Frequently asked questions.

Shows Party is a Google Chrome extension for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It is not yet available for mobile browsers, smart TVs, or other devices.

YouTube, Netflix, JioHotstar, and Prime Video on primevideo.com. Start a room from any video on these sites and the room follows that title.

Yes. Each person needs their own access to the streaming service and the title you are watching. Shows Party synchronizes players — it does not share, unlock, or stream content.

There is no fixed member cap — rooms are built for watching with a group of friends. If you use voice or video calls, smaller groups work best because calls travel directly between participants.

Download the ZIP from this site, unzip it, and run the included helper for your computer — install.command on macOS, install.ps1 on Windows, or install.sh on Linux. Then open chrome://extensions, turn on Developer mode, choose “Load unpacked,” and pick the folder the helper points you to. The install guide walks through each step.

Look for the Shows Party icon in the toolbar at the top right of Chrome. If you don’t see it, click the puzzle-piece icon to view hidden extensions and pin Shows Party so it is always visible.

Shows Party is not in the Chrome Web Store yet, so it installs as an unpacked extension — and Chrome requires Developer mode for those. That is expected. Keep the unzipped folder where it is; Chrome loads the extension from that location.

Download the newest ZIP and run the helper again, then click the reload arrow on the Shows Party card in chrome://extensions. If something looks broken, remove the extension there and load the folder again — your display name is stored by Chrome and survives a reload.

Open a video on a supported site, click the Shows Party icon in the toolbar, and press “Start the room.” The watch room appears beside the video with your invite ready to share.

Make sure you are on the actual video page — the watch page, not a browse or search page — and that the video has loaded. If you installed Shows Party while the tab was already open, reload the tab once. And check that the site is one of the supported four.

Use the share button at the top of the room to copy the invite link, then send it however you like. One private link carries the title, the room, and the playback moment — that is all your friends need.

Install Shows Party first, then click the invite link your friend sent. It opens the right title on the streaming site and connects you to the room at the same playback moment.

No. A display name is enough to join and chat. Signing in is optional and only carries your display name to another browser.

Yes — you need to be signed in to the streaming service and able to play the title yourself. Shows Party keeps everyone’s players together; it does not provide the video.

Use the hide control at the top of the room whenever you want the full picture back. The room keeps running while hidden — bring it back from the same place or the extension icon.

Open the extension popup — your display name sits at the top and can be changed any time. The name is stored by Chrome on your computer.

Yes. Any room member can join a call. Audio and video travel encrypted directly between participants, and Chrome asks for microphone or camera permission only when you press the call button — you can decline, mute, or hang up at any time.

Yes. The room stays docked beside the video in fullscreen and can be hidden whenever you want the full width back.

Shows Party never sees your streaming-service password, shows no ads, includes no third-party analytics, and does not sell personal data. The relay only moves room events — playback state, presence, and chat — between the people in your room. The privacy policy covers the details in plain English.

Only people with the invite link. There is no public room directory, so treat the link like a password and share it with the people you want there. Idle rooms delete themselves after 24 hours.

No. It synchronizes each person’s own player on the streaming site. It does not host, download, record, or unlock content, and call audio and video are never stored.

Have one person pause and play once — everyone snaps back to the same moment. If it keeps drifting, reload the tab and rejoin from the invite link, and make sure everyone is on the same title.

Check that Shows Party is installed and enabled in chrome://extensions, sign in to the streaming service, then reload the tab. Opening the invite link again after the video loads also reconnects the room.

Shows Party updates often, and most fixes ship in the newest ZIP — reinstalling it resolves the majority of problems. If the issue persists, reach out through the channel where you downloaded Shows Party and include what you were watching and what happened.