Overview

What is OpenWatchParty?

OpenWatchParty is a plugin for Jellyfin that enables synchronized media playback across multiple clients. It allows users to watch movies, TV shows, and other media together in real-time, regardless of their physical location.

The Problem

Watching media together remotely is challenging:

  • Video players drift out of sync over time
  • Pausing, seeking, and resuming must be coordinated manually
  • Network latency makes coordination difficult
  • Different streaming qualities cause timing differences

The Solution

OpenWatchParty provides:

  • Real-time synchronization - All participants see the same content at the same time
  • Host-controlled playback - One person controls play/pause/seek for everyone
  • Automatic drift correction - Playback speed adjusts to keep clients in sync
  • HLS/transcoding support - Works with Jellyfin’s adaptive streaming

Target Audience

  • Home media enthusiasts running their own Jellyfin servers
  • Friend groups who want to watch together remotely
  • Families spread across different locations
  • Communities organizing watch parties

How It Works

  1. Host creates a room - Starts a watch party from the Jellyfin player
  2. Guests join - Enter the room ID to join the session
  3. Synchronized playback - Everyone sees the same frame at the same time
  4. Continuous sync - Background algorithms keep everyone aligned

Key Features

Feature Description
Room management Create and join watch party rooms
Play/Pause sync All clients respond to host controls
Seek sync Jumping to a position syncs everyone
Drift correction Gradual speed adjustments prevent desync
Auto-reconnect Handles network interruptions gracefully
JWT authentication Optional security for rooms

Comparison with Alternatives

Feature OpenWatchParty SyncPlay Teleparty
Self-hosted Yes Yes No
Jellyfin native Yes Yes No
Lightweight Yes Moderate Heavy
Browser-based Yes No Yes
Open source Yes Yes No

Next Steps

Back to top

OpenWatchParty - Synchronized watch parties for Jellyfin