Free
$0
- Analyze any movie file against a device profile
- Full playback-risk report and recommended next step
- Apply fixes to one file at a time, restore or clean up backups
Windows tool for Jellyfin and Plex libraries
DirectPlay Doctor
Understand a movie file before you change it.
Check a movie against the device you actually watch on, see what could cause playback trouble, and choose only a specific, recoverable action when it makes sense.
Works locally. No Jellyfin or Plex account credentials required.
* Windows shows a blue "Windows protected your PC" screen the first time you run the installer, because DirectPlay Doctor isn't code-signed yet. See why, and how to continue.
Analyze firstReading a file never changes it
Device-specific adviceTV, Android TV, Apple TV, browser, or generic
Recoverable changesOriginals are kept or backed up
A measured workflow
Find the risk. Decide what to do. Confirm playback.
(01)
Choose one movie
Device profile(02)
Read the report
Plain language(03)
Confirm a specific fix
You approve(04)
Test on the real device
Jellyfin / PlexCareful by design.
Built to be cautious
This is not a one-click promise that every movie will Direct Play.
Before
Inspect the file and explain the trade-offs.
After confirmation
Create a new version or a recoverable backup — never a silent in-place overwrite.
Simple pricing
Free to analyze and fix one file.
Pro when you manage a whole library.
Pro
$19one-time
- Everything in Free, plus Bulk fix of default tracks across your whole library and reliable HDR10 copies
- Use on up to 2 active devices
- No subscription and no account required
Pro is not on sale yet. During the beta, the Pro features are free for everyone.
Before you install
Why Windows may warn about DirectPlay Doctor
Windows says "Windows protected your PC" when you run the installer? That's expected: DirectPlay Doctor isn't code-signed yet, a deliberate, temporary cost trade-off for a small indie tool. Click "More info", check that it lists DirectPlayDoctor-Setup.exe with an unknown publisher, then click "Run anyway". A code-signing certificate, which removes these warnings entirely, is planned once DirectPlay Doctor leaves beta.
Blocked entirely by Smart App Control? A small number of fresh Windows 11 installs run this stricter mode, which has no "Run anyway" option. Turn it off under Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > App & browser control > Smart App Control, then install DirectPlay Doctor.
Chrome says the download is "not commonly downloaded" and blocks it? Same root cause: DirectPlay Doctor isn't code-signed yet, and Chrome's Safe Browsing flags less-downloaded files as a precaution. Click the download in Chrome's download bar, then "Download suspicious file" to continue.
One-time setup
DirectPlay Doctor installs FFmpeg for you
What is FFmpeg and why does the app need it? FFmpeg is the free, open-source toolkit DirectPlay Doctor uses to read your movie files and apply the fixes you approve. It is a separate program, so it is not part of the download.
Do I have to install it myself? No. The first time you start the app, if FFmpeg is not already on your PC, a window appears and offers to install it with one click. Nothing is downloaded until you press that button. The app checks the file against a known fingerprint before unpacking it and confirms it runs before finishing, and it installs into its own per-user folder, so no administrator rights are needed and nothing else on your PC changes. Already have FFmpeg? Then the app just uses it and you never see that window.
Does this mean the app needs internet? Only for that one download. Analyzing and fixing your files happens entirely on your own PC.
Why is FFmpeg not included in the installer? The usual Windows builds of FFmpeg are GPL-licensed. Letting you fetch one from the official source keeps DirectPlay Doctor clear of the obligations that come with redistributing it.