HomeScreenCompanion is a plugin for Emby Server that automatically manages tags and collections for your Movies and TV Shows — and keeps your home screen sections in sync across multiple users.
It works by connecting one or more sources to a tag and/or collection in your Emby library. Sources can be external lists from Trakt or MDBList, rules-based filters on your own library, AI-generated recommendations, or your existing local collections and playlists. Each source runs on a schedule, and the plugin makes sure your library always reflects the current state — adding and removing tags and collection memberships automatically.
Important
From plugin version 3.3.0.0, Emby beta server 4.10.0.8+ is required
- Five source types — External List, Smart Playlist, AI List, Local Collection, Local Playlist
- Automatic tagging and collections — items are added and removed as lists change
- Advanced scheduling — annual, weekly, or specific date windows
- Per-entry home screen sections — automatically managed sections for any tag or collection
- Home screen sync — mirror one user's home screen layout to any number of other users
Connect to curated lists on Trakt or MDBList. The plugin fetches the list on a schedule, matches items to your library by IMDB ID, and keeps tags and collections in sync automatically.
- Supports any Trakt or MDBList URL — trending, popular, user lists, curated sets
- Multiple URLs can be combined into a single tag/collection entry
- Items removed from the remote list are automatically untagged
Supported services:
- Trakt.tv — Trending, Popular, Watched, User Lists
- MDBList.com — Dynamic lists with custom criteria
Example URLs:
https://trakt.tv/movies/trending
https://trakt.tv/movies/popular
https://trakt.tv/users/username/lists/my-list
https://mdblist.com/lists/user/listname/
API keys required: Trakt Client ID and/or MDBList API Key (configured in the Settings tab).
Build dynamic lists directly from your library using a flexible rule builder. No external service needed — the plugin scans your library and tags items that match your criteria.
Rules can be combined with AND/OR logic, grouped into multiple condition groups, and negated with !.
Available filter criteria:
| Category | Properties |
|---|---|
| Video | Resolution (8K, 4K, 1080p, 720p, SD), Codec (HEVC, AV1, H.264), HDR (Any, Dolby Vision, HDR10) |
| Audio | Format (Atmos, TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, DTS, AC3, AAC), Channels (7.1+, 5.1, Stereo, Mono), Language |
| Content | Genre, Studio, Actor, Director, Writer, Content Rating, Title, Overview, Tag, IMDB ID |
| Metrics | Year, Runtime, Community Rating, File Size, Date Added, Date Modified |
| Watch status | Watched/Unwatched, Last Played, Play Count — per user, any user, or all users |
Example use cases:
- Tag all 4K Dolby Vision movies with Atmos audio →
4K AND Dolby Vision AND Atmos - "Recently added and never watched" →
Date Added <= 30 AND Unwatched - Action movies from 2010+ rated above 7 →
Genre: Action AND Year >= 2010 AND Rating >= 7 - All HEVC content under 90 minutes →
HEVC AND Runtime < 90
Premade filter templates are available for common use cases (4K, recent additions, unwatched, etc.), and you can save your own filter sets for reuse.
Generate recommendations using AI. Write a natural language prompt and the plugin calls an AI model to produce a list of movies and shows, then matches them against your library.
Supported AI providers:
- OpenAI (GPT-4o-mini) — requires an OpenAI API key
- Google Gemini (Gemini Flash) — requires a Google Gemini API key
Personalization: Optionally include a user's recently watched history as context. The AI uses this to tailor recommendations to that user's taste.
Configuration:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| AI Provider | OpenAI or Google Gemini |
| API Key | Your key for the selected provider |
| Prompt | Natural language description of what you want (e.g., "Best psychological thrillers from the 90s") |
| Include recently watched | Adds watch history to the prompt for personalized results |
| Source user | Which user's watch history to use |
| History count | How many recent items to include (5–100, default 20) |
A Test button lets you preview the AI output before saving.
Tag items based on an existing Emby Collection. Combine with scheduling to create time-limited promotions of curated content — no external API needed.
Tag items based on an existing Emby Playlist. Works the same as Local Collection but uses playlists as the source.
Any source type can automatically maintain an Emby Collection alongside its tag.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Create Collection | Automatically create and manage an Emby Collection for this entry |
| Collection Name | Optional custom name (defaults to the tag name) |
When a source is disabled or its schedule ends, the plugin automatically removes the collection.
Set any entry to be active only during specific time windows.
| Rule | Description |
|---|---|
| Annual | Active between a recurring start and end date each year (e.g., Dec 1–31 for "Christmas Movies") |
| Weekly | Active on selected days of the week (e.g., only on Fridays) |
| Specific Dates | Active between a fixed start and end date — for one-time events |
When a schedule window closes, tags and collections are automatically cleaned up.
Two complementary features give you full control over home screen sections.
Add a dedicated home screen section to any tag/collection entry. The plugin creates, updates, and removes the section automatically on each sync — no manual Emby configuration needed.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Section Type | Single Collection — shows the managed collection as a boxset row. Dynamic Media — shows items filtered by the entry's tag |
| Item Types | Movie, Series, Episode, MusicVideo (Dynamic Media only) |
| Custom Title | Override the section name on the home screen |
| Image Type | Default, Primary, Backdrop, or Thumb |
| Sort By | Default, Rating, Date Added, Name, Runtime, Release Date, Year, or Random |
| Sort Order | Ascending, Descending, or Default |
| Scroll Direction | Horizontal, Vertical, or Default |
| Target Users | Which users get this section |
Mirror one user's full home screen layout to any number of other users — automatically, or on a schedule
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Enable sync | Turn the copy feature on or off |
| Source user | The user whose layout is used as master |
| Target users | Users whose home screens will be overwritten to match the source |
The plugin page shows last sync time, result, and number of sections copied.
- Fail-Safe Cleanup — if a remote list fails to download, the plugin skips cleanup for that tag/collection to prevent accidental data loss
- Dry Run Mode — test your configuration in the logs without modifying anything in your library
- Live Logging — view the execution log directly inside the plugin settings with real-time status updates
- Download the latest
.dllfrom the Releases page. - Shut down your Emby Server.
- Place the
.dllfile in your Emby plugins folder. - Start Emby Server.
Go to your Emby Dashboard. You will find Home Screen Companion in the sidebar menu.
The plugin page has three tabs: Tag and Collection, Home Screen, and Settings.
| Key | Required for |
|---|---|
| Trakt Client ID | External List sources using Trakt URLs |
| MDBList API Key | External List sources using MDBList URLs |
| OpenAI API Key | AI List sources using OpenAI |
| Google Gemini API Key | AI List sources using Google Gemini |
Disclaimer: This plugin is not affiliated with Emby, Trakt, MDBList, OpenAI, or Google. This plugin is heavily vibe-coded, tested on my own server — use at your own risk.
