Managing a large personal music collection can become difficult when everything is stored in one folder. Albums, artists, soundtracks, compilations, classical recordings, podcasts, and other audio files can quickly become difficult to organize.
One of the useful features of Jellyfin is the ability to create and manage multiple media libraries. When Jellyfin is used as the server behind Feishin, separate music libraries can make a large collection easier to maintain and navigate.
Whether you want separate libraries for different types of music or simply have music stored on multiple drives, setting up multiple libraries can provide a cleaner organization system.
In this guide, we’ll explain how multiple music libraries work in Jellyfin, how to add them, how to organize their folders, and what to consider when accessing them through Feishin.
What Are Music Libraries in Jellyfin?
A Jellyfin library is essentially a collection of media that Jellyfin scans and organizes.
Instead of manually browsing folders, Jellyfin reads your media files and associated metadata and presents them through its media interface.
For music, a library can contain albums, artists, tracks, artwork, genres, and other information.
For example, you could have:
- Main Music
- Classical Music
- Soundtracks
- Live Recordings
- Audiobooks
- Personal Recordings
You can decide how many libraries you need based on the way you want to organize your collection.
When Feishin connects to the Jellyfin server, it can access the music available through that server according to the permissions and library configuration.
Why Use Multiple Music Libraries?
Not everyone needs multiple libraries. If you have a small collection, a single well-organized music library may be enough.
However, multiple libraries can be useful when your collection has distinct categories.
For example, suppose your server contains 5,000 regular music tracks and 2,000 soundtrack files. Keeping everything in one location may make your collection harder to manage.
You could instead create separate libraries for:
Music
Your primary collection of albums and artists.
Soundtracks
Music from films, television shows, and games.
Classical
Classical recordings organized separately from your general collection.
Live Recordings
Concert recordings and other live performances.
This approach gives you more control over how your collection is structured.
Before Creating Multiple Libraries
Before changing your Jellyfin configuration, it is worth organizing your files.
A sensible folder structure can make library management much easier.
For example:
Media/
├── Music/
│ ├── Artist A/
│ │ ├── Album 1/
│ │ └── Album 2/
│ └── Artist B/
│ └── Album 1/
│
├── Soundtracks/
│ ├── Movie A/
│ └── Movie B/
│
└── Classical/
├── Composer A/
└── Composer B/
The exact structure can vary according to your collection.
The important thing is consistency.
Avoid randomly mixing unrelated media types across folders if your goal is to maintain separate libraries.
How to Add a Music Library in Jellyfin
The exact appearance of Jellyfin’s administration interface can change between versions, but the general process is straightforward.
First, sign in to your Jellyfin server using an account with administrator privileges.
Open the Dashboard and find the section for managing libraries.
Choose the option to add a new media library.
Jellyfin will ask you to select a content type. Choose the appropriate music-related option for the collection you are creating.
Give the library a recognizable name.
For example:
Main Music
Then add the folder containing your music files.
If the folder is located on another drive, make sure the Jellyfin server has permission to access that location.
After selecting the folder, review the available library settings and save the library.
Jellyfin will then scan the folder and begin identifying your music.
Depending on the size of your collection and the available server hardware, the initial scan may take some time.
Adding a Second Music Library
Once your first library is working correctly, you can repeat the process for another collection.
For example, you might create:
Soundtracks
and point it toward:
Media/Soundtracks/
You could then create another library called:
Classical Music
and point it toward:
Media/Classical/
Each library can have its own folder or folders.
This allows you to separate collections without necessarily moving all of your files onto separate servers.
Can One Library Use Multiple Folders?
Yes, depending on your Jellyfin configuration, a library can include multiple folder locations.
This can be useful if your music is spread across several storage drives.
For example, you might have:
- D:\Music
- E:\Music
- F:\Music
Instead of physically moving everything into one drive, you can configure the relevant library to use multiple locations where appropriate.
This is particularly useful for large collections because high-quality audio files can consume a significant amount of storage.
However, keep your organization logical. Adding too many unrelated folders to a single library can make troubleshooting and maintenance more complicated.
Also Read: Feishin Album Art Guide: How to Fix Missing or Incorrect Artwork
Organizing Music Files for Jellyfin
Folder organization is important, but metadata is equally valuable.
Jellyfin uses information associated with your music files and online metadata sources to identify albums and artists.
A basic structure might look like:
Artist/
└── Album/
├── 01 – Track.flac
├── 02 – Track.flac
└── 03 – Track.flac
Consistent naming makes it easier to identify files when something goes wrong.
Metadata such as artist name, album title, track number, release year, and album artist can also help Jellyfin correctly group tracks.
For large collections, it can be worth using dedicated music-tagging software to review your metadata before importing everything.
Handling Compilations and Various Artists
Compilations can sometimes create organizational challenges.
For example, an album may contain songs from ten different artists.
If metadata is inconsistent, Jellyfin may interpret the tracks as separate albums or artists.
Using an appropriate album artist field such as “Various Artists” can help keep compilation albums grouped correctly.
The exact tagging strategy depends on your collection and how you want albums to appear in Feishin.
The important thing is to keep metadata consistent.
What Happens in Feishin?
After creating and configuring your Jellyfin libraries, Feishin can connect to the same Jellyfin server.
Once connected, the available music depends on the server configuration, the user’s permissions, and how the client handles the available library data.
This means you should not think of Feishin as a separate music server.
Jellyfin remains responsible for storing and serving the collection.
Feishin provides the music-focused client experience.
If your Jellyfin server is properly configured, Feishin can provide a convenient way to browse and play your music.
Managing Access to Different Libraries
Multiple libraries can also be useful when your Jellyfin server has more than one user.
For example, you might want a particular user to access your main music collection but not a separate collection.
Jellyfin’s user and library permissions can help you control which media libraries individual accounts can access.
This can be useful for a household server where different people have different collections or access requirements.
Always review your user permissions after creating new libraries, especially if your server is accessible remotely.
Using Multiple Storage Drives
Large music collections often require multiple storage devices.
A lossless collection can become surprisingly large, particularly if it includes thousands of albums.
You might therefore store different collections on different drives.
For example:
- SSD 1 → Main Music
- HDD 1 → Classical
- HDD 2 → Soundtracks
- HDD 3 → Backup
Jellyfin can manage these locations as part of your overall media setup.
However, remember that a storage drive is not a backup.
If a drive fails, the library stored on it can be lost unless you maintain another copy.
Keep a Backup of Your Music
When managing multiple libraries, backups become even more important.
Imagine spending years building a collection and then losing one of the drives because of hardware failure.
A backup strategy can protect against this problem.
You do not necessarily need to keep everything on another computer in your home. Depending on the size and importance of the collection, you could use external drives or another suitable backup solution.
A good rule is to treat your primary music library and your backup as separate copies.
If the same hardware failure can destroy both copies, the backup is not providing much protection.
Rescanning Libraries After Adding Music
When you add new albums or tracks, Jellyfin may need to scan the library to detect them.
You can trigger a library scan from the Jellyfin dashboard.
This is useful when newly added music does not immediately appear.
If an album continues to display incorrectly after scanning, check the file structure and metadata rather than repeatedly rescanning the same library.
A scan cannot fix incorrect tags or files that Jellyfin cannot properly identify.
Fixing Missing Album Artwork
Artwork is an important part of the music browsing experience.
If albums appear without cover art, first check whether the music files contain embedded artwork.
You can also review Jellyfin’s metadata and image settings.
For a clean collection, using consistent album artwork can make the library much easier to navigate.
If one album has incorrect artwork, inspect its metadata and folder contents before changing global Jellyfin settings.
Avoid Creating Too Many Libraries
Although multiple libraries can be useful, creating dozens of them is not necessarily better.
If every artist or genre gets its own library, the system can quickly become difficult to maintain.
Instead, create libraries around meaningful categories.
For example:
- Music
- Classical
- Soundtracks
- Live Recordings
is generally more practical than creating separate libraries for rock, pop, jazz, electronic, hip-hop, and every individual artist.
Genres can usually be handled through metadata and filtering rather than separate libraries.
Should You Use One Library or Multiple Libraries?
The answer depends on your collection.
A single library is probably the simplest option if you have a relatively straightforward music collection.
Multiple libraries make more sense when you have distinct categories, multiple storage locations, or different access requirements.
Consider using one library when:
- Most of your music is similar.
- You have a relatively small collection.
- You want the simplest setup.
- You do not need separate user permissions.
Consider multiple libraries when:
- Your collection contains very different types of audio.
- You have several storage drives.
- Different users need different access.
- You want separate collections for specialized music.
Troubleshooting Multiple Libraries
If a new library does not appear correctly, start with the basics.
Check that Jellyfin can access the folder.
Then verify that the folder contains supported audio files and that the server has sufficient permissions.
Next, manually trigger a library scan.
If the music appears but is incorrectly organized, inspect the metadata.
If the library works in Jellyfin but something does not appear as expected in Feishin, check that the Feishin client is connected to the correct Jellyfin server and user account.
It is also worth keeping both Jellyfin and Feishin updated because compatibility and playback issues can sometimes be addressed through software updates.
Final Thoughts
Managing multiple music libraries in Jellyfin can make a large self-hosted collection significantly easier to organize.
Instead of placing every audio file into one enormous directory, you can create logical collections for your main music, soundtracks, classical recordings, live performances, or other categories.
Jellyfin handles the server and library management, while Feishin provides a dedicated music player for accessing that collection.
The key is not to create as many libraries as possible. A small number of thoughtfully organized libraries, combined with consistent metadata and sensible folder structures, is usually easier to maintain.
FAQs
Can Jellyfin have multiple music libraries?
Yes. Jellyfin allows you to create multiple media libraries and point them to different folders. This can be useful for separating main music, soundtracks, classical recordings, and other collections.
How do I add a second music library to Jellyfin?
Sign in to Jellyfin with an administrator account, open the Dashboard, choose the library management option, and create another library. Select the appropriate music content type and add the folder containing the second collection.
Can Feishin access multiple Jellyfin music libraries?
Feishin connects to the Jellyfin server, so the music available to it depends on the Jellyfin server, account permissions, and client behavior. Libraries that are accessible through the connected account can be used from the client.
Can one Jellyfin music library contain multiple folders?
Yes. A Jellyfin library can be configured with multiple folder locations where appropriate. This can be useful when your music collection is stored across several drives.
Should I create separate Jellyfin libraries for different music genres?
Usually, you don’t need to. Genres can generally be managed through metadata and filtering. Separate libraries are more useful for genuinely different collections, such as soundtracks, classical music, or live recordings.
