Phlix

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Windows Desktop App ​

Phase: N (End-User Documentation) Step: N.13 Since: 0.18.0

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The Phlix Windows app is a full-featured Electron desktop client with system tray integration and media key support. Download the installer, run it, enter your server URL, and start streaming. No admin privileges required for per-user installs.

NOTE

Hub-mode support (connecting to a Phlix Hub and auto-discovering servers) is planned for a future release. Currently, the Windows app connects directly to a server URL. Hub connection features will be documented once the feature is released.

The installer handles the Visual C++ runtime dependency automatically. Auto-update is built in — the app checks for new releases on launch and prompts you to install.

Platform-Specific Install Steps ​

  1. Download the latest .exe installer from the releases page.
  2. Run the installer:
    • Per-user install (recommended): Defaults to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Phlix — no administrator privileges required.
    • System-wide install: Choose "Install for all users" and grant admin elevation when prompted.
  3. Launch Phlix from the Start Menu or the desktop shortcut.
  4. The system tray icon appears in the bottom-right corner — the app runs in the tray by default. Right-click for quick controls: Open, Play/Pause, Next, and Quit.

Setup Steps ​

First Launch — Direct Mode ​

On first launch, the app prompts you to connect to a server:

  1. Enter your server URL:
    • Local: http://localhost:32400 (same machine) or http://192.168.1.100:32400 (LAN IP)
    • Remote: your server's public domain
  2. Click Connect.
  3. Enter your server username and password.

The URL and credentials are stored securely in the Windows Credential Manager.

Settings ​

  • Server: Update the direct server URL in Settings → Server → Server URL
  • Startup: Enable Settings → Startup → Launch on Windows logon to start the app minimized to the system tray automatically
  • Playback: Adjust default quality, subtitle language, and audio track preferences in Settings → Playback

Hub Connection ​

Note: Hub-mode support is under development. This section will be updated once the feature is released. To connect remotely without hub-mode, use your server's public URL directly or set up a Tailscale VPN.

When hub-mode is available, you will be able to:

  1. Open Settings → Hub → Enable Hub Connection.
  2. Enter your Hub URL (e.g., https://hub.phlix.example.com).
  3. Authenticate with your Hub credentials.
  4. Your server will be auto-discovered from your Hub account.

What Can Go Wrong ​

App does not launch (missing VC++ runtime) ​

Symptom: Phlix crashes immediately on launch, or a dialog appears stating "VCRUNTIME140.dll not found."

Fix: Install the Visual C++ 2015–2022 Redistributable from Microsoft's official page. The link is also in the release notes on the releases page. Restart the app after installation.

Port 32400 blocked by firewall ​

Symptom: The app shows "Connection refused" or "Server unreachable" when connecting to a local server, even though the server is running.

Fix: Windows Defender Firewall is blocking the connection. Either add an inbound rule for phlix-server.exe in Windows Defender Firewall → Allow an app, or run the server once as Administrator to trigger the Windows firewall dialog. Ensure the rule allows TCP port 32400.

Hub relay not working (network issue) ​

Symptom: Local LAN connection works, but remote access via Hub relay fails — the app spins or shows "Connection error" when away from home.

Fix: Verify both the client machine and the server have working internet connectivity. Check that your network does not block WebSocket connections (ws:// or wss://) — common on coffee shop and enterprise networks. Try a different network (e.g., your phone's hotspot) to isolate whether the issue is network-specific. Also confirm the Hub relay URL is accessible from outside your network.

Next Steps ​

BSD-3-Clause

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