Guides

Watch it work. Then set it up.

Two complete walkthroughs recorded from the actual app, plus a plain-English guide to every setting and where each key comes from.

01 · Full tour

From a public list to pressing play.

Ten chapters: Home, lists, browsing, the title page, cast and discussions, viewer comments, source comparison, quick play, the player, and subtitles. Every screen is dragged through in full.

Actual source availability comes from your connected services. Player chapters are shown on paused frames.

02 · Setup walkthrough

Set up in minutes. Connect. Validate. Play.

The two connections that shape your first session, the masked key flow with one-tap validation, and the moment sources appear.

Keys are stored on your device and stay masked on screen. Actual source availability comes from your connected services.

03 · Every setting

The settings guide.

What each section does, in the order the app shows them.

Get started · the two connections

Connect a service to play. 4789 plays through compatible services you connect yourself. Paste the service's API key and tap Test key. 4789 validates it without revealing it, and the key stays in the device Keychain.

Add a catalog (optional). A compatible manifest or install URL fills Discover and the Wall with browsable titles. You can add, reorder, or remove catalogs at any time.

Addons & Catalogs

Everything you have added lives here: catalogs, list connections, and subtitle providers, in the order 4789 asks them. Add a new one by pasting its manifest or install URL. A success message confirms the connection, and its titles or sources appear in the library right away.

API Keys

Keys for the services you connect. Each field is masked on screen and stored only in this device's Keychain — never on a 4789 server, because there is none. Test key confirms a key works without showing it. After a fresh install or on a new phone you enter keys again.

Metadata & AI

Ratings, account sync, and smart enrichment for your library.

  • MDBList — source-labelled ratings on the title page and public-list search in Discover. Free key: mdblist.com → Preferences → API.
  • Trakt — syncs your watchlist and history both ways and adds Trending and Recommendations catalogs. Connect your account from this screen.
  • TMDB — artwork and metadata enrichment.
Playback

Picking rules (how 4789 chooses the best source for quick play), the default player, autoplay of the next episode, and subtitle preferences — language, appearance, and timing offset.

Letterboxd and MDBList lists

Public lists become shelves. Paste a public Letterboxd profile or list, or search MDBList's public lists inside the app and tap add. No account is needed for public lists.

Install on a TV

4789 TV is a separate receiver app for Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, and Shield. Set up the iPhone app first, then follow the TV guide.

Open the 4789 TV guide
Backup & Transfer · export, import, and iCloud

Export settings. Settings → Backup & Transfer → Export settings opens the share sheet. Save the file to Files, iCloud Drive, or any location you control. Saving to iCloud Drive keeps a copy available to your other devices; 4789 has no account and does not sync settings by itself.

Import settings. On a new phone or fresh install, Settings → Backup & Transfer → Import settings, then choose your saved 4789-settings file (or paste its text). Your catalogs, keys, and preferences return in one step.

Send settings to a TV. The same section can transfer your setup to a 4789 TV receiver on your network.

Protect the file. The export is plaintext and can contain live keys and private URLs — treat it like a password. It does not include downloads or watch history.

Library & Services, Appearance, Diagnostics

Library & Services — Jellyfin, cloud services, and calendar connections. Appearance — theme, app icon, and the Pitch Black canvas. Diagnostics — logs and debug switches; useful when asking for help.

If something does not work

  • Key fails to validate: re-copy it from the service's dashboard and test again.
  • No sources appear: confirm the playback service key tested green and the title is available on your services.
  • Catalog stays empty: re-check the manifest URL and your connection.
  • Do not post an API key, token, or private manifest URL when asking for help.
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