the apps installed on your TV set-top boxes, smartphones and tablets to access your media files from your home media server.

You will be able to view videos, music and photos using the appropriate Plex or Media Browser interfaces.

Conclusion

Creating a home media server will be an interesting and useful project that will allow you to centralize and optimize your media collection for convenient streaming on different devices. By following these steps, you can create a personalized media server that meets your specific needs.

A well-designed home media server provides unhindered access to your media library and frees you from the need to carry flash drives or look for other ways to exchange data between home devices. You will also be able to store important information in one place, which will increase the amount of free space on your family members’ smartphones.