How Norri Works
Your server and apps
Install the Norri server on the computer or NAS that can read your media folders. It organizes your libraries and sends media to the devices you use for playback. Keep it running and reachable while browsing or streaming from another device.
Open the server’s address in a web browser, or connect a client app to the same server. Each person can sign in with their own server account to keep separate watch history, favorites, and preferences.
The server stores its library database, artwork, accounts, and saved progress in its persistent data volumes. Your original media stays in the folders you mapped during installation. Keep both Norri data volumes when updating or backing up.
While your library fills in
Scanning identifies your files and imports their details. You can browse completed items while a scan continues. Additional background tasks prepare seeking information, preview thumbnails, and cast and crew details; you do not need to wait for all of them before using your library.
Open Settings → Libraries to check a scan, or Settings → Scheduled Tasks to see background work. See Library Maintenance for the available controls.
When you press play
Norri checks the file and the playback device, then chooses one of three methods:
| Path | What happens |
|---|---|
| Direct play | The original file is streamed without conversion. |
| HLS remux | The original video and audio are copied into an HLS stream when only the container is incompatible. |
| Transcode | Video, audio, HDR, or subtitles are converted for the playback device. |
This decision is made per session. The same movie can direct play on one device and transcode on another if their capabilities differ.
HDR on different displays
Norri detects HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision during file analysis. Clients report whether they support those HDR formats when playback starts.
If the client supports the source HDR format, Norri keeps HDR intact. If the client does not support it, Norri tone-maps HDR to SDR when Enable HDR Tone Mapping is enabled in Settings → Transcoding.
Resume and paused playback
Norri saves your progress so you can resume later. If you close an app or lose the connection, the server eventually releases the playback session and any unused conversion work. Resuming may take a moment while it prepares the stream again.
See Watch Status for saved progress and Transcoding for administrator timeout settings.
Track Changes
Audio and subtitle track changes are scoped to the current playback session. If another device is playing the same item, its stream is kept separate.
When a track change requires a new stream, the client reloads at the current position.