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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Gero.

General

What is Gero?

Gero is a personal media management and streaming platform. It lets you download, organize, tag, and enjoy your video collection through a modern web interface with features like Theater Mode, automatic tagging, media subscriptions, and arcade games. Install it on your Windows PC or run it in Docker on a server.

Is Gero free?

Gero is available through Patreon. You subscribe to get access to download links. Once downloaded and installed, the app is yours to keep forever — even if you cancel your subscription.

The only thing you lose without an active subscription is access to new updates and features.

Is Gero open source?

No. Gero is proprietary software. The source code is not publicly available. See the License page for details.

What platforms are supported?

  • Windows — Native installer (.exe), uses SQLite
  • Docker — Linux, macOS, Windows, NAS devices, or any Docker-compatible system, uses PostgreSQL

Does my data stay private?

Yes. All your data (videos, metadata, settings, accounts) stays on your own hardware. There is no telemetry, no analytics, and no data sent to external servers. See our Privacy policy.

Installation

How do I get Gero?

  1. Subscribe on Patreon
  2. Download from the shared Dropbox folder (Windows installer or Docker zip files)
  3. Follow the Installation guide

Which installation method should I use?

  • Windows installer — Easiest setup. Everything bundled (including SQLite). Best for personal desktops.
  • Docker — Best for servers, NAS devices, Linux, or if you want more control. Uses PostgreSQL for the database.

Do I need a domain name?

No. You can access Gero via IP address (e.g., http://192.168.1.100:5555). A domain is only needed if you want HTTPS or easier remote access.

Can I use Gero without internet?

Once installed, Gero runs fully offline. You only need internet for:

  • Downloading videos from online sources
  • Auto-tag extraction from source pages
  • Downloading updates from Dropbox

Can I access Gero remotely?

Yes! Options include:

  • Port forwarding on your router
  • Reverse proxy with HTTPS (recommended)
  • VPN or Cloudflare Tunnel

Video management

What video sources are supported?

Any site supported by yt-dlp, which includes thousands of websites. You can also import local video files.

What video formats work?

Gero supports all formats FFmpeg can process. Videos are automatically converted to browser-compatible formats (MP4/WebM) during import.

How does automatic tagging work?

When importing, Gero automatically:

  • Extracts tags from the source page (categories, tags, metadata)
  • Matches tag names and aliases against the video title
  • Links known actors found in the video title
  • Creates thumbnails and animated previews

Can I import an existing video library?

Yes. You can upload videos through the web UI or drop them into the watched folder (Docker only).

Theater mode

What is Theater Mode?

A full-screen, TikTok/Reels-style player with:

  • Scroll/swipe to navigate between videos
  • Interactive scrubber
  • Keyboard shortcuts (arrow keys, space, M)
  • Mobile-optimized touch gestures

Why won't a video play?

Common causes:

  1. Unsupported format — The video needs conversion (re-import it)
  2. Missing file — The video file was deleted from storage
  3. Network issue — Browser can't reach the API
  4. CORS issue — API not configured for your domain

Check the browser console (F12) for specific errors.

Pricing & updates

What do I get with a Patreon subscription?

Access to download the latest version of Gero (Windows installer + Docker images) from Dropbox.

What happens if I cancel my subscription?

Nothing breaks. Your installed version of Gero keeps working indefinitely. You just won't be able to download new versions with features and bug fixes.

Is this a one-time purchase?

Essentially, yes. Subscribe once, download the app, and it's yours forever. If you want ongoing updates, keep your subscription active.

How do I update to a new version?

Re-subscribe (if needed), download the latest build from Dropbox, and follow the update steps in the Installation guide.

Security & privacy

Is Gero secure?

Gero includes:

  • Built-in authentication (email + password)
  • Secure password hashing
  • Session management with secure cookies
  • No external data collection

For remote access, we recommend HTTPS via a reverse proxy.

Does Gero phone home?

No. Zero telemetry, zero analytics, zero external connections (except when you explicitly download content from online sources).

Troubleshooting

Where are the logs?

  • Windows: Check the application window or log files in the installation directory
  • Docker: docker compose logs gero-api and docker compose logs gero-web

Database migrations failed on startup

This is rare. Check the API logs for the specific error. If you're updating from an old version, make sure you're using the latest images.

How do I back up my data?

Back up:

  • The database — PostgreSQL (Docker) or the SQLite file (Windows)
  • The storage folder (your media files, thumbnails, previews)

Still have questions? Report a bug or check GitHub Issues.