Media Preview Server is an Eagle plugin that shares your Eagle library (Media Library) on your local network with one click. Anyone on the same network can then browse it from phones, tablets, and other computers.
- One-click local preview server for your Eagle library
- Browse the Media Library from phones, tablets, and other computers on the same LAN
- Endpoint URL and QR code for quick access, with a customizable hostname and port
- Installable PWA (Media Library) with a cached application shell
- Background audio and video playback with OS media controls
- Picture-in-Picture for video previews on supported browsers
Optional:
- Auto start: start the server automatically when Eagle launches.
- Password protection: require a username and password to access the viewer.
- Public Network: allow access from other devices on the network.
- HTTPS: use TLS when certificate paths are set.
- Multiple users with Viewer, Editor, and Admin roles.
- Library protection: share only the Eagle libraries you select.
PWA Installation
The browser viewer can be installed from a supported desktop or mobile browser. Service workers require a secure context, so use HTTPS when opening the viewer from another device on your LAN. Loopback addresses such as localhost are also treated as secure by browsers.
The PWA caches only the application shell. Eagle API responses and library media are intentionally excluded from the service-worker cache, so browsing library content still requires a connection to the running plugin server.
Slideshow
Slideshows start muted on all devices. To hear video or audio, use the speaker button in the bottom playback bar to turn sound on during playback.
Video Picture-in-Picture
Use the Picture-in-Picture button in video controls. It appears when the browser supports the loaded video. Closing the preview or switching items closes PiP.
- Chrome automatic PiP: Requires HTTPS, audible playback, and permission for the site. “Can ask” also depends on playback history. Requirements.
- macOS Safari: Enable Video Viewer from Safari's Page Menu for automatic PiP when switching tabs. Details.
- Mobile: Support varies by browser and OS. If an installed web app lacks PiP, try opening the URL in Safari.
Settings
Start or stop the server, copy the endpoint URL, or scan the QR code to open the viewer on your phone. The quick toggles below the URL control Auto start, Password protection, Public Network, and HTTPS.
Settings are locked while the server is running. Stop the server to edit them.
Hostname and port.
Set Hostname to a hostname such as studio-mac.local, windows-pc.local, or media-server.lan (without http://, a port, or a path). Stop the server, enter the hostname under Settings → General, and save. The endpoint URL, copy/open actions, and QR code use this hostname with the configured HTTP/HTTPS protocol and port. Clear the field to return to the automatic localhost/LAN IP URL.
The saved hostname is explicitly allowed for sign-in and writes; the request Origin must still match the protocol, host, and port. Other custom hostnames remain blocked. This setting does not register DNS or advertise mDNS: configure name resolution separately and enable Public Network to connect from other devices. For HTTPS, the certificate must cover the custom hostname and be trusted by each client.
Users and sign-in session settings.
Use this tab to choose which users can sign in to the viewer. To let other devices on the LAN open the viewer, turn on Public Network in Server Status. User roles define the available actions:
- Viewer: browse and preview media
- Editor: edit rating, tags, and categories from the preview panel
- Admin: has all available permissions
Authentication is optional. When password protection is enabled, browser access uses the built-in login screen and cookie-based sessions. Sessions expire after the configured session duration, 7 days by default.
[!IMPORTANT] Media is stored in the browser's normal cache and may be reused for up to one hour after it is fetched, without asking the server. Signing out or switching libraries does not immediately remove media that is already cached. On a shared device, use a private window.
Choose which Eagle libraries the viewer may serve.
Eagle can only have one library open, and the viewer serves whichever library that is. Turn on Share only selected libraries, check the libraries to share, and save. If you open a different library in Eagle, viewers see the "Media Library is offline" page as soon as the viewer opens, before signing in, until a shared library is open again. The list shows the library open in Eagle and Eagle's recent libraries; use Reload libraries to refresh it. Checked libraries are saved by path.
Like other settings, these are locked while the server is running and take effect when the server starts. Viewers can never switch the library open in Eagle.
HTTPS/TLS settings.
HTTPS protects the login password and session cookie on the network. For local/LAN use, mkcert is the recommended way to create a trusted development certificate.
See HTTPS and mkcert CA Operations for setup, plugin HTTPS settings, Windows/macOS/iOS/Android CA trust steps, and private-key cautions.
TLS Cert: the certificate fileTLS Key: the matching private key file
The preview server, plugin window, and settings file come from this plugin, not from Eagle itself; the plugin runs the server inside Eagle. Browsers on other devices talk only to that preview server. They never get direct access to Eagle's own API or the library folder.
For the detailed architecture, access control, and file protection, see Runtime Model in EAGLE_PLUGIN_SPEC.md.
See EAGLE_PLUGIN_SPEC.md for plugin behavior, settings, server routes, authentication, and runtime details.
See DEVELOPMENT.md for requirements, development, build, and verification.
Planned features and limitations
- Expand support for additional file extensions
- Add AI-related capabilities
The displayed content depends on the Eagle library opened by the Eagle app running on the server side.
These are planned, but on hold until the Eagle API supports them:
- Sort results by date, rating, name, or size
- Add or remove favorite tags
- Filter by multiple file extensions at once
- Use search filters inside smart folders
This plugin is intended for use on a local or trusted LAN, not for public internet access.
The author is not responsible for unintended access, data exposure, or any damage caused by misconfiguration, insecure network settings, weak passwords, disabled authentication, or public exposure of the server.