jellyfin-webui.exe

Jellyfin Web UI Interface

Application ProcessSafeMedia Server Web UI

CPU Usage

2-12%

Memory

100-350 MB

Location

C:\Program Files\Jellyfin\Server

Publisher

Jellyfin Project

Quick Answer

jellyfin-webui.exe is safe. It is part of the Jellyfin server package and provides the web-based user interface to clients; it runs in its own process to isolate UI tasks from transcoding.

Is it a Virus?

NO - Safe

Must be located in C:\Program Files\Jellyfin\Server\jellyfin-webui.exe

Warning

Many processes normal

UI sessions spawn per client; the jellyfin-webui.exe may run alongside server processes

Can I Disable?

YES

Disable by stopping the Jellyfin server or ending the jellyfin-webui.exe task

What is jellyfin-webui.exe?

jellyfin-webui.exe is the executable that serves the Jellyfin Web UI frontend for the Jellyfin media server. It runs as a dedicated process to render the user interface in clients’ browsers and to coordinate UI assets, calls to the server, and live updates for media libraries, playlists, and playback controls.

Jellyfin Web UI is a frontend bundle hosted by the Jellyfin server. The jellyfin-webui.exe component handles frontend assets (HTML/JS/CSS) delivery and UI state synchronization via API calls and WebSocket updates, without performing media encoding.

Quick Fact: The Jellyfin Web UI relies on a live connection to the Jellyfin server; the UI updates reflect library changes and playback status in near real-time.

Types of Jellyfin UI Processes

UI Loader Process: Bootstraps the web interface and serves static assets
Renderer/Web UI Thread: Renders React/Vue-based frontend for each active connection
WebSocket Listener: Receives live updates from the server for libraries and playback
API Proxy: Facilitates API calls between frontend and Jellyfin server
Session Manager: Manages UI sessions per connected client
Resource Monitor: Tracks UI, cache, and rendering metrics

Is jellyfin-webui.exe Safe?

Yes, jellyfin-webui.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from the Jellyfin project downloaded from official sources.

Is jellyfin-webui.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real jellyfin-webui.exe is not a virus. However, malware can masquerade under similar names, so verify integrity and location.

How to Tell if jellyfin-webui.exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Jellyfin\Server\jellyfin-webui.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Jellyfin\Server\jellyfin-webui.exe. Any jellyfin-webui.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show a signing authority like "Jellyfin Project".
Resource Usage: Normal usage is 2-12% CPU per UI session, 100-350 MB memory. Constant high usage when idle is suspicious.
Behavior: Jellyfin Web UI should run only when the Jellyfin server is active. If a jellyfin-webui.exe starts without a server or continues after server stop, investigate.

Red Flags: If jellyfin-webui.exe is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData, or System32), runs without a Jellyfin server, has no valid signature, or uses erratic resources, run a full antivirus scan. Look for similarly named files like "jellyfin-webui32.exe" from untrusted sources.

Why Is jellyfin-webui.exe Running on My PC?

The Jellyfin Web UI executable runs to present the web frontend to clients, coordinating with the Jellyfin server and keeping UI sessions active for control, libraries, and playback.

Reasons it's running:

Active UI Session: A user or client is connected to the Jellyfin server UI; each active session maintains a jellyfin-webui.exe instance.
Background UI Tasks: Live updates, library scanning notifications, and UI state changes occur via WebSocket or API calls.
Startup or Auto-Launch: Jellyfin is configured to start on system boot, which launches the UI component along with the server.
Client Browsers Connected: Multiple connected browsers keep the UI process active to render and refresh data.
UI Cache and Prefetch: Frontend may preload assets and cache UI resources to speed up subsequent loads.

Can I Disable or Remove jellyfin-webui.exe?

Yes, you can disable jellyfin-webui.exe. Stopping the Jellyfin server or ending the UI process will disable the UI component, and you can prevent startup if you no longer need Jellyfin UI exposure.

How to Stop jellyfin-webui.exe

Stop Jellyfin Server: Open Services (services.msc), locate Jellyfin Server, and click Stop; the UI process will terminate with the server.
Close Client Sessions: Close all browsers connected to the Jellyfin server to reduce UI activity.
End UI Process: Open Task Manager, locate jellyfin-webui.exe, and End Task.
Prevent Startup: In Services or Task Scheduler, set Jellyfin Server to Manual or Disabled startup.
Stop Background UI: If your Jellyfin configuration allows, disable "Continue running UI in background" in the server settings.

How to Uninstall Jellyfin (Server + UI)

✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Jellyfin Server → Uninstall
✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Jellyfin Server → Uninstall
✔ Optionally remove remaining Jellyfin directories under C:\Program Files\Jellyfin and C:\ProgramData\Jellyfin

Common Problems: UI Performance and Connectivity

If jellyfin-webui.exe is having issues, use these common checks to diagnose UI performance, responsiveness, and connectivity.

Common Causes & Solutions

Too Many Connected Clients: Limit simultaneous UI sessions or upgrade hardware; monitor with server logs.
UI Cache or Corrupted Assets: Clear browser cache or restart Jellyfin server to reload frontend assets.
Slow Network or DNS Issues: Check local DNS, router settings, and ensure client machines can reach localhost:8096 (or configured port).
Outdated Jellyfin Server: Update Jellyfin server to the latest version; UI updates accompany server upgrades.
Browser Extensions Interfering: Disable conflicting extensions or try incognito mode to isolate the UI.
Transcoding Bottlenecks: UI performance is separate from transcoding; ensure server has adequate CPU/GPU and correct codecs; adjust streaming quality if needed.

Quick Fixes:
1. Restart Jellyfin Server to reinitialize the UI component
2. Clear browser cache for the Jellyfin UI domain
3. Check jellyfin-webui.exe in Task Manager and end if hung, then restart
4. Update Jellyfin to the latest version
5. Test connectivity from a different client machine

Frequently Asked Questions

Is jellyfin-webui.exe a virus?

No, the legitimate jellyfin-webui.exe is part of the Jellyfin server package and should reside under C:\Program Files\Jellyfin\Server and be signed by the Jellyfin project.

Why is jellyfin-webui.exe running when Jellyfin isn't?

If the UI component starts without an active server, it may indicate an orphaned process or a misconfigured service. Check that Jellyfin Server is running and that startup tasks are correct.

Can I delete jellyfin-webui.exe?

No meaningful feature remains if you remove the Jellyfin server package. Uninstall Jellyfin Server from Apps & Features to safely remove all UI and server components.

Can I disable jellyfin-webui.exe?

Yes, by stopping the Jellyfin server or ending the jellyfin-webui.exe task. To prevent startup, disable the Jellyfin Service in Services.msc.

Why does the UI load slowly after an update?

Post-update latency can occur due to cache invalidation, extension conflicts, or server-side changes. Clear browser cache, restart the server, and ensure you’re on the latest Jellyfin version.

How do I update Jellyfin to fix UI problems?

Download the latest Jellyfin Server build from jellyfin.org, install over the existing server, and then restart both server and UI components to apply changes.