Now Playing

Callsheet can show you what you're currently watching in Channels, Jellyfin, and Plex. Titles you're currently watching will appear on the Discover screen within Callsheet, making it easy ot leap right into details on those titles.

Additionally, wherever possible, playback position will be shown as a progress bar, so you can see roughly where you are in a title, without having to futz with the TV remote control. Further, when drilling into details about a title that is actively playing, instead of showing how long that title is (Runtime), Callsheet will show you what time playback will end. To get the total runtime, tap on Ends At to see the full runtime, and how much is remaining.

In order to see Now Playing information, you need to:

• The Now Playing feature is enabled
  In Callsheet, see Settings → Persnickety Preferences → Integrations
• The Now Playing Discover section is enabled
  In Callsheet, see Settings → Discover Sections
• For Jellyfin connections, Quick Connect must be enabled on your server, and you must be able to access your server via https/TLS
• For Channels and Passive Plex connections, your playback device and Callsheet must be on the same network
• Be actively playing something in Channels, Jellyfin, or Plex
• Wait a few seconds once Callsheet shows the Discover (main) screen

Jellyfin requires you to authenticate with your server before it can show up in Callsheet. Additionally, due to App Transport Security, the connection to your Jellyfin sever must be over TLS (said differently, the URL you provide must start with https).

To do authenticate with your Jellyfin server, go to Settings → Persnickety Preferences → Integrations. There, you'll find a section for Jellyfin, where you can enter your server URL. Once you do so, you can tap the Quick Connect to Jellyfin button; Callsheet will get a numeric code from your server; this is the Quick Connect code.

Once Callsheet has received the Quick Connect code, it will be shown on-screen. To finish the process, open your server on the web; Callsheet provides a convenient Open browser to do this. Once you are on your server's web interaface, navigate to your user settings; you can do so by clicking on the user icon in the top-right. In there, you'll see a Quick Connect link. Click on that, and enter the code from Callsheet. Once you submit the code, Callsheet will finish the process with your server, and begin showing your Jellyfin Now Playing information.

There are two ways to connect Plex and Callsheet. The correct one for you depends on your use case and preferences.

The first way is Passive, which relies on listening for Plex clients to announce themselves on your local network. This is the default.

The other way is Active, which actively asks your Plex server what is playing. Active connections rely on you authenticating with your Plex server within Callsheet.

Passive

Passive Plex connections are the default and require no configuration within Callsheet to use. They do, however, require configuration within Plex players/clients.

Passive connections use a bespoke technology for zero-configuration and discovery. This technology is very old and very rickety. It has the advantage of asking the clients that Callsheet can find on your network "Hey what are you watching?". Those clients can answer, even if what you are watching is someone else's Plex server. However, Passive connections tend to fail more often than they work. Additionally, only the clients on the same network as your device can respond.

Active

Active Plex connections require you to authenticate with your Plex server within Callsheet. This is a one-time process, and once you've authenticated with Plex, Callsheet will retain those details.

Active connections tend to work far more reliably than Passive ones. Additionally, Active connections have the advantage of working even if your device and your server are not on the same network. However, they do not show playback information for other Plex servers. Thus, if you are watching something on a friend's or family member's Plex server, Callsheet cannot see that information when using Active mode.

The Channels integration uses standard zero-configuration discovery technology, and as such, there is nothing to configure.

The Channels integration uses standard zero-configuration discovery technology, and as such, should work every time. If it isn't working, wait a few seconds, or restart your devices.

You must authenticate with Jellyfin in order to see it show up in Callsheet. To do so, follow the instructions above.

If you've done that and it still isn't working, ensure that your device can reach your Jellyfin server. (For example, try loading the Jellyfin URL via Safari on your device. If that doesn't work, something more foundational is wrong.)

If that still doesn't work, please feel free to use the in-app feedback mechanism to report the issue. This will include a log file that may be helpful in diagnosing the problem.

If you can't see Plex information in Callsheet, the reason depends on which mode Callsheet is using.

Passive

Passive Plex connections are rickety and unreliable. Frankly, it's a happy surprise if they work at all. Any number of things could cause interruptions, such as network topology, VLANs, and more. Passive connections rely on UDP multicast, which is often blocked by network equipment.

In order for a Plex player/client to show in Callsheet in Passive mode, you must turn on the Advertise as Player setting on. This is a per-client setting, which does not seem to be supported in the latest iOS/iPad OS app.

Occasionally, users have reported that Advertise as Player was on, but the Plex integration still didn't work. If that's the case, try flipping the Advertise as Player setting off and back on again. This has legitimately fixed the problem for several people, including yours truly.

Active

Active Plex connections should work reliably, even if your device is not on the same network as your server. However, Callsheet can only show what you are playing back on your server. If you are watching something that you are streaming from a friend or family member's Plex server, Callsheet cannot see that information when in Active mode.

The best possible way is to use the Send Feedback option within the app. This will include some logs that may be useful in debugging.

If you prefer, you can also email [email protected] .