Help & updates

Keep the same party. Keep your browser up to date.

Get the latest extension

Chrome Web Store installations update automatically, but not instantly. An active party can delay installation. Finish your party before restarting or updating.

Open chrome://extensions (or brave://extensions in Brave).
Enable Developer mode and click Update.
Open Popmelon’s details, check the version and review any requested permissions. You can turn Developer mode off again afterward.
Reopen Popmelon and refresh existing YouTube, Netflix or Spotify tabs. Restart the browser if an update stays pending.

Use the official Popmelon listing. A developer’s unpacked local copy does not update from the Store. You normally do not need to uninstall Popmelon.

Newer builds: update notices

Builds with update controls show the installed version and let you check from the popup or party room. A downloaded update waits until you leave the party; it will not interrupt a party, call or tab broadcast. Older builds can show a release reminder in party chat when their relay supports it. A disabled extension cannot receive that reminder; check the browser’s extensions page.

From version 0.7.5, starting or joining checks the relay’s minimum required extension version. If an update is required, joining pauses while Popmelon asks Chrome to check for it. Chrome controls delivery and may ask you to approve permissions. If it is downloaded, Popmelon installs it automatically when no party or tab broadcast is active. Reopen Popmelon and refresh your watch tabs afterward. Existing parties are not ended just because a newer build is announced.

Versions 0.5.2 and earlier cannot gain these new controls remotely. When they are no longer supported, the invitation page and relay provide update instructions; an old popup may still show a generic connection error. Use the steps above once to get a build with automatic update handling.

Why Chrome asks for permissions

Website access lets Popmelon synchronize supported players. Adding a newly supported site, such as Spotify, can require your approval on upgrade. Popmelon never bypasses that decision.

Broadcasting is optional. In supported builds, Screen Share in the party room opens your browser’s picker to choose a tab, window, or screen; no image or sound is sent until you approve a source. Sound is available only for sources supported by your browser and only when selected. The toolbar’s Share this tab + audio captures only that chosen tab and may request an optional extension permission. You can decline and still watch together and chat. To revoke that tab permission, expand Tab-sharing permission in the popup and choose Revoke tab-sharing permission; this also stops an active toolbar tab broadcast.

Tab sharing safety

Only the host can start a broadcast. With Screen Share, choose carefully: sharing an entire screen can expose notifications and unrelated windows. Sharing one tab is more private. The microphone and camera are never part of this broadcast. The toolbar shortcut continues to share audio and picture from one tab, even if that tab navigates.

Use Stop sharing now in the party room or the browser’s Stop sharing control. Closing the room or the selected source, leaving the party, changing hosts or losing the party connection ends a room share. It is never silently resumed. Chrome or Brave based on Chromium 116 or later is required.

Protected video can appear black and cannot be bypassed. Use synchronized playback for Netflix; everyone needs their own streaming access. Participants may need to click Enable broadcast sound once.

If a participant is waiting

The host controls playback. Participants wait for their own loading, buffering or ads, then catch up with the host. Click Play once if the browser blocks autoplay. Each Spotify listener needs their own account; service, subscription and regional restrictions still apply.

New to hosting? Follow how to start a Netflix watch party step by step.

Guides

Contact us

Email hello@popmelon.app with your Popmelon version, browser version, service and the steps that failed. Do not send passwords, sign-in tokens, private party links or screenshots of sensitive tabs.

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