FAQ

Is MovieClaw free?

Yes, for personal and household use. There's no paid tier. Commercial use (hosting it for others, bundling it with paid hardware, paid installation services, or use inside a company) needs written permission. Contact [email protected].

Is it open source?

The full source code is on GitHub, and you can build and modify it. Releases after v0.27.0 use the MovieClaw License, which is Apache License 2.0 plus a non-commercial condition. That makes it source-available rather than open source in the OSI sense. v0.27.0 and earlier are MIT-licensed.

What hardware do I need?

Anything that runs Docker, x86 or ARM: a Synology, QNAP, or Unraid NAS, a Mac mini, a mini PC or old computer, or a cloud server. Direct play is light on resources. If you'll transcode, an iGPU or GPU helps. See Hardware transcoding.

Which trackers are supported?

23 Chinese private trackers are built in, mostly NexusPHP-based. Torznab, public trackers, and Usenet aren't supported. Want a site added? Open a site request on GitHub.

Which download clients work?

qBittorrent and Transmission. MovieClaw isn't a download client, so you'll need one of those running.

Is there an Android or Apple TV app?

The native Apple TV app is in public beta through TestFlight. Find the invitation and installation steps on the download page. On Android, use the web app or a Jellyfin client. The native iPhone app currently needs to be sideloaded. See Apps and players.

Does it work with Infuse?

Yes. MovieClaw presents itself as a Jellyfin-compatible server, so add it in Infuse as Jellyfin. Watch progress syncs both ways.

Can I keep Plex, Jellyfin, or Emby?

Yes. MovieClaw can handle subscriptions, downloads, and organizing, then tell Emby or Jellyfin to refresh after each import while they keep handling playback.

Do I need an AI model?

No. The AI agent and AI subtitles need a model you bring (any OpenAI-compatible API). Everything else works without one.

Where does my data live? Does anything go to the cloud?

Your library, watch history, accounts, and settings all live in the data folder on your machine. Back it up and you're covered. MovieClaw only goes online for metadata (TMDB, Douban), update checks (GitHub), and the trackers, AI models, and chat apps you connect.

Can I watch away from home?

There's no built-in remote access. Set up Tailscale, WireGuard, or a reverse proxy. The iPhone app is tuned for slow connections away from home.

Is the interface available in English?

Not yet. The interface and logs are currently in Chinese only.

I forgot the admin password

Run this on the machine running MovieClaw and enter a new password when prompted. Your settings and data stay untouched:

docker exec -it movieclaw python -m movieclaw_api.reset_password

Family members who forget theirs can be reset by an admin under Settings → Members (成员).

How do I update?

Update with one click under Settings → Updates & maintenance (更新与维护), and roll back from the same page if needed. You only need to pull a new Docker image when the release notes say so.

Where can I get help?

Open an issue on GitHub or join the Telegram group.