Compatibility
Check device and format support.
Check this browser, native apps, and server hardware.
All platforms
Supported Format playbackCompatible Adapted playbackNot available
Mac · iPhone · iPad · Apple TV
Apps that feel at home.
Keep playback close.
Picture in Picture, background audio, system media controls, and resume from the last watched position.
Make it sound right.
Gapless music, separate Wi-Fi and cellular quality preferences, and instant handoff to nearby Pixel Brite speakers.
Set it once.
Preferred audio and subtitle languages, forced captions, and system caption appearance.
Leave the connection behind.
Download movies, episodes, and music. Browse the local catalog offline. Reconnect remotely without port forwarding.
Native Apple apps
Native HDR across Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.
Pixel Brite uses the same format-aware playback path across its Apple apps. HDR10+ metadata is preserved in the Apple HLS presentation, with HDR10 available for displays that cannot use the dynamic metadata. Actual HDR output follows the device, connected display, and system display settings.
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| Pixel Brite app | HDR10 | HDR10+ | HLG | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacmacOS 14+ · built-in or external display | Supported | PreservedHDR10 fallback | Supported | Dolby VisionProfiles 5·7·8.1·8.4 |
| iPhone · iPadiOS / iPadOS 17+ | Supported | PreservedHDR10 fallback | Supported | Dolby VisionProfiles 5·7·8.1·8.4 |
| Apple TVtvOS 17+ · connected display | Supported | PreservedHDR10 fallback | Supported | Dolby VisionProfiles 5·7·8.1·8.4 |
Pixel Brite for Mac
The Mac app plays media files directly.
Use Open With → Pixel Brite or File → Open. Each file gets its own player window. No library import or server required.
Audio + videoOne window per fileNo library import
High dynamic range
HDR matched to the display.
Pixel Brite preserves HDR whenever the browser and display can present it. Safari receives Dolby Vision Profiles 5, 7, 8.1, and 8.4. Dolby Vision can be presented as compatible HDR on other HDR-capable paths, while SDR displays get automatic tone mapping. The original file remains untouched.
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| Browser / device | HDR10 | HDR10+ | HLG | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SafarimacOS | Supported | HDR10+HDR10 fallback | Supported | Dolby VisionProfiles 5·7·8.1·8.4 |
| Edge · ChromeWindows x64 · NVIDIA HDR | Supported | CompatibleHDR10 fallback | Supported | Plays as HDRBest available HDR |
| FirefoxWindows 10/11 · compatible HDR hardware | Supported | CompatibleHDR10 fallback | Supported | Plays as HDRBest available HDR |
| Edge · ChromeWindows ARM64 · SDR | Plays as SDRAutomatic tone mapping | Plays as SDRAutomatic tone mapping | Plays as SDRAutomatic tone mapping | Plays as SDRAutomatic tone mapping |
Video codecs
When the device exposes hardware decoding, Pixel Brite uses it automatically to reduce CPU load and battery use.
H.264HEVCVP9AV1
Picture cleanup
Baked-in black bars disappear during playback.
Pixel Brite detects letterboxing and pillarboxing inside the encoded frame, restores the usable picture area as the video plays, and leaves the original file untouched.
LetterboxPillarboxNon-destructive
Playback features
AirPlay, Chromecast, and Picture in Picture.
Use the controls built into your device to send a title to AirPlay or Chromecast, or keep it visible in Picture in Picture. The available options follow the browser and device combinations below.
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| Browser / device | PiP | AirPlay | Chromecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| SafariMac · iOS | Supported | Supported | Not available |
| Chrome / EdgeMac · Windows · Linux | Supported | Not available | Supported |
| FirefoxMac · Windows · Linux | Supported | Not available | Not available |
| ChromeAndroid | Supported | Not available | Supported |
Browser audio
Unsupported audio does not force a video transcode.
Pixel Brite can convert an unsupported audio track to a browser-compatible 5.1 presentation while leaving compatible video intact. The table shows direct and adapted audio delivery by browser.
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| Browser | AAC | AC-3 | E-AC-3 | E-AC-3 Atmos | Opus | FLAC | ALAC | PCM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SafarimacOS · up to 5.1 delivery | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported | CompatibleAAC 5.1 | Supported | Supported | CompatibleAAC 5.1 |
| Chrome · FirefoxmacOS · up to 5.1 delivery | Supported | CompatibleAAC 5.1 | CompatibleAAC 5.1 | CompatibleAAC 5.1 | Supported | Supported | CompatibleAAC 5.1 | CompatibleAAC 5.1 |
Server platforms
Supported server platforms.
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| Server host | Install | Libraries | Playback | Browser client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 x64Native server | Native installer | Local · USB · network | Original · transcodeHardware acceleration when supported by the host | Edge · Chrome · Firefox |
| Windows 11 ARM64Native server | Native installer | Local · USB · network | Original · software transcode | Edge · Chrome · Firefox |
| Linux x64Native server | Native installer | Local · USB · network | Original · transcodeHardware acceleration when supported by the host | Chromium · Firefox |
| NixOS x64Flake module · x86_64 | Flake module | Local · USB · network | Original · transcodeSoftware processing | Web browser |
| NixOS ARM64Flake module · ARM64 | Flake module | Local · USB · network | Original · transcodeSoftware processing | Web browser |
| Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W64-bit Raspberry Pi OS · limited support | Native ARM64 installer | Local · USB · network | Direct · remux · audio transcodeUnsupported video refused | Chrome on another device |
| Docker AMD64Docker Compose · AMD64 | Docker Compose | Mounted folders | Direct · remux · transcode | Web browser |
| Docker ARM64Docker Compose · ARM64 | Docker Compose | Mounted folders | Direct · remux · transcode | Web browser |
Server requirements
Minimum requirements.
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| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| MemoryServer host | 512 MiB RAMOriginal playback·remuxing·audio conversion |
| Video transcodingWhen original video cannot play | Hardware encoder recommendedWithout one, the CPU must encode video in real time; 4K and multiple simultaneous transcodes may not keep up |
Library formats
Supported media formats.
Play MKV, MP4, HDR, surround sound, subtitles, and lossless music. Pixel Brite adapts playback to the device and leaves original files untouched.
MKVMP4MOVAVIM4VTSWebMWMVFLVMPEG-TSH.264HEVCAV1VP9HDR10HDR10+HLGDoViAtmosDigital+MP3FLACM4AAACOggOpusWAVWMAAPEALACAIFFDSFDFFDSD64DSD12824-bit / 192 kHzPGS / SUPVobSub / IDXSRT / WebVTTASS / SSAClosed captionsEmbedded subtitlesExternal subtitlesMultiple audio tracks
AirPlay delivery
AirPlay and Chromecast adapt to the receiver.
Preserve compatible HDR, video, and audio. Quality adjusts to the receiver and connection during playback; no advance conversion required.
Chromecast supports H.264, HEVC, VP9/WebM, and AV1.