Universal Media Server icon
Universal Media Server icon

Universal Media Server

 133 likes

Universal Media Server is a media server capable of serving videos, audio and images to any DLNA-capable device. It supports any device capable of DLNA and runs on all major operating systems: Windows, OS X and Linux.

Universal Media Server screenshot 1

License model

  • FreeOpen Source

Country of Origin

  • US flagUnited States

Platforms

  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Linux
3.4 / 5 Avg rating (10)
133likes
11comments
0news articles

Features

Suggest and vote on features

Properties

  1.  Lightweight
  2.  Configurable

Features

  1.  Support for DLNA
  2.  Dedicated Server Hosting
  3.  Media Transcoding
  4.  Simple installation
  5.  Support for IPTV
  6.  Chromecast Support
  7.  Dark Mode
  8.  Works Offline
  9.  Ad-free
  10.  File Tagging
  11.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
  12.  No registration required
  13.  Support for 4K
  14.  Playstation
  15.  Java based
  16.  Media Server
  17.  Media Center
  18.  Streaming

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Universal Media Server information

  • Developed by

    US flagUniversal Media Server
  • Licensing

    Open Source (GPL-2.0) and Free product.
  • Written in

  • Rating

    Average rating of 3.4
  • Alternatives

    46 alternatives listed
  • Supported Languages

    • English

AlternativeTo Categories

Video & MoviesFile Management

GitHub repository

  •  2,428 Stars
  •  466 Forks
  •  382 Open Issues
  •   Updated Apr 15, 2025 
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Our users have written 11 comments and reviews about Universal Media Server, and it has gotten 133 likes

Universal Media Server was added to AlternativeTo by SubJunk on Oct 29, 2012 and this page was last updated Dec 18, 2023. Universal Media Server is sometimes referred to as UMS.

Comments and Reviews

   
 Post comment/review
Top Positive Comment
eddynogat
Nov 21, 2017
2

Universal Media Server is absolutely not a commercial software! It is free with no additional paid services. I use it for a while.

Top Negative Comment
ndas1
Jan 13, 2019
0

Linux Mint 19+; UML will not load/launch according to instructions; advice welcome by reply to this comment.

Tangram11
May 28, 2023
0

Install, run, go to Shared Content, point at a directory on your windows machine. Turn on tv and allow to scan for DLNA servers. Select your PC running Universal Media Server. Done.

I have a pretty dumb Hisense SmartTV.

I tried Serviio (worked intermittently and then one day the service wouldn't stay running), and also Jellyfin (worked but the TV remote wouldn't function for playback controls. Actually seemed to kill the remote until I power cycled the tv at the power socket).

UMS is the only one that worked simply, out of the box. Well done to the UMS team.

RemovedUser
Aug 22, 2021
0

the program is good, but my HUAWEI HG8145V5 router is having problems sharing dlna I don't know why

erty
Jun 11, 2020
-1

Java server inside. Used 1 Gb ram just after start. And even after uninstall it keeps java command files in my Program Files!

uhipi9
Feb 25, 2020
3

Although this i definitively a great media server, one should consider that this application requires administrative privileges to install and inherently needs to open several ports. Therefore, please make sure you trust the developers and their work. Especially pay attention to the following circumstances:

  • The authors do not provide any legal information on their side
  • There is no portable version provided, although possible with the underlying technology
  • The tool is build on Java and therefore could run in a JavaVM , in principle without the need of admin privileges (except win services, but that can be opted out). So there is little reason for admin rights.
  • Although this tool is open source, most users will download the pre-build executable. It doesn't follow an auditable git build process. So the open source-argument is difficult.
  • The Win package is signed with an unknown publisher. But most likely because of the costs.

Again, as I said, this is a great tool. But everyone using this should pay attention who to trust.

Tiziano
Aug 9, 2019
0

Desperately lacking in native OS. Covers all the major players and provides acceptable functionality. Sadly, Java is needed to run it

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7 of 11 comments

What is Universal Media Server?

Universal Media Server is a media server capable of serving videos, audio and images to any DLNA-capable device. It supports any device capable of DLNA and runs on all major operating systems: Windows, OS X and Linux.

It streams to many devices including PS3, Xbox One and 360, many TVs (Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, Vizio, LG, Philips, Sharp), smart phones (iPhone, Android, etc.), Blu-ray players, and more.

Official Links