Jellyfin for Android TV 0.20 brings a new settings UI and better subtitle handling
The Jellyfin team has published version 0.20 of the Jellyfin for Android TV client (release notes). It is a broad release rather than a single-feature update, and anyone running Jellyfin on a TV box, streaming stick or Android TV device will notice the changes the first time they open the app.
What changed
The headline item is a new settings UI, which reorganizes how preferences are presented. Playback gets attention too: subtitles can now always be burned in when transcoding, Advanced SubStation Alpha (ASS) files can direct play, and there is a new option to pick which external video player app handles playback. Users can also set a presentation delay for the photo player, force common HDR formats on or off, and override AVC/HEVC codec levels.
Under the hood, the client now requires Android 6 (API 23) at minimum and uses a Jellyfin 10.11 based SDK. The changelog also lists a long run of crash fixes, including the Live TV guide when a channel fails to load, returning to Home while a video is playing, HDR capability checks returning null, and crashes when mirroring libraries and collection folders via remote control. There are smaller bugfixes as well, such as decimal values not showing for the video start delay setting and focus issues in the new player UI.
Who it affects
Anyone using the Android TV client, and especially households with older devices that will need to check their Android version before updating. Server operators should also expect questions about the new settings layout and the external player option.
Why it matters
The TV client is how most people actually watch a self-hosted library, so subtitle handling and playback stability have an outsized effect on daily use. Burn-in subtitles and ASS direct play reduce the frustrating cases where captions render badly or force a transcode, and the external player option gives users a way around formats the built-in player struggles with. The crash fixes are less visible but arguably more valuable: a client that survives Live TV failures and playback interruptions is one you can leave running in the living room.
Commentary for self-hosters
Before rolling this out across the house, check the Android version on your oldest devices. The API 23 floor is reasonable for modern hardware, but a cheap box from years ago may fall below it, and it is better to find out before the update lands. If you rely on subtitles, test a few ASS files and confirm whether you want burn-in enabled by default, since that trades CPU on the server for consistent rendering on the client. The external player setting is worth documenting for family members who already have a preferred app. Finally, if you manage several users, our Jellyfin plugins can help with account and access handling around the server itself.