Questions, answered

Silux Media. In live tests against Plex, Jellyfin and Emby — the same films, with picture quality measured frame by frame — Silux Media used 44–62% less data at every connection speed we tested, from 0.5 to 8 Mbps. The bandwidth test page shows the full method and results.

1–2 Mbps is enough for HD. Silux Media streams 720p from about 0.7 Mbps and full 1080p at about 2.3 Mbps, and keeps playing down to roughly 0.2 Mbps at lower resolution.

Yes — 44–62% less at the same picture quality in our live tests against Plex, Jellyfin and Emby. At 1080p that's about 1.0 GB an hour instead of 2.5–2.7 GB.

Quality steps down within a few seconds rather than stopping to buffer, then climbs back up when the line recovers.

When you watch away from home, your server sends the film over your home upload — often the slowest part of a connection. That's why Silux Media is designed around 1–2 Mbps.

Download the free server for Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, a NAS or a Raspberry Pi, open http://localhost:8097, create the owner account and add your film folders — about ten minutes. Step-by-step instructions for every system are on the How to set up page (siluxmedia.com/setup).

Any 64-bit Windows, macOS or Linux computer, a NAS with Docker, or a Raspberry Pi 4/5. No graphics card required.

Not to run the free server at home. An account is only needed for Plus, Pro or Cloud features, or to buy from the shop.

iPhone and iPad, Android phones and tablets, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung and LG smart TVs, Windows, macOS, Ubuntu and Debian, and any modern web browser. Every TV app works with the remote: arrows, OK, Back and play/pause.

Yes. Silux Media saves data when the line is slow, but on fast broadband it climbs automatically to 1080p HQ (up to 6–8 Mbps). Switch on Best quality in the player and it also offers your original file untouched — including 4K — whenever your connection and device can play it. The player still drops to a lighter level if the line slows, so playback never stalls. (HDR films are shown in HD for now.)

MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WebM, TS/M2TS, MPG/VOB, WMV, FLV, 3GP, OGV and DV, with almost every common codec. See the formats page for the full list.

Yes. Parental Control lets the server's admin lock any folder with a 4–8 digit PIN. Everything in it is hidden on every TV, phone and computer until the PIN is entered on that device, and it locks again after a few hours. It's enforced by the server, so it works on Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Samsung, LG, phones and browsers alike.

Yes — unlimited people on your own server. The account holder is automatically the admin and adds people as users (browse and watch only) or admins (who can also manage and delete media).

No. Only admins can delete, and only from the server's web app. Users can browse, watch, listen and read, nothing more. On your own server a deleted file goes to a hidden recycle folder so it can be restored.

A 6-digit code we ask for after your password, sent by email or Telegram or shown in your authenticator app, so your password alone can't open your account. Choose how you get it — or turn it off — only in your account on the website: Account → Settings → Sign-in codes. The apps just ask for the code and tell you where to look.

Install Telegram and sign in to it. Then on the website: Account → Settings → Sign-in codes → Connect Telegram. Telegram opens a chat with the Silux Media bot (on a computer, scan the QR code with your phone camera) — press Start, and the bot replies “✅ Connected” with your email. Back on the website, choose Telegram under “How do you want your sign-in code?”, enter your password and press Save. Full guide: Help → Sign-in codes.

Install an authenticator app on your phone (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, 1Password, Authy…). On the website go to Account → Settings → Sign-in codes → Set up an authenticator app: a QR code appears. In the app tap + → Scan a QR code and point it at the screen; it adds Silux Media and shows a 6-digit code. Type that code on the website and press Turn on. Only one phone? Copy the key under the QR code and use “Enter a setup key” in the app. Full guide: Help → Sign-in codes.

Yes, on the website only: Account → Settings → Sign-in codes → Off, confirmed with your password. You'll then sign in with just your password, and the apps won't show a code box.

Yes. On the Galaxy Z Fold and Flip, Pixel Fold, dual-screen phones and folding iPhones, the apps use the whole screen folded or opened, and video fills the opened screen edge to edge automatically (pinch in to see the whole picture). Half-folded on a table, the picture sits on the top half with the controls below.

English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese — the apps, the TV apps and the server's web app. They follow your device's language automatically, and anyone can choose another one (Account → Language in the apps, 🌐 Language on TVs, Settings → Language in the web app), whatever the device is set to. Each person's choice is kept on their own device.

The TV shows a short code; open the Silux Media app on your phone, choose Account → Link a TV and enter it. No typing passwords with a remote.

Yes — on phones, tablets and computers, long-press (or right-click) a film and choose Download to watch offline. Downloads play with no connection.

Yes, free in every app. Intros and end credits are found from the file's chapters, and an admin can mark them once for a whole series in the web app. In the credits the button becomes Next, and you can switch on Skip intros automatically.

Yes. Start a watch party from a title, share the 6-letter code, and everyone's play, pause and seek stay in step — on phones, tablets, computers, Apple TV and the web, at home or away.

Yes — from your TV aerial tuner (HDHomeRun tuners are found automatically) or your TV provider's channel list, with a TV guide, re-encoded to 720p, 480p or 360p while you watch. It can record too.

Yes — Silux Media includes a DLNA/UPnP server for TVs, PlayStation, Xbox and media players on your home network. PIN-protected folders never appear there, and you can switch it off.

Yes: an Audiobooks section with chapters, speed, a sleep timer and resume across devices; synced lyrics from .lrc files or tags; and personal playlists with shuffle and repeat.

Yes. Give each person a content limit (G/U up to R/TV-MA) and anything rated above it disappears for them on every device. Ratings come from .nfo files, file tags or TMDB, and PIN-protected folders work alongside it.

Yes — Settings → Backup and restore downloads one file with your people, roles, limits, PINs, watch progress, playlists and settings, and restores it on a new server.

No. On your own server it's unlimited: libraries, people and streams, the full low-bandwidth engine, and watching away from home whenever your server can be reached directly. Paid plans only add convenience: remote access with no router setup, more servers and hosting.

No, not if your server can be reached directly — most home internet. Your server opens an encrypted port on your router automatically. You only need the Silux Media relay (Plus) if your provider uses CGNAT or you'd rather not touch your router — and Free servers behind CGNAT get 5 relay hours a month free.

On your own server, as many as your hardware can handle: home and direct viewing have no limit. Only streams through the Silux Media relay are limited: 1 at a time on the free taster, 3 on Plus and 6 on Pro.

Remote access that works everywhere with no setup, including behind CGNAT: 150 HD hours a month through the encrypted relay, up to 3 people at once, for the whole household. Everything else is the same as Free.

Carrier-grade NAT is when your internet provider shares one address between many customers, so nothing can connect into your home. Open your server's Settings → Direct connections: it tells you whether direct connections work, your router is blocking them, or you're behind CGNAT.

Plus handles remote connections for you with 150 relayed hours a month. Pro adds 500 relay hours with priority, up to 5 servers in one dashboard, advanced analytics, health alerts, custom quality profiles and family access.

We host your library on our servers — upload your films and stream them anywhere, no hardware at home.

Up to 3 days. We email you as soon as your server is ready, and your paid period starts that day, so you don't lose any days.

Yes. Each Cloud customer gets their own isolated server, and its library — files, file names and watch history — is encrypted (AES-256) with a key protected by a passphrase you choose. We store only ciphertext and never keep your passphrase, so a copy of our disks reveals nothing. The apps connect end to end encrypted; in a browser your connection is HTTPS. Keep your recovery key safe: without it or your passphrase, nobody can recover the files.

From your account, any time. You keep access until the end of your paid period. New subscribers in the UK and EU can cancel within 14 days for a refund.

No. With the self-hosted server your files never leave your machine. Relayed streams are encrypted end to end; the relay can't read them.

Stripe processes card payments; we never see your full card number. Invoices are issued by Silux Control UK Ltd T/A Silux Media.

Account and billing data is stored in the UK/EU. See our privacy policy for details and your rights.