If you have a folder of movies on your Mac and a TV in the living room, you already have everything you need for your own home Netflix. DLNA Server is a macOS app that turns your computer into a complete DLNA/UPnP media server: it scans your folders, recognizes each movie with AI, gives it its artwork and synopsis, and serves it to any TV, console or device in the house.

What is DLNA and why should you care?

DLNA/UPnP is the standard used by Samsung, LG and Sony TVs, game consoles and most network players to discover and play media served by other devices on the local network. Nothing needs to be installed on the TV and no special setup is required: the server announces itself (SSDP) and devices find it automatically.

The usual alternative — Plex, Jellyfin — means a heavy server, cloud accounts and configuration. DLNA Server bets on the opposite: a native Mac app that lives in the menu bar, configures in two minutes and never sends your data to external services beyond metadata lookups.

What it actually does

  • Library scan. Point it at one or more folders with your movies and shows; the app indexes everything, detects sibling subtitles (.srt) and rebuilds the catalog in real time when you add files.
  • AI metadata. The system cleans up filenames ('La.Llorona.2019.1080p.BluRay.x264' → 'La Llorona (2019)'), identifies the right movie and downloads artwork, synopsis, year, genres, ratings and cast. You review and approve every suggestion before anything gets renamed.
  • Artwork and trailers. Every title shows its poster in the app and on the TV, and YouTube trailers are downloaded on demand as a separate container in the DLNA tree.
  • Multi-format subtitles. .srt files are announced to the TV with the three usual protocols (Samsung CaptionInfo, Panasonic pv: and a generic <res>), so they work on almost any model.
  • Live TV (IPTV). Import M3U playlists and the channels you pick appear in the TV's 'Live TV' container, with an AI-enriched EPG guide and local cache.
  • Built-in downloads. Torrent search and a native eMule/ed2k client inside the app itself: find the movie, download it and it lands straight in the library.
  • Genuinely compatible streaming. HTTP Range/206 support, correct DLNA headers per manufacturer (Samsung quirks are handled), playback resume and a record of which device watched what.
  • Recorder. Record live TV programming to disk and watch it later like any other movie.

How to use it

  1. Download the DMG from dlnaserver.com, drag the app to Applications and open it.
  2. Press 'Add folder' and choose where your movies live.
  3. Press 'Start server': within seconds 'DLNA Server' appears in your TV's sources menu.
  4. Optional: press 'Metadata' and let the AI set the correct name, year and artwork for everything — you approve each change.

License and trial

The app can be tried in full for 3 days free, no card required. After that, the full license is a one-time payment of €19.90, valid for 3 Macs, with all AI features included and no subscription. It is purchased directly on the website by card (Stripe) and the key arrives instantly on screen and by email. A Lite edition will also exist on the Mac App Store with limited features and a Pro in-app unlock.

Who it is for

For anyone with a video collection on their Mac who wants to watch it on the TV without complications: no accounts, no cloud, no transcoding unless needed. Your library, on any screen at home.