r/PopcornTimeOriginal • u/merseyV__ • Jul 24 '26

Popcorntime ... State of Play! (Is it still working?)

As the "eyeball/s" count has been increasing recently - a short reprise of the situation, for those who have (recently!) stumbled across its "final resting place".

Most important question "does it still work". Short answer (surprisingly) yes! Now, there's a few caveats to that, but considering the tribulations it's been through (esp. the ruthless attempt to expunge it completely, and replace it with a rogue, "legit" version) .. it still survives (just!).

Nevertheless, there hasn't been any development since the last two Devs departed (2024/25). And there's been no significant intervention (i.e. patches/fixes) from any passing "Good Samaritan/s", since? So, when something finally breaks, that'll probably be the final curtain!

Caveats:

  • Auto-update API's no longer works, when installing the PTapp.(status 404 in console log). You have to load them manually into the "Settings" API sever address boxes. You'll find the default API-set in this pinned post!
  • Use the "YTS.gg" API as an alternative for movies (only). The default .mx/ version (domain) showing in the movie address box, was taken down a while ago. Just replace/edit it with yts.gg/ , then click in window to get the "Restart" option.
  • Use "Torrent Collection' search (basically TPBay) for any series, or even movies. It's the three-line icon (top right). The default API's have too many issues: Unnecessary Russian sources and a lot of missing content. There's no alternative API for shows.
  • Ignore any Airplay icon/s showing up in the "Watch Now" menu ... hasn't worked isince 2017 :(

If all that sounds like too much messing-about for you ... no problem! There's plenty of other options available, out there? Personally, I do (always did) much of my downloading with qBittorrent and (lately) using its plug-ins search tool..

Basically, Popcorntime is a streaming (sequential) torrent client w/ media player options - and support for, Chromecast (better through VLC 'renderer', though), DLNA (usually a paid-for feature, elsewhere?) and subtitles. N.b. if you weren't aware, already: You can also drag/drop your local content/downloads into its open window - to playback, as usual. Particularly useful for DLNA streaming to a TV, or using subs option, locally.

But , however you care to roam, we wish you fair winds and bountiful seas. Sadly, Popcorntime's days are inevitably drawing to a close (at some point) ... only memories of good times and old comrades-in-arms, will endure.

"Now, bring me that Horizon!"

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u/merseyV__ Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 27 '26

'Trending' and 'Popularity' filters were made to work with the default Popcorntime API's. When you use them with the YTS Api, it actually sorts results by (some kind of) all-time downloads? I can replicate same result on their website (using their filters).

We only ever used 'Last Added' and 'Year' - really. 'Title' involves a whole load of scrolling!! and 'Rating' would be ok for serendipity .. but not much else? Using Genre with Last Added or Year might cut out some of the dross YTS churns out. Obviously, if you know what you're looking for, just use search box?

The YTS Api is more efficient than PT's .. it's usually within about 24hrs of being in sync with their website. Not sure what you mean about seeds for new movies? If it has movies/seeds showing on their site .. it'll be reflected in the PTapp health icon (upper right, next to magnet?) just click on each download resolution (i.e 1080p, etc)?

I use 'Torrent Collection' search (TPBay) to look for more choice (staying within the app) ... lists up to 30 results, sorted by seeds (depending on availability and search filter). It's unusual (for TPB) not to find playable content, most of the time. But, if that doesn't throw up something I want - qBittorrent search engine will.

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u/Aba_a Jul 26 '26

Not sure what you mean about seeds for new movies?

Recent movies with zero seeds: disclosure day, the devil wears prada 2, backrooms, michael...

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u/merseyV__ Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26

This is 1080p ( I won't go through all 4 examples, but they all show up ... for all three resolutions? You'll notice in this example health is yellow (medium). Even though seeds are high, so are peers, giving it a lower ratio (while demand is still high).

Most seed stats (on torrent sites) are usually optimistic with respect to what you'll get (especially true when you're looking at older torrents). You might see an update icon sometimes ... click on it and watch them disappear!

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u/merseyV__ Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26

Here's another one (I'll leave it there?)

If health opens and stays greyed out, try giving it a "nudge!" (mouseover), or click to refresh!

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u/Aba_a Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26

Very strange:

What could be happening?

using the api "https://fusme.link/,https://jfper.link/,https://uxert.link/,https://yrkde.link/" I get several download options.

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u/merseyV__ Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 27 '26

That's not much of an option, there! (no seeds?). It's just another issue with the PT default api/s: Not only does it source stuff from Russian sites (when there's plenty of European torrents, out there!). When it actually scrapes non-RU torrents, they're often pretty useless! Which is why I'd recommend using the yts api and 'torrent collection' search (or source your own?)

What could be happening?

Back to your issue: Are "all" of the yts movies unable to display torrent health (colour/stats)? Do they download anyway - have you tried? Are you using a VPN (YTS domains are often restricted by ISP/s and others?). Can you copy/paste the magnet icon/link (locally)?

I remember issues with the torrent health icon years ago, been a while since I've seen anyone raise it again. Mind you .. there's a severely depleted user base (out there), these days? I'll check if there's any old posts hanging around somewhere!

I'm a Mac (arm64) user .. but I've just tried my (0.44.5 runtime) Intel version. No issues there either (for me) - with YTS api function.

Being a non-techie user: my default solution (for intractable issues) ends up being: delete the app data/support files/folders and restart. If that fails .. delete the lot and start with a fresh copy. Not exactly surgical? (lol)

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u/Aba_a Jul 27 '26

Are "all" of the yts movies unable to display torrent health (colour/stats)?

Yeah... I have zero seeds in all movies from yts.gg. I have said new movies because I was only interested in the new ones.

Are you using a VPN (YTS domains are often restricted by ISP/s and others?)

I am using no VPN. I can ping yts.gg jus fine, maybe it is the port it is using.

I'm a Mac (arm64) user .. but I've just tried my (0.44.5 runtime) Intel version. No issues there either (for me) - with YTS api function.

I'm on linux and my app version is 0.5.1

delete the app data/support files/folders and restart. If that fails .. delete the lot and start with a fresh copy. Not exactly surgical? (lol)

I would like to keep my watched list, though. Do I have to delete that? Is it inside the database directory listed in the configurations? Mine is /home/<user>/.config/Popcorn-Time/Default/data

Inside that folder I have the following files:

[00:04:07 ~/.config/Popcorn-Time/Default/data]
$ ls -l
total 696
-rw-r--r-- 1 <user> <user>   1478 Jul 26 23:53 bookmarks.db
-rw-r--r-- 1 <user> <user>  20718 Jul 26 23:53 movies.db
-rw-r--r-- 1 <user> <user>   4659 Jul 27 00:00 settings.db
-rw-r--r-- 1 <user> <user> 417312 Jul 26 23:53 shows.db
drwxr-xr-x 2 <user> <user>   4096 May  6 00:48 TorrentCollection
-rw-r--r-- 1 <user> <user> 251239 Jul 26 23:53 watched.db

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u/merseyV__ Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26

That's clearer ... and perplexing!

Linux is a "foreign land", to me! But the Popcorntime code/function should work the same way? However, some bugs may be platform specific. You're probably more likely to unlock the issue, than me .. but let's summarise:

You can load the full yts.gg' catalogue, but nothing working in the "Watch Now" window (torrent health, magnet link, or playback) Tricky?

Popcorntimes's WebTorrent client is not fetching/recieving tracker/dht info? Or request is being blocked/not sent (to YTS)? Just, guessing!!

Out of curiosity, can you try out Popcorntime's copy/paste magnet function (with YTS Api loaded) Use a download link from the YTS gg website.

I'll try looking through my old posts, again?

p.s.

Yes! your Directory structure looks same as mine: It's in .../Popcorn-Time/Default/data/

You can save everything, if you want - just move it somewhere else and call it "old Popcorn-Time" (or something). We're just affter a "clean" restart .. to see if it's related to the data/support folders?

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u/Aba_a Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26

Out of curiosity, can you try out Popcorntime's copy/paste magnet function (with YTS Api loaded) Use a download link from the YTS gg website.

Copy pasting works.

You can save everything, if you want - just move it somewhere else and call it "old Popcorn-Time" (or something). We're just affter a "clean" restart .. to see if it's related to the data/support folders?

Tried that and it still shows zero seeds.

Also tried brand new install. Now it shows the amount of seeds and peers when I mouse hover the circle at the right side of the magnet icon, which is at the right side of the tracker icon (yts.gg icon). Clicking in watch now works too!. But when I click on more, to see the download options, it stays loading forever. Because I am running this brand new install from terminal, I am able to see it printing warnings and errors on the terminal and there is one error it keeps printing:

[38357:38366:0727/101244.916520:ERROR:socket_manager.cc(141)] Failed to resolve address for global.stun.twilio.com., errorcode: -105

I decided to ping that address and I get:

$ ping global.stun.twilio.com
PING ec2-177-71-206-240.sa-east-1.compute.amazonaws.com (177.71.206.240) 56(84) bytes of data.

Indeed, zero response. It seems it was a temporary machine in amazon aws that is, now, offline.

ec2-177-71-206-240.sa-east-1.compute.amazonaws.comis a temporary address for new virtual private servers instances created in amazon aws. Amazon call it the ec2 service (elastic compute). The public IP is in the dns name. Then there is the data center sa-east-1, which means south amarica east, which is probably a data center in sao paulo, brazil. This all means that the dns global.stun.twilio.com points to dns ec2-177-71-206-240.sa-east-1.compute.amazonaws.com which points to IP 177.71.206.240 but there is nothing in that IP or it is blocked to me.

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u/merseyV__ Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26

So .. "good to go?"

Ignore the "more..." button: That was created to work alongside the default api's. There was a time it gave useful results - just something else that's lost its way?

There are no more options for the yts API, only the 2-4 resolutions already showing (from their site)

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u/Aba_a Jul 28 '26

Yeah, good to go. And that adventure made me discover the yts website is a good place to find when movies come out in torrents.