Yes, hosting and joining watch parties on Scener is free. Hosts, however, reserve the right to require a ticket or a specific movie rental from a partner service to participate in their parties.

Google Chrome must be used to host or view watch parties on all laptop or desktop computers. You must also install the Scener Google Chrome Extension.

On mobile and tablet devices you can use any browser to chat and view a live host’s theater but can not participate as a host or co-host. To watch the streaming content along with the rest of the party, you must synchronize it manually on a secondary device.

On a laptop or desktop computer, you can get the Scener Google Chrome Extension free from the Chrome Web Store. Click ‘Get Scener’ on our website homepage to get started.

For U.S. users, Scener supports most major streaming services, including:

• No account required: YouTube, Vimeo

• Regular subscriptions required: Netflix, Disney +, Prime Video, HBO Max, Hotstar, Alamo On Demand, Shudder, Youtube

• Premium Accounts (no ads): Hulu, Funimation

Each guest needs their own account for most services, so picking a popular streaming service will ensure everyone can join the watch party.

Supported streaming services vary by country, based on availability and regulations. If a major streaming service is not supported in your country, and you would like it to be added to Scener, please email us at support@scener.com.

Users in separate countries may use Scener together as long as they have access to the same streaming content. Keep in mind, the availability of some shows and movies varies by location. Streaming services manage their own rights for shows and movies across different countries, which Scener has no control over. Pro tip: Netflix Originals tend to be available in all territories.

All you need is a laptop or desktop computer (Windows, Mac, or Chromebook) and a broadband internet connection to host or join a watch party on Scener. A webcam is required to take advantage of our video-chat feature, and headphones are strongly recommended to avoid echo while using audio-chat.

If you join a public watch party from a mobile device, you will need a second device, such as a connected TV or computer, to pull up the show or movie being watched and synchronize it manually.

For services that require a subscription, yes. For example, everyone will need access to their own Netflix account (or HBO Max, Disney+, Hulu Premium, etc.) to watch together.

Yes. You can use a service like Prime Video or YouTube to rent a movie or show and watch it together. However, everyone in the room or theater will need to rent the title being watched. Services that charge a premium fee to access some titles early, such as Disney+, are also compatible with Scener if all viewers have purchased that package.

In a room, up to 10 people can watch together with video, audio, and text chat capabilities. In a theater, an unlimited number of guests can join as text chat-only participants, while up to 10 co-hosts are on camera.

To host, you must be on a laptop or desktop computer, logged into your account, with the Scener Chrome Extension installed. Click the “Host a watch party” button on our website’s homepage.

The next screen will have two watch party options: room or theater. A room is a private, invite-only experience that allows up to 10 party-goers to utilize video, audio, and text chat while watching together. A theater allows you to host an event with unlimited guests utilizing text chat but only you and your co-hosts have access to video and audio chat capabilities. Get started with Watch Parties

Inviting friends to a theater:

Once you have gone live in your theater, you can invite guests by copying the share URL in the sidebar and sharing it with your intended guests. An unlimited number of guests can chat in the theater sidebar.

When a watch party theater is started, you have the option to add co-hosts. Co-hosts are granted access to video and audio chat capabilities.

Inviting friends to a room:

After creating a room, Scener generates a unique 16-character code for that event. Copy the code to share it with your guests, OR click the ‘Copy Invite Link’ in the Watch Party sidebar and share your unique URL directly. Once you’ve created a room, you and your guests can return to it for subsequent watch parties at any time.

Only the person holding the remote can control pause/play functions to ensure the smoothest, most harmonious sync experience, The remote can be passed to whomever the remote-holder chooses by clicking on the remote icon and selecting the username of the intended recipient.

• On Mac:

  • Click full screen in your Netflix window

  • Press the [Control] + [Up] keys

  • You’ll see your Netflix window at the top of your screen. Click and drag your Scener sidebar into the Netflix window.

• On Windows:

  • Click full screen in your Netflix window

  • Press [Alt] + [Tab] and select Scener

Scener requires the below ports to be open in order to communicate with others in the theater.

If Scener is still not working correctly, try disabling your VPN or Firewall while using Scener.

iPhones running iOS 15 or later

• Youtube

• Tubi

• Netflix

• HBOMax

• Disney+

• Hulu

• Amazon Prime

• Showtime

• Make sure your iPhone is on the same wifi network as your Roku device

• Make sure your Roku device has been on for at least 1 minute

• Make sure your iPhone is on iOS version 15 or later

• Try “search again” in the Scener app

• Restart your Roku device by going to Settings > System > Power

The Scener mobile app supports up to 4 people on camera at one time.

Once you have started your watch party there will be a pink “Invite to the party” button that will appear at the top of your video screen. This allows you to send a private invite link, create a Snapchat story sticker, or invite your friends and followers that already have a Scener profile to your party.

If you are watching YouTube or Tubi: Tap the video player to show the controls and press the PLAY button to make sure the content is playing. Ask the host to pause the movie to you can re-sync.

If you are watching Netflix, Disney, HBO, Hulu, Prime or Showtime: Select the SYNC button on the mobile app or select the content image to re-sync your TV. These services require you to use your Roku TV device or to join the party using your computer and the Scener chrome extension.

Yes, on your chrome browser click hereto download the Scener chrome extension.

If you were unable to find a solution please contact us at support@scener.com with some information about what went wrong. Some helpful details to include would be:

• What version of iOS are you using?

• What streaming platform are you trying to use?

• What model of Roku are you using?

• Screenshots of the page where you are experiencing issues

• The steps leading up to the issue

Everyone should wear headphones while their microphones are turned on – otherwise participants will hear feedback. Use headphones or mute your audio to eliminate echo.

First, quit Chrome (by pressing command+Q on mac or ctrl+Q on PC) and retry. Chrome will occasionally lose access to your webcam, which restarting the browser usually resolves.

Second, you may have accidentally denied access to Scener for your camera or mic. To check, type “chrome://settings” into your browser search bar. Then search for “Camera” and select ‘Site Settings’. Find ‘scener.com’ and click ‘Reset settings’.

Press the ‘?’ icon in the theater control bar, then select ‘My microphone and/or camera are not working’. Next, click the ‘Re-Sync Scener’ button.

Press the ‘?’ icon in the theater control bar, then select ‘My video isn’t syncing with others.’ Next, click the ‘Re-Launch Show’ button.

If your show is playing but is more than a few seconds out of sync, try closing the streaming content browser window. It will automatically re-open and attempt to re-sync.