DIY Guide: Setting Up Your Computer as a Cost-Free Digital Media Hub

5KPlayer > AirPlay >Free Media Server

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Easiest Way to Turn Your PC/Mac into A Free Media Server

Written by Kaylee Wood | Last update: June 24, 2020

Cherish your best memories, favorite music and movies? You must have built an impressive media empire inside your iPhone/iPad/iPod, and won’t relinquish your hold on them. The problem is they are all trapped in this very device. What if you want to enjoy one of your favorite videos on your storage-strapped computer? You need a free home media server. And in terms of that, 5KPlayer can indeed help.

Choose Amazon Streaming Server Devices or Media Server Software?

Amazon has many different external equipment media servers on sale, and the two mainstream media server devices are the wireless HDMI and media storage server. The former one is streaming display adapter that is very similar to Google Chromecast, and the latter one is much more expensive, it works by store video files to the drive and then links to a monitor, PC or TV to make the video playback come true.

However, wireless HDMI kit usually works for streaming from mobile to smart TV only. And media storage server is very expensive and more suitable for people who have a large amount of DVDs and downloaded movies to form a personal media library.

Media server software provides more options. No matter you want to turn your PC/Mac a media server, or want to break the restrictions across different platforms, such as streaming from iPhone to Windows PC, you can always find one of them to meet your needs. So, if you want to stream from Android to Windows, install the DLNA supported program on PC; if you want to stream from iPhone to Mac, install the AirPlay supported program on Mac. But here, we recommend 5KPlayer, the all-in-one media server program with DLNA and AirPlay features to help you to achieve infinite multi-screen share.

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Why Choose 5KPlayer as Mac and Windows PC Media Server?

The AirPlay-enabled HD 5KPlayer is light in weight (16.4 MB) and it caters much for your need as a powerful free streaming media server:

a. 5KPlayer is capable of streaming all the video and audio files seamlessly from your iPhone, iPad, iPod and even Android phone to PC/Mac, and AirPlay/DLNA compatible speakers. Fast and easily without a bit loss in image quality;

b. It also enables you to free download latest music or videos directly from YouTube, VEVO, Vimeo, Facebook and other over 300 online websites, and stream them to your target AirPlay-enabled devices;

c. Besides, as many people are not content with their media server functions, complaining about the Plex Media Server couldn’t play AVI files very well, 5KPlayer outshines with its great HD playback quality covering almost all A/V formats, such as AVCHD Video (*.mts, *.m2ts), H.264, AVI, MPEG, WMV, YouTube (FLV/MP4/Webm), MP3, ACC and the like;

d. What’s more, with the assistance of this free media server software, you can manage your music & video collections by tagging some of them as your favorites in the library playlist, or creating new lists for all kinds of classifications.

How to Transform Your PC/Mac into A Free Media Server

Then, how to transform your Mac/PC with 5KPlayer into the most convenient and free home media server to stream various digital media, including digital videos/movies and audio/music to the target AirPlay compatible devices, say to an Apple TV? Make sure that the storage of the PC/Mac is large enough for your A/V storage, or you can take advantage of cloud storage .

Step 1: Download the omnipotent free media server software -5KPlayer (Win/Mac version) on the computer.

Note: Make sure that the PC/Mac and Apple TV are in the same WIFI network.

Step 2: Click “AirPlay DLNA” icon on the interface of 5KPlayer, and you can see a list of AirPlay/DLNA settings. Scroll down to “AirPlay > AirPlay service” and click to turn on it, or go to turn “DLNA > DLNA service” according to your needs.

Step 3: Go to your iPhone, call out control center, and tap “Screen Mirroring” icon. Then your iPhone will search and recognize your PC. If you are an Android, go to “Settings > Smart Mirroring”, and choose the video you want to stream to PC, then your Android will start searching devices.

Step 4: After your PC is showed on the searching list, tap to select it, and you will see your iOS screen on 5KPlayer, then go to open the video on iPhone and it will automatically be streamed to PC.

Note: Make sure that the format of your file works with AirPlay, since AirPlay only supports the following audio and video formats: Video –MOV, MP4, M4V; Audio –MP3, M4A, AAC. If not, for audio files, you can convert the file format into MP3 and ACC directly by 5KPlayer; but for video files, you may need a video converter software for Mac OS or Windows PC to convert your videos first.

5KPlayer offers the top free streaming media server solution that not only assists you in managing and controlling your media empire, but also in playing 4k/5k videos. It is an all-in-one video music player , online video music downloader and free media server software that is dedicated to your special needs.

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