How to use Watchly

Get started with Watchly

Install the app, connect your first source, and start watching the media you already own.

Sign in or continue as Guest

Choose how you use Watchly — a synced account across devices, or Guest mode on one device.

Download Watchly on every screen

Where Watchly runs today — and how the web companion fits in.

Add a source to your library

Sources is where every library connection lives — media servers, cloud, network, local, and more.

Connect Plex to Watchly

Stream your Plex libraries inside Watchly on iPhone, Mac, and Apple TV — with Continue Watching that follows you.

Connect Jellyfin to Watchly

Point Watchly at your Jellyfin server and browse movies and shows with the same cinematic Home.

Connect Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box

Link cloud folders on each device. Apple TV can stream Google Drive through your signed-in iPhone or Mac.

Connect SMB, FTP, NFS, or WebDAV

Stream from a NAS or shared folder on your network — with discovery when devices are on the same Wi‑Fi.

Add local files on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Import videos with the Files app on iOS, or add folders that Watchly scans in place on Mac.

Add videos with File Sharing

Send videos from any browser on your Wi‑Fi into Watchly — no cables required.

Play a Direct URL and use Downloads

Paste a stream URL to play immediately, and manage saved files in Downloads on iPhone.

Browse Home and Library

Home is your cinematic front row. Library is every title you’ve connected.

Use Discover and Advanced Search

Explore trending titles and search deeply — on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Manage Watchlist, Liked, and Seen

Keep track of what you want to watch, love, and have finished — synced with PRO.

Play almost any video file

Use the Watchly player for skip, scrub, subtitles, audio tracks, and resume.

Cast to Apple TV

Send playback to the big screen with Nearby — and control it from Lock Screen or Dynamic Island.

Share your library over Nearby

Let another Watchly device on your Wi‑Fi browse and play from your sources.

Link Apple TV with a 6-character code

Activate Watchly on Apple TV from the web so your account and sync preferences follow the living room.

Sync across your devices

Continue Watching, Watchlist, Liked, and Seen follow your Watchly account.

What’s in Watchly PRO

Unlimited sources, full sync, Advanced Search, more devices, and Family Sharing — with a 7-day trial.

Fix playback problems

When a title won’t play, check format, permissions, and source connectivity first.

Fix a source that won’t connect

Reconnect OAuth, wake the NAS, or re-add Plex/Jellyfin when a library goes offline.

Fix Nearby casting and sharing

Same Wi‑Fi, Nearby enabled, and a single active session solve most living-room issues.