Frequently asked questions

What is Trove?

Trove is a free, self-hosted video search hub. You type one query and get results from several platforms at once instead of visiting each site separately. It also accepts a direct video link and resolves it into downloadable formats. The software runs on your own server: a FastAPI backend powered by yt-dlp, a static web interface and companion mobile apps. The about page has more.

Is Trove free?

Yes. Trove is free to use, with no paid tiers, no credits and no premium features held back. Because you run it yourself, your only costs are whatever you already pay for the server it runs on. Advertisements on the public pages help cover the operator's costs.

Do I need an account?

No. There is no sign-up, no password, no profile and no first-party cookies. Your preferences — such as light or dark theme — are stored in your own browser's local storage and never leave your device. Nothing you search for is attached to an identity, because none exists.

Which platforms does it support?

Search covers eight platforms: YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion, Rumble, TikTok, BlueSky, Pinterest and Threads. Downloads are separate — paste a direct link to any site yt-dlp supports and Trove will try to resolve it, which reaches far beyond the search list. The full breakdown is on the supported platforms page.

Is downloading videos legal?

It depends on the content and on where you live. Copyright law differs between countries, and many platforms prohibit downloading outside their own tools. Trove does not give you permission to copy anything — you are responsible for downloading only material you have the right to use: your own videos, content under a licence that permits it, or material with the owner's consent. Read our Acceptable Use Policy and, if you are a rights holder, our Copyright & DMCA page.

Do you store my searches?

Honestly: some aggregate data, yes. Lowercased search terms are counted so the site can show a public "Popular Searches" section, and download records keep the title, platform, format and timestamp for a stats dashboard. A visitor counter keeps a hashed total. Query terms are not tied to any identity, and there are no accounts to tie them to. Server logs are ordinary web-server logs. The full detail is in the Privacy Policy.

Why did my download fail?

Most failures come from the source platform rather than from Trove. Common causes: the platform changed its site and your yt-dlp is out of date (updating it fixes a large share of problems), rate limiting after too many requests, a private, age-restricted or region-blocked video, or a temporary resolver error. Try again later, try a different format, and keep the server's yt-dlp current. If it still fails, report it on the contact page.

Why is TikTok missing sometimes?

TikTok often requires an authenticated session before it will answer an automated request. The operator can supply a cookies.txt session export on the server; if TikTok results are absent while every other platform works, that missing session is the usual explanation. The platforms page covers this caveat in detail.

Is there a mobile app?

Yes. Trove has iOS and Android apps built with Kotlin Multiplatform, so both platforms share the same codebase. The apps connect to your own server — you point them at your address and get the same search and open and download flows in a native interface, with no account involved.

Can I run Trove myself?

Yes — that is the whole point. Trove is self-hosted software: a FastAPI backend with yt-dlp, a static web UI and the mobile apps, all running on hardware you control. You own the data and can delete the stats files whenever you like. The How Trove works page explains the architecture.

How do I report a problem or a copyright issue?

For bugs, missing features or broken platforms, use the contact form. Rights holders should follow the process on the Copyright & DMCA page, which lists exactly what a notice must contain. Please include the URL of the page or video in question so the issue can be reproduced.