Local Web Interface

EZPlayer runs a built-in HTTP server on your show PC so phones, tablets, and other computers on the same network can open a web UI — no remote desktop required. The same server also provides the REST Interface (HTTP API) for external integration.

This is the LAN UI (also called the embedded or web interface). It mirrors most of what you can do in the desktop app, with a few differences noted below.

Opening the LAN UI

1. Make sure EZPlayer is running on the show PC.
2. Find the machine's local IP address or hostname on your network (for example 192.168.1.50).
3. Open a browser on another device and go to:

http://<show-pc-ip>:<port>

The default port is 3000, so a typical URL is http://192.168.1.50:3000.

You can use the same URL on the show PC itself (http://localhost:3000) to test the web UI without a second device.

From the LAN UI you can monitor the Player screen, use the jukebox, edit playlists and schedules, and check Show Status.

Special LAN UI Features

On the web / LAN UI, a speaker icon in the header of the Jukebox and 3D preview pages toggles a live audio stream — useful for listening over the network when you are not at the show PC.

Desktop app vs LAN UI

Capability	Desktop app	LAN UI
Player, Jukebox, Playlists, Schedule	Yes	Yes
Show Status (full detail)	Yes	Yes
HTTP Listener Status card	Yes	No
Add / edit song files	Yes	No
Choose show folder	Yes	No
Cloud registration dialog	Yes	Limited (Cloud tile)
Kiosk mode	Separate port	Yes (__EZPLAYER_MODE__=kiosk)

Song file management and show-folder selection stay on the show PC. Everything else — including playlist edits, schedule changes, jukebox requests, and API calls — can be done from the LAN UI once the server is Listening.

Kiosk (public display)

EZPlayer can also open a second, kiosk web server one port above the LAN UI port, 3001 by default. The kiosk has a simplified sidebar — jukebox and player only, no song/playlist/schedule management.

In kiosk mode (public LAN display), End and Abort playback buttons are hidden so visitors cannot stop the show. Skip and Play/Pause remain available.

HTTP Listener Status (desktop app)

On the desktop Electron app, open Show Status and scroll to the HTTP Listener Status card at the bottom. This panel tells you whether the LAN server is up and which port to use when connecting from other devices.

The card refreshes every few seconds and shows three fields:

Field	Meaning
Port	The TCP port the LAN HTTP server is bound to (or attempted). Use this in your browser URL.
Source	Where that port number came from — see Configuring the port below.
Status	Whether the server is running

Status values

Status	Meaning
Listening (green)	The server is running. Other devices on the LAN can connect at http://<ip>:<port>.
Stopped (grey)	The server is not running (for example EZPlayer is shutting down).
Error (red)	The server failed to start or crashed. Check the EZPlayer logs; a common cause is the port already being in use by another program.

If the preferred port is busy, EZPlayer tries the next ports in sequence (up to 10 attempts). When that happens, Source may note a fallback (for example Default (fallback from 3000)) and Port shows the port that actually bound.

info

The HTTP Listener Status card is available in the Electron desktop app only. The LAN UI itself does not display this card — you use it on the show PC to learn which URL to give guests and integrators.

Configuring the LAN UI port

The main LAN UI port is chosen in this priority order:

1. CLI argument — --web-port=3000 (highest priority)
2. Environment variable — EZPLAYER_WEB_PORT
3. Stored preference — remembered from a previous successful launch
4. Default — 3000

Valid ports vary by platform, but are likely in the 1024–49151 range. See Environment Variables for all runtime and build-time variables.

Changing the port number requires an EZPlayer restart.

Configuring the Kiosk Port

Configure it the same way as the LAN UI Port:

Setting	Main LAN UI	Kiosk
Default port	3000	3001
CLI	--web-port=	--kiosk-port=
Environment	EZPLAYER_WEB_PORT	EZPLAYER_KIOSK_PORT

The kiosk UI can be disabled by setting its port number to 0.

The HTTP Listener Status card on Show Status reports the main LAN port and the kiosk port.

What the server provides

The HTTP listener serves:

• Web UI — the embedded React app (same features as the LAN sidebar in the desktop app)
• REST API — GET /api/current-show, POST /api/player-command, and other endpoints documented in the API reference
• WebSocket — ws://<show-pc-ip>:<port>/ws for live player status, show data updates, and preview streaming
• Health check — GET /api/hello returns a simple JSON message to verify the server is reachable

No authentication is built into the LAN server — anyone on your local network who knows the IP and port can connect. Keep the show PC on a trusted network or restrict access at your router if needed.

Troubleshooting

Cannot connect from phone or tablet

• Confirm HTTP Listener Status shows Listening on the show PC.
• Use the Port shown on that card in your URL (not an assumed 3000 if it fell back to another port).
• Verify the client device is on the same network as the show PC (same Wi‑Fi or VLAN).
• Check Windows firewall (or similar on other platforms) allows inbound TCP on that port.

Status shows Error

• Another application may be using the port. Set --web-port= to a free port or stop the conflicting program.
• Review EZPlayer logs for [server-worker] messages.

Quick connectivity test

From any device on the LAN:

http://<show-pc-ip>:<port>/api/hello

You should see JSON like {"message":"Hello from Koa + Electron!"}.