Help
Short answers to what people ask most. If yours isn't here, write to us.
For everything Matinee does, step by step, read the user guide.
Can I use Matinee on my phone?
Not yet. Matinee runs in Chrome on a computer. Chrome on phones and tablets doesn't take extensions. If you found us on your phone, the home page can send the link to you, remind you later, or give you a short address to type on your computer.
Which browsers does it work in?
Chrome on a computer, where we've tested it from start to finish. Other browsers aren't tested yet. When one passes our tests, it's added here.
Where is my library kept?
In Chrome, on your own computer. There's no Matinee account and no Matinee server: we never see your videos, folders, notes or what you watch. The privacy policy has the details.
How do backups work, and how do I move to a new computer?
Matinee backs itself up every few days, to your Downloads or to a folder you choose (a Dropbox, OneDrive or iCloud Drive folder keeps a copy off the computer too). Back up now in Settings makes one straight away.
To move to a new computer: back up on the old one, add Matinee to Chrome on the new one, then Restore from file in Settings. Restoring adds what's missing and never overwrites anything newer.
I use two browsers, or two Chrome profiles. Why are my libraries different?
Each browser, and each Chrome profile, keeps its own library, because the library lives where the browser keeps its own data. To bring one into the other, back up in one and restore in the other.
Do I need a Google or YouTube API key?
No. It’s optional, and only fills in video lengths for links you save without opening them (pasted links, right-click, YouTube’s ⋮ menu). Without one, those get their length and date the next time you open the video.
If you want one, it’s free and takes about five minutes:
- In the Google Cloud console, make a project, turn on YouTube Data API v3 and create an API key.
- Restrict the key to YouTube Data API v3, and set a low daily limit.
- In Matinee, press the gear (Backup & settings), paste the key under Video details and press Save key. It should say Working.
The key is kept encrypted on this computer and never goes into a backup, so after restoring on another computer you add it again.
How do Pro and its key work?
Everything you do in Matinee is free, for good. Pro, coming later, changes how Matinee looks.
When you buy Pro, Lemon Squeezy, who sell it for us, emails you a key. Paste it into Matinee. The website never asks for your key.
On another computer: add Matinee there and paste the same key. One key works on three computers, and each browser you use counts as one. Removing it from a computer frees that place.
Can I get my money back?
Yes. Within 30 days of buying, for any reason. See Refunds.
Can I join the pilot?
Yes, while it’s open. Join now and you’re a Founder: Pro, every future Pro version and every pack, free for good, as a thank you for trying Matinee first.
Help and feedback
Write to matineepilot@gmail.com. In Matinee, Settings › Help & feedback opens an email with the version number filled in, which helps us.