I keep seeing people posting links but not the steps to actually get it working. Please help
This link is for last (official) release: Releases · popcorn-official/popcorn-desktop · GitHub it uses the older NW.js version.
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This link is for latest Dev builds (both versions): Workflow runs · popcorn-official/popcorn-desktop · GitHub
Click ‘Latest Build’ for new NW.js update … the other one is self explanatory? (you’ll have to sign-up and/or sign-in to GitHub before downloading is activated)
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New NW.js version has some missing audio (Dolby) codecs in the Popcorntime player. Use VLC player or iiNA player (Mac) … or choose an alternative file (without problematic codec). Opening PT app is now fixed for Mac.
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Old NW.js still crashes when opening (on a Mac) … just keep re-opening, till it stabilizes! For users who must have (prefer) PT client player with codecs. Or find subtitles easier to use/download in the Popcorntime client player.
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Both Dev builds now have an Anime API; an improved ‘Torrent Collection’ search feature; and some other stuff … beyond my pay-grade?
but not the steps to actually get it working.
The Official release (osx64.zip) should auto-unzip itself into your Downloads folder. If it’s a Dev build - double-click the downloaded zip file. Ignore the .pkg file (it’s not needed).
Move the app into your Applications folder (if you want). Open (Applications) Finder window. Right-click (ctrl-click) the app and choose ‘Open’ in the side menu. It should say (“can’t open app”). Just repeat again and you should get an option to ‘Open’? Accept the default ticked-boxes and T&C’s. Popcorntime should auto-update its API’s … might take a minute or so. If you don’t get the green “restart” option within 2 minutes - close the app and reopen it (some kind of glitch, I think). Should open with all tabs populated?
Other than that, it should work - subject to the comments in the bullet points above?
(We’d always recommend using a VPN - for anonymity - but it’s up to you: Your choice!)
Currently, my popcorn-time won’t download anything. The gui looks good, but the magnet links all say connecting while if I just select the magnet links they can successfully download in the transmission app…
I followed the steps you listed and the app just doesn’t seem to want to open for me. Is it maybe my OS isnt supported? I running on Monterey 12.6.8.
Mac or Windows? What Popcorntime version number?
Doesn’t open; opens for a split second then crashes; or PT icon bounces in the Dock, then disappears? The official release will do this. Did you get a crash report notice … or any other Mac (warning) notice? Using any Antivirus or third party security software?
I’ve used PT on every Mac OS back to Mavericks (osx 10.9) but after Big Sur we had a problem with it on opening: Due to a issue with the NWjs version that we were stuck with. Only way around it was to keep re-opening the app till it stabilised. Not great … I know!
I use the Dev build now (updated NW.js) … works just fine for me (Ventura 13.4.1).
I would say it just doesnt open. It’ll do that little icon animation that indicates it is opening, it appears in the dock, and the task bar or whatever it is at the top of the screen appears allowing me to see the menu that has “About Popcorn Time” or “Quit Popcorn Time”. That’s about it; the program itself doesn’t appear. I’ve tried disabling my anti-virus and firewalls and it doesn’t solve the problem.
Check if any of these (highlighted) support folders/file are in your user account (~/Library folder) and delete any you find.
(If you’re having difficulty finding the user ‘Library’ folder: Click ‘Go’ in the Finder menu bar, and hold down the ‘Option’ (Alt) key.
~/Library/Application Support/Popcorn-Time
~/Library/Cache/Popcorn-Time
~/Library/Saved Application State/com.nw-builder.popcorn-time.savedState
~/Library/Preferences/com.nw-builder.popcorn-time.plist
Delete the Popcorntime app, download a new copy, and try again. The macOS Firewall shouldn’t really be an issue (don’t use it myself … or Antivirus). Opening twice from the side menu should tell the Firewall (and Gatekeeper) you’ve given the PTapp a “pass!”.
If you got as far as seeing the PT menu bar, it’s got past Gatekeeper - just the UI not showing up, for some reason? If it happens again, try clicking on the PTapp icon in the Dock … “wakes” the UI up sometimes.
Anyway, see how you get on.
p.s. which download link are you using (Official or Dev build)?
I really appreciate your help and patience. I deleted everything popcorn-time related on my computer, redownloaded, and it is still doing the same thing. To download, I do the following:
- go to https://github.com/popcorn-official/popcorn-desktop/actions/
- on the left, click on “Latest Build”
- I see a “1 workflow run” table, and I click on “Create build_old_nwjs.yml”
- I scroll down to Artifacts and click on “macOS-latest”
- It downloads a zip
- In the zip, there is another zip called “Popcorn-Time-0.4.9+101.g758f6c42-osx64” and a pkg file called “Popcorn-Time-0.4.9+101.g758f6c42”
- When I unzip the zip file, out comes a popcorn-time app. I drag it into my applications folder. When I open it the first time, I get the “developer cannot be verified” popup. I have to open my security pane and “Open Anyway”.
- Every time I install and open it the first time, the “Popcorn-Time Notifications” bubble appears in the corner of my screen where I can select to allow or don’t allow notifications. That’s pretty much the only life I see when I try opening the app. Every subsequent try after that does nothing, no matter how many times I quit and try again.
I have tried installing the pkg file, but that ends up installing a dead icon (grayed out Popcorn-Time icon with a circle and slash) into my application folder that says it’s cannot open because it’s corrupt or whatever.
When I download and install v0.4.9 from https://github.com/popcorn-official/popcorn-desktop/releases, and then open the app, it gives me this error message: “Your profile can not be used because it is from a newer version of NW.js. Some features may be unavailable. Please specify a different profile directory or use a newer version of NW.js.”
Any other tips?
You’re having a nightmare with this … honestly, it’s usually a lot easier.
"Your profile can not be used because it is from a newer version of NW.js.
That’s ok … you are actually using an older version. For me - just click accept and it opens the old NW.js app. As long as it doesn’t crash first! (sic). Let’s stick with Dev version … trying to open the old (crashing) version is not going to help towards a solution, I think?
(grayed out Popcorn-Time icon with a circle and slash)
That’s more unusual - it tends to mean what it says? I don’t use the .pkg file because it’s given me problems in the past. I suspect it might be SIP, but I don’t fancy messing around with it (SIP) when I don’t need to … stick with .zip?.
Try something different: Open a new (vanilla) ‘User Account’ with admin privileges. (just for this test). Download the “Latest Build” (new NW.js) again, and right-click “Open” twice (it’s quicker than using “open anyway”). And just open it from within the Downloads folder, for now.
(edit: you don’t use cleanmymac X, by any chance?)