How to Set Up a Jellyfin or WebDAV Server for Davvy
Your videos, your server, your player. Start with one folder and one video, then build a library you can watch in Davvy.
Start here: choose Jellyfin if you want a server that organises films and TV shows. Choose WebDAV if you want to share an existing folder. You only need one. This guide gets a server working at home, then connects it to Davvy.
Jellyfin or WebDAV: which should you choose?
A server is simply the computer or NAS that stores and shares your videos. Davvy is the player on your iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV. Installing the player does not create a server or supply a film library.
| Choose | When it suits you | What you set up |
|---|---|---|
| Jellyfin | You want a managed film and TV library with server-provided artwork and watch progress. | The Jellyfin Server app, media libraries and a user account. |
| WebDAV | Your videos are already in folders and you want direct file access. | A WebDAV service, a shared folder and login credentials. |
For a first server without command-line work, start with Jellyfin. The WebDAV walkthrough below uses Terminal on a Mac. If your NAS already offers WebDAV, you can use that service instead and skip to Davvy's connection settings.
What you need before starting
- A computer that can stay switched on and awake while you watch. Start with hardware you already own.
- A small folder containing a video you own or are authorised to stream. A short home video is a useful first test.
- The server and playback device on the same trusted home network. Guest Wi-Fi may prevent devices from reaching each other.
- A current version of Davvy. See its App Store listing for device requirements.
Keep a separate backup of important files. A media server shares files; it does not replace a backup.
Option A: set up a Jellyfin server
1. Install the server on your computer
Windows: download the current Jellyfin Server installer from the official Windows installation guide and run it. Use the normal installation for this first setup. Once it is running, open http://localhost:8096 in a browser on that computer.
Mac: get the appropriate DMG from the official macOS installation guide. Move Jellyfin to Applications, open it and choose Launch from its menu-bar icon. Follow the current compatibility requirements for your Mac.
Install Jellyfin Server on the computer holding the files. A Jellyfin player app alone will not serve a library.
2. Add one library and a login
- In the setup wizard, choose a language and create an administrator account with a strong password.
- Add a library, choose its content type and give it a name. Select the actual folder containing your test video. Keep movies and TV shows in separate libraries when you expand.
- Choose the metadata language and finish setup. Leave automatic port mapping off for this home-network walkthrough.
- Wait for scanning to finish, then check that the test video appears and plays in Jellyfin's web interface.
- Create a separate non-administrator user for watching and give it access to the intended libraries.
If the folder is missing, check that the account running Jellyfin can read it. See Jellyfin's setup wizard walkthrough for the current screens.
3. Find the address your phone can use
Find the server computer's local IP address in its network settings or your router's connected-device list. On Windows, look for the IPv4 address of the active connection; on Mac, check the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection's TCP/IP details.
If it is 192.168.1.50, try http://192.168.1.50:8096 in your phone's browser while on home Wi-Fi. Replace the example IP with yours. You should see Jellyfin and be able to sign in.
localhost means “this device”: on your phone it points back to the phone, not your server. Jellyfin's default HTTP port is 8096; HTTPS is not enabled simply by changing the address to https://. See the Jellyfin networking guide.
Option B: set up a WebDAV server on a Mac
This is a small, read-only home-network server using rclone. Install rclone using its official instructions, open a new Terminal window and check rclone version works.
Create a folder called Davvy Media in your home folder and put a test video inside. Then run:
mkdir -p "$HOME/.config/davvy-webdav"
touch "$HOME/.config/davvy-webdav/users"
htpasswd -B "$HOME/.config/davvy-webdav/users" davvy
chmod 600 "$HOME/.config/davvy-webdav/users"Enter a unique password when prompted. This keeps the password file outside the shared media folder. The htpasswd documentation explains the password-file format.
Replace 192.168.1.50 below with your Mac's home-network IP:
rclone serve webdav "$HOME/Davvy Media" \
--addr 192.168.1.50:8081 \
--htpasswd "$HOME/.config/davvy-webdav/users" \
--read-onlyKeep Terminal open. On your phone, visit http://192.168.1.50:8081/, sign in as davvy and check the file listing. Stop the server with Control-C. It must be running whenever you watch; this command does not configure automatic startup. See rclone's WebDAV server reference.
This HTTP example is for a trusted home network only. HTTP does not encrypt the login or media. Do not forward this port to the internet. Use HTTPS or an encrypted private VPN for remote access.
Connect Davvy to your new server
Open Davvy's Add Server screen, available from Settings if you already have a library. Select the correct Server type, give it a recognisable name and enter the details below. The example addresses assume the server's IP is 192.168.1.50.
| Davvy field | Jellyfin example | WebDAV example above |
|---|---|---|
| Server type | Jellyfin | WebDAV |
| Home | http://192.168.1.50:8096 | http://192.168.1.50:8081 |
| Username / Password | Your Jellyfin viewing account | davvy and the password you created |
| Media root | Not used | / |
| Scan only | Not used | Leave empty for the first test |
Leave Tailscale and Internet addresses empty until you have configured those routes. Tap Connect and allow local-network access if asked. Browse the library, play your test file, pause and try seeking forward.
For Jellyfin, enter the server base address, not a browser route ending in /web/. Preserve a base path if your server administrator deliberately configured one.
For WebDAV, Media root is a path inside the share, not a Mac folder path. The rclone example shares the contents of Davvy Media at /. Do not enter /Users/yourname/Davvy Media in Davvy. For another NAS or service, use its WebDAV endpoint and exposed folder path, not its administration-page URL.
Troubleshooting your first connection
- Works on the server, but not on the phone: use the server's LAN IP rather than localhost. Check the same-network connection, guest Wi-Fi isolation and the host firewall. Allow the required app or port on your private network; do not switch the whole firewall off.
- Works in Safari, but not Davvy: check Davvy's Local Network permission in Apple Settings, then compare the server type, scheme, address and port.
- Login rejected: test the same account in Jellyfin's web interface or the WebDAV listing. These are server credentials, not your Apple Account password.
- Connects but shows no videos: check library access and scanning in Jellyfin, or Media root and Scan only in WebDAV. Confirm the server process can read the files.
- Playback stalls: try your small test file, move closer to the router or wire the server by Ethernet. File size, bitrate, codecs and server workload all matter; a successful login does not guarantee every file will play.
- Stops working after a restart: check the server is awake and its app is running. If its IP changed, update Davvy. A router DHCP reservation can keep the address stable.
Watch away from home, after the local test works
A 192.168… address is private to your home network. It will not work over mobile data by itself. Set up a private VPN route, or an HTTPS endpoint with a trusted certificate and authentication, before adding a remote address in Davvy.
For a Jellyfin example, follow its official Tailscale guide. Davvy's Tailscale field records an address; it does not install a VPN or grant network access. Test the connection with Wi-Fi switched off before relying on it away from home.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need both Jellyfin and WebDAV?
No. Either supported server type can supply Davvy with your media. Choose one for your first setup.
Can my normal computer be the server?
Yes. It needs access to the files and must remain awake with the server running while you stream. A dedicated NAS is optional.
Does Davvy include films or server hosting?
No. Davvy connects to your own media server. You provide the files and server access.
Is this a fully tested hardware compatibility list?
No. The guide follows the linked official server documentation and Davvy's connection fields, checked on 8 November 2026. The rclone commands were also checked with temporary files on macOS: login was required, folder listing and reads worked, and writes were blocked. This was not an end-to-end Davvy playback test. Server versions, operating systems and network setups vary.
Once your first video works, add more folders and devices. Explore Davvy's playback features, read the latest Davvy release article or ask for setup help. For a separate music server, see our Navidrome and Tunode connection guide.