How to Play Videos on TNAS?

[RyanYang]

Applicable Versions:
TOS 4/5/6/7

Applicable Models:
All Models

Designed for high-capacity media file storage, TNAS leverages the native decoding capabilities of various playback devices to deliver a smooth multimedia experience.
This guide will help you learn how to stream movies, music, and other resources from your TNAS to devices such as PCs, Macs, TVs, and smartphones for playback.

Playing on PC / Mac
A. Playing via SMB
1. Enable SMB Service:
Log in to TOS, go to Control Panel > File Services > SMB, and ensure the SMB service is enabled (it is enabled by default).
2. Access TNAS via SMB:
Connect to your TNAS using the SMB protocol via File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
3. Play Video Files:
Browse to the video file on your TNAS and double-click it to play.
Playback performance depends on your device's transcoding capabilities. If you encounter unsupported formats, we recommend using a third-party player for better compatibility, such as VLC Media Player.
Right-click the file, select Open with > VLC media player to play it.

B. Playing via DLNA / UPnP Protocol
1. Set Up Media Indexing:
Go to TOS Control Panel > Media Indexing, click "Add", and select the folders and media file types you wish to index.
2. Enable Media Indexing:
Confirm that the media indexing feature is turned on.
3. Install Media Server:
Search for and install a media server application in the TOS App Center, and ensure it is enabled.
4. Install DLNA Software on Your Computer to Search for TNAS:
For example: Delight Media Player, DLNA Browser.
Windows users can also use the built-in Windows Media Player or "Movies & TV" app to find and play DLNA multimedia resources.

Playing on TV
A. Playing via DLNA Device
1. Set Up Media Indexing:(Steps as above)
Go to Control Panel > Media Indexing, add and index your media folders.
2. Enable Media Server:
Install and enable a media server application in the TOS App Center.
3. Connect TV:
Ensure your TV and TNAS are on the same local network. Open the media player app on your TV (e.g., Sony, Samsung).
4. Browse TNAS Files:
In the list of DLNA or UPnP devices, find your TNAS and browse its media files to start playback.

B. Accessing via File Services
In your TV's media player, select a supported file service protocol (e.g., SMB), manually connect to your TNAS's shared folder, and then browse and play videos.

General Troubleshooting Guide: viewtopic.php?t=4916

Example: Apple TV + Infuse
Download Infuse on your Apple TV. Select your TNAS under "Available Shares" and log in with your TNAS username and password. Alternatively, you can manually enter connection details like protocol, IP address, username, and password by selecting "Other".

Playing on Mobile Devices

Method A: After configuring the web-based application, use third-party apps on your mobile device for playback (e.g., Emby, Jellyfin, Plex).
Method B: Install apps that support file services (e.g., ES File Explorer) to connect to your TNAS via protocols like SMB, FTP, or WebDAV.
Method C: Log in using the TNAS Mobile app and play videos using other players.

- Emby Setup Guide: viewtopic.php?t=6868
- Plex Setup Guide: viewtopic.php?t=7261