Emby Quality Setup Unofficial guide · 2 minutes

Get the full quality you are paying the bandwidth for

This guide gets Emby signed in on your device and set so the picture stays sharp.

Direct Play→Your device plays the original file untouched. Best picture, least work for the server. Best
Direct Stream→Video untouched, only container or audio repackaged. No loss of video quality. Also fine
Transcode→Server re-encodes the video on the fly. Picture softens, server works harder. Avoid

The one rule

Set Max streaming bitrate to Auto, or to the highest your internet can carry. Every Emby app has a setting called Max streaming bitrate. It is the one setting that changes picture quality the most. If it is set below the bitrate of the file you are playing, the server has to transcode and the picture softens. Auto lets the app measure your connection and pick the highest bitrate it can hold.

Max streaming bitrate: Auto Direct Play Direct Stream A low fixed bitrate cap

Subtitles matter too. Text subtitles (SRT, VTT) usually play without transcoding. Image subtitles (PGS, VobSub) have to be burned into the picture, which forces a transcode. If a show suddenly looks soft, try turning subtitles off to see if that is the cause.

Set up your device

Tap yours, set it once, it applies to everything you watch

Roku

  • Roku Channel Store, search Emby, add the channel.
  • Open Emby and sign in to your server.
  • Open Settings from the side menu.
  • Set Max streaming bitrate to Auto.

Roku ships with a capped default, so this is the setting people miss most often.

iPhone / iPad

  • App Store, search Emby, install it.
  • Sign in to your server.
  • Settings, then Playback.
  • Set Max streaming bitrate to Auto.

On a cellular connection the app uses a separate quality setting from Wi-Fi, so check both.

Android

  • Google Play, search Emby, install it.
  • Sign in to your server.
  • Settings, then Playback.
  • Set Max streaming bitrate to Auto.

Fire TV / Fire Stick

  • Amazon Appstore on the device, search Emby, install it.
  • Sign in to your server.
  • Open Settings, then Playback.
  • Leave Max streaming bitrate on Auto. The app measures the connection and picks the highest bitrate it can hold.

Android TV

  • Google Play, search Emby, install it.
  • Sign in to your server.
  • Open Settings, then Playback.
  • Leave Max streaming bitrate on Auto.

Apple TV

  • App Store on the Apple TV, search Emby, install it.
  • Sign in to your server.
  • Settings, then Playback.
  • Set Max streaming bitrate to Auto.

Google TV / Chromecast

  • Install Emby from Google Play on the device.
  • Sign in to your server.
  • Open Settings, then Playback.
  • Set Max streaming bitrate to Auto.

If you are casting from a phone instead, the quality setting that matters is the one on the phone.

Samsung Smart TV

  • Samsung Apps store on the TV, search Emby, install it.
  • Sign in to your server.
  • Open Settings, then Playback.
  • Set Max streaming bitrate to Auto.

Smart TV apps are the most limited players. If one keeps transcoding after this, the TV probably cannot play that file format natively.

LG Smart TV

  • LG Content Store, search Emby, install it.
  • Sign in to your server.
  • Open Settings, then Playback.
  • Set Max streaming bitrate to Auto.

Smart TV apps are the most limited players. If one keeps transcoding after this, the TV probably cannot play that file format natively.

Xbox

  • Install Emby from the Microsoft Store.
  • Sign in to your server.
  • Open Settings, then Playback.
  • Set Max streaming bitrate to Auto.

Web browser

  • Open your server address in any browser and sign in.
  • Open the settings from the top right, then Playback.
  • Set the quality to Auto.

The web player is the easiest place to check that your sign-in works before you fight with a TV remote.

Windows / Mac

  • Download Emby Theater from emby.media/download.html.
  • Install it and sign in to your server.
  • Open Settings, then Playback.
  • Set Max streaming bitrate to Auto.

Emby Theater plays nearly everything natively, so it is one of the most reliable ways to watch.

Kodi

  • Install the Emby for Kodi add-on from the Emby repository.
  • Point it at your server and sign in.
  • Kodi plays files directly, so there is no bitrate cap to change.

Kodi is the most involved option, so only pick it if you already run Kodi.

Emby apps keep separate quality settings for home and away, and phones keep a third one for mobile data. If the picture is sharp on Wi-Fi and soft everywhere else, you have only changed one of them.

Check that it worked

  1. Start playing something.
  2. Open the playback settings while it is playing and look for the playback information (the label differs between apps, it is usually under the gear or the more menu).
  3. If it says Direct Play or Direct Stream, you are set.
  4. If it says Transcode, raise Max streaming bitrate, or turn subtitles off if they are on.
Direct Play Direct Stream Transcode

A short transcode at the start of playback while your connection is measured is normal. It is only a problem if it stays that way.

Finding your media

  1. Sign in: Open the Emby app on your device and sign in with the details your server owner gave you.
  2. Nothing found automatically? That is normal. Apps look for a server on your home network first, so choose the option to add or connect to a server manually.
  3. Enter the address carefully: It has to start with https://, with no slash on the end. Leave the Port field blank. Filling it in is the most common reason a TV app cannot connect.
  4. Locate the library: Your shared libraries appear on the Emby home screen once you are signed in.
  5. Still missing? Restart the app, and check with your server owner that your user has access to those libraries.

Emby Connect is an optional shortcut. Once your server owner links your account, you can sign in on TV apps with your Emby Connect email instead of typing the server address. See the official article on Emby Connect.

Official Emby documentation