FAQ¶

Quick answers to the questions people ask most.

Why are there multiple databases?: The first database (tracking) stores settings, tokens, and catalogs. The others (storage_1, storage_2, …) store your actual media entries. Splitting them lets you grow a big library across several free MongoDB tiers without paying. See Configuration.
Why Telegram as storage?: Telegram offers generous, reliable file hosting with no expiring links. This app turns that storage into a streamable, organized library — no re-uploading required.
Can I use private channels?: Yes. Add the bot as an admin to your private channel and list it in AUTH_CHANNEL. For manual entries and Global Search, private links (t.me/c/...) are supported too.
Can I stream lectures or personal videos?: Absolutely. Use Manual Add for content that has no IMDb/TMDB page — you supply the title and details. See Media Management.
Can multiple users stream at the same time?: Yes. For heavy simultaneous use, add extra bot tokens (multi-token load balancing) so streams are spread across several bots.
Can I use Cloudflare / a reverse proxy?: Yes. Run the app behind Caddy, Nginx, or Cloudflare for HTTPS. Just set your Base URL to the public HTTPS address. See Deployment.
Do I have to pay for anything?: No. You can run entirely on free tiers (Hugging Face + free MongoDB). A VPS and domain are optional upgrades for performance and a clean URL.
Do I need a TMDB key?: It’s optional but strongly recommended. Without it, posters/descriptions are limited and language/OTT auto-catalogs won’t populate (only Top Rated and Recently Added will).
How much RAM do I need?: The app is lightweight. A small VPS (about 1 GB RAM) is plenty for personal use. Heavy multi-user streaming benefits from more, but streaming is bandwidth-bound, not RAM-bound.
Will my links expire?: No. The app stores the channel + message reference and reconnects to Telegram on demand, so links keep working indefinitely.
How do I charge people for access?: Enable Subscription mode, create plans, and set approvers. Users pay through the bot and get an auto-generated addon token on approval. See User Management.
Which app should I watch in — Stremio or Nuvio?: Both work. Nuvio tends to handle these Telegram streams more reliably across more devices, so it’s the recommended client.