📡 Raspberry Pi – Setup Media Server with Plex or Kodi (2025 Streaming Guide)
🧲 Introduction – Turn Your Raspberry Pi into a Powerful Media Server
Want to stream your favorite movies, music, or TV shows across your home? With Plex or Kodi, you can transform your Raspberry Pi into a full-featured media server that works with smart TVs, phones, PCs, and tablets—locally or remotely.
🎯 In this guide, you’ll learn:
- The difference between Plex and Kodi on Raspberry Pi
- How to install and configure both systems
- Stream local files or network libraries
- Use real-world setups for home entertainment, backups, and remote media access
🎬 Plex vs Kodi – What’s the Difference?
| 📺 Feature | 🎥 Plex | 🎮 Kodi |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Client-server streaming model | Local media player |
| Remote Access | Yes (via Plex account) | No (local-only unless customized) |
| UI | Polished web + app interface | Customizable media center |
| Transcoding | Yes (limited on Pi) | Playback only, no transcoding |
| Best For | Multi-device streaming | Local or kiosk-style setups |
✅ Use Plex if you want to stream to phones/TVs across your home or remotely.
✅ Use Kodi for direct playback on the Pi with TV or monitor.
🛠️ Plex Media Server Setup on Raspberry Pi
✅ Step 1: Add Plex Repository
curl https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-keys/PlexSign.key | sudo apt-key add -
echo deb https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb public main | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plexmediaserver.list
✅ Step 2: Install Plex
sudo apt update
sudo apt install plexmediaserver -y
✅ Step 3: Verify Service
sudo systemctl status plexmediaserver
✅ Plex runs on port 32400
🌐 Access Plex Web UI
Visit:
http://<your_pi_ip>:32400/web
Sign in with your Plex account.
📁 Add Media Libraries to Plex
- Movies:
/home/pi/media/movies/ - TV Shows:
/home/pi/media/tv/ - Music:
/home/pi/media/music/
Ensure Pi has permission:
sudo chown -R plex:plex /home/pi/media
Add libraries via the web interface and organize by type.
📲 Stream Plex Content
| 📺 Client Device | 🔧 How to Access |
|---|---|
| Smart TV | Plex app from app store |
| Android/iOS phone | Plex mobile app |
| Laptop/Desktop | Web browser (http://<ip>:32400/web) |
| Remote Access | Enable in Plex account settings |
🎮 Kodi Media Center Setup on Raspberry Pi
✅ Option 1: Install Kodi on Raspberry Pi OS
sudo apt update
sudo apt install kodi -y
Run:
kodi
✅ Great for Pi with connected TV/monitor.
✅ Option 2: Use LibreELEC (Kodi OS)
- Download LibreELEC image
- Flash to SD card using Raspberry Pi Imager
- Boot Pi and follow on-screen setup
- Add media via:
- USB drive
- NAS/SMB
- SD card folders
📦 Recommended Media File Structure
/media/
├── Movies/
│ └── MovieName (Year).mp4
├── TV Shows/
│ └── ShowName/
│ └── Season 01/
│ └── EpisodeName S01E01.mkv
├── Music/
│ └── Artist/
│ └── Album/
│ └── Track.mp3
✅ Helps Kodi and Plex auto-recognize metadata.
💡 Real-World Raspberry Pi Media Server Ideas
| 🎬 Use Case | 📦 Description |
|---|---|
| Home Theater Server | Serve 4K/1080p movies to smart TVs |
| Offline Classroom Media | Stream video lessons from local network |
| Raspberry Pi Touch Panel | Build wall-mounted Kodi TV controller |
| Travel Media Station | Host movies on Pi + hotspot = portable setup |
| Music Streaming Server | Stream FLAC/MP3 to any device |
🧠 Performance Tips
- Use Ethernet over Wi-Fi for smooth streaming
- Store media on external SSD or USB 3.0 HDD
- Use Raspberry Pi 4/5 with 2GB+ RAM for best results
- Limit background services for Plex to avoid CPU spikes
📌 Summary – Recap & Next Steps
Your Raspberry Pi is now a powerful local media server—capable of streaming to smart TVs, mobile devices, or even working as a media center on its own. Whether using Plex for remote access or Kodi for direct playback, you can build a private, customizable entertainment hub.
🔍 Key takeaways:
- Plex = stream across devices; Kodi = play directly on Pi
- Use
/home/pi/mediaor external drives to store libraries - Access Plex at
http://<ip>:32400/web - LibreELEC is a full media OS based on Kodi
⚙️ Real-world relevance: Useful for home streaming, mobile media setups, digital signage, and educational environments.
❓ FAQs – Raspberry Pi Media Server
❓ Can I use both Plex and Kodi on the same Pi?
✅ Yes, but Plex is server-based; Kodi is a player. Use Kodi to play media and Plex to stream it remotely.
❓ Can I stream over the internet with Plex?
✅ Yes, if you enable remote access and forward port 32400 on your router.
❓ Which Raspberry Pi model is best for media servers?
✅ Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 with 2GB+ RAM is ideal. Use USB 3.0 storage for better performance.
❓ Can I use a USB drive for storage?
✅ Absolutely! Format it as ext4 or NTFS, mount it, and point Plex/Kodi libraries to it.
❓ Is transcoding supported on Raspberry Pi?
✅ Limited support. Direct playback is preferred. Use compatible file formats (H.264 MP4, MKV).
Share Now :
