Lean Player Pro

Lean Player Pro lets you create and manage video players, audio players and playlists in WordPress. Choose a source, set playback and appearance options, preview the result while editing, then publish it with a shortcode or an editor integration.

Media sources and embeds

• Video: YouTube, YouTube Shorts, Vimeo, and HTML5 documents in MP4, WebM or OGG. Vertical video can fit the player without stretching or distortion.
• Audio: MP3, OGG, WAV, M4A, AAC and FLAC files from an upload, direct URL or CDN. OPUS works from a direct URL or CDN, but cannot be uploaded through the WordPress media library.
• Live audio: MP3 or AAC streams from Icecast, Shoutcast or another server that offers a direct stream URL. On an HTTPS website, the stream URL must also use HTTPS because browsers block plain HTTP audio.

The player is designed to work with any theme. Add video or audio with an Elementor widget, or place a saved player or playlist using a shortcode, the Block Editor or the Classic Editor. Pro also connects to Bunny Stream and Bunny Storage. Protected libraries and zones use signed links that renew on cached pages; integration keys stay on your server.

Player settings and playlists

Set global defaults for player behavior, then override them on individual players. Categories help organize players, and the admin list shows source details, autoplay status and each copy-ready shortcode. You can preview a player from the list or its edit screen. The live preview updates as you change settings, before you save.

Playback settings include autoplay, muted start, volume, looping, playback speed and keyboard shortcuts. Media Preload lets you load basic information, wait until a visitor presses play, or start loading immediately. Pro can pause other players when one starts. Video and audio playlists can use various panel positions and skins, and can advance to the next entry when playback ends. Pro adds options such as a grid layout, automatic thumbnails and durations, and starting from a selected item.

Use Timestamp Links to send users to a moment in a video or podcast. Add a link where it belongs in your post, for example [lean_timestamp time="1:30"]Jump to intro[/lean_timestamp]. Selecting it seeks the player to that time and starts playback without reloading the page.

Pro access controls and media limits

Pro access settings apply to saved players and playlists. You can allow everyone, logged-in users with optional role limits, logged-out users, members of a Paid Memberships Pro or MemberPress level, or visitors with a password. Individual playlist episodes can have their own access settings. A visitor without access sees a locked message with a login or join button instead of the player, and the media link stays out of the page. Locked content loads after the page, so the setting works with page caching.

These controls do not protect the media file itself: anyone who already has its direct address can open it. YouTube and Vimeo privacy also depends on the settings on those services. Access settings are available for saved players and playlists, but not for individually configured Elementor video or audio widgets or the [lean_video] and [lean_audio] shortcodes.

Set up and publish

Create a player or playlist in the WordPress admin area, select its source and settings, and check the preview. Copy the generated shortcode into a post or page, or add the player with an Elementor widget. For timestamp navigation, add the timestamp shortcode at the point in the content where its link should appear.