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AVideo is a self-hosted platform for publishing videos, live streams, channels, playlists, and paid or restricted content.
This documentation is organized by what you want to accomplish. You do not need to understand programming to use the administration guides. Pages that require command-line or server access are marked as advanced.
| I want to... | Read this |
|---|---|
| Use a site that is already installed | User Manual |
| Finish installing in the browser | Installation Setup Page |
| Configure a new installation | Quick Start Guide |
| Manage users, videos, plugins, and settings | Admin Manual |
| Find the guide for a plugin | Plugin Documentation Index |
| Understand AVideo terminology | Glossary |
| Find a quick answer | Frequently Asked Questions |
| Diagnose a problem | How to Find Errors |
| Build a custom React frontend | React frontend reference project |
- Upload a video
- Use Local Encoder on your computer — recommended for video uploads and YouTube imports alongside your Web Encoder
- Start a live stream
- Change the site design
- Set up email
- Install the Scheduler cron job (required)
- Use HTTPS
- Install or update a plugin
- Control video privacy
- Embed a video on another site
- Get an RSS/Podcast, MRSS, Roku or Vizio feed of your videos
- Back up the site
- Update AVideo
- Fix a video that does not play
- Fix a live stream that does not play
Commands involving Linux, Apache, NGINX, PHP, MySQL, storage, or file permissions can make a site unavailable if used on the wrong server or directory. Before following an advanced guide:
- Make a current database and file backup.
- Confirm the operating-system version and whether the site uses Apache or NGINX.
- Confirm the exact AVideo installation directory.
- Do not paste commands from an older operating-system guide into a current server.
- If you are unsure, ask the person or company that manages your server.
For a new server, use the current installation guide for Ubuntu 24.04 or 26.04. Older installation pages are retained only for existing legacy servers.
| Component | Plain-language purpose |
|---|---|
| AVideo Platform | The main website where people manage and watch content |
| AVideo Web Encoder | Required server service for encoding, live and video preview images, timeline previews, recordings and other AVideo integrations |
| Local Encoder | Desktop companion for video uploads; can encode faster with supported hardware and improve YouTube downloads. Keep the Web Encoder configured (guide) |
| Live server | Receives live broadcasts (RTMP) and delivers them to viewers (HLS); needed only for live streaming |
| AVideo storage options | Local, cloud, CDN, and self-managed choices for video files |
| Business goal | AVideo product |
|---|---|
| Serve viewers in many locations with faster, more reliable delivery | CDN |
| Move a growing video library to managed remote storage | CDN Storage |
| Sell subscriptions, rentals, or individual access | Monetization options |
| Add advertising, mobile access, live events, and more | AVideo plugin marketplace |
The main website is sometimes called the Streamer. It does not mean that every video is live; it is the site that receives content from the Encoder and serves it to viewers.
When asking for help, include the page URL, what you expected, what happened, the exact error message, and the steps already tried. Remove passwords, API keys, stream keys, cookies, and database credentials before sharing screenshots or logs.
