Turning an old PC into a media server is easier than it sounds. If you have a laptop or desktop PC fewer than ten years old, you can breathe new life into it in the span of an afternoon. You can create a private Netflix or Spotify alternative to stream media files to nearly any device in your home. Nearly any PC can run media server software like Plex or Jellyfin, and even low-end hardware will only miss out on a slim number of features. The process is approachable for both beginners and advanced users. If you are not very technically inclined, you can put Plex on your Windows laptop and call it a day, whereas tech enthusiasts can tinker with specialized Linux distros and Jellyfin servers. While the specifics can be somewhat involved, they are certainly not beyond the capabilities of anyone who can click through setup menus and do some light web searching.

The first choice you will need to make is whether to run Windows or convert the PC to Linux. The good news is there is not really a wrong choice. Linux is far easier to use than commonly assumed, but there is nothing wrong with sticking to the familiar territory of Windows. The most popular media server software runs on either OS, with the main difference being that Linux is more lightweight and can help breathe new life into older hardware. If your computer does not support Windows 11, consider running a Linux distro instead, as Windows 10 is past its end-of-service date and a security risk. If you choose to keep Windows 11, it is best to reset it before going any further. Back up any data you do not want to lose onto an external SSD or hard drive, then press Win + I to open Settings and head to System > Recovery > Reset PC. Once you have a clean operating system, it is time to load the computer up with media and start streaming it to your household. Depending on the size of your media collection, you will need quite a bit of storage. While you can serve media from the PC's boot drive, you risk losing all of your files if anything goes wrong. Many home server enthusiasts prefer to use multiple storage drives and redundant solutions like RAID. This takes a bit of setup and gives you less usable storage space overall, but gives you peace of mind in the event of a drive failure or other emergency. All that is left to do is choose your media server software, with the two most popular choices being Plex and Jellyfin. Plex is the easiest to set up, and you will rarely have to touch the settings again once configured. Jellyfin is a free, open-source alternative that offers similar functionality without the subscription costs associated with some Plex features. Both allow you to organize your media library and stream to smart TVs, phones, and tablets seamlessly.