Self-hosting ReelVault
ReelVault is a media server you run yourself. It turns your folders of movies and shows into a library you can browse and stream — with posters, descriptions, subtitles and resume. This section is for anyone running or using their own server, and you do not need to be a programmer to follow it.
Two ways in
- I just want to watch. Install it, add your media, connect a device — then ignore everything about servers and settings.
- I run the server. The same steps, plus the clearly separated Administration group for configuration, remote access, backups and logs.
Quick start
Four steps take you from nothing to watching:
- Install & run — one command with Docker, or an installer for Windows and Linux.
- First-run setup — create your administrator account and first profile.
- Adding your media — point ReelVault at the folders that hold your files.
- Web & desktop clients — open it in a browser or the desktop app.
That is enough to start watching. Everything else is optional.
I just want to watch
- Adding your media — where your files live and how they get scanned.
- Naming your media — name files so they match correctly.
- Artwork & descriptions — how titles get posters, plots and ratings.
- Playback & quality — quality, subtitles, resume and skip markers.
- Users & profiles — separate viewing identities for a household.
- Installing plugins — extras like metadata sources and media requests.
- FAQ and the Glossary of plain-language terms.
I run the server
Everything in Administration is optional and aimed at whoever looks after the machine. You can safely skip it until you need it.
- Server configuration — the settings you can change from the admin panel.
- Remote access & TLS — reach the server from outside your home, safely.
- Backups & upgrades — protect your data and update without losing it.
- Background jobs — scanning, metadata refresh and other background work.
- Diagnostics & logs — dashboards, resources and logs.
- Transcoding & hardware — get the most out of your CPU or GPU.
- Run from source — for developers who want to build it themselves.
Where to go next
- What is ReelVault? — the plain-language overview of what it does and how the pieces fit.
- Develop — the SDK and writing plugins, for developers.
Getting help
- Something is wrong? Start with Troubleshooting and the FAQ.
- Found a bug or have an idea? Open an issue on the matching repository — see Reporting a bug.
- Spotted a mistake in these docs? Every page has an Edit this page on GitHub link at the bottom.