TeleParty gained popularity in 2020 when people couldn’t meet in person for movie night due to Covid-19 lockdowns, but it remains a great way to spend time with loved ones from a distance.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about TeleParty (formerly Netflix Party), so you can host your virtual movie night with friends and family from all over the world.
What is Teleparty?
If you’ve never heard of TeleParty (AKA Netflix Party) before and feel lost, don’t panic! It’s pretty simple.
TeleParty is a browser extension that syncs videos across devices and adds a group chat function, allowing you to watch shows or movies with friends without being in the same room.
Formerly called Netflix Party, the extension was created to allow Netflix users to watch together but has since expanded to work with other streaming services as well.
Is TeleParty Safe?
It’s good to be cautious about browser extensions, otherwise, you could accidentally download malware and viruses onto your computer. Yikes!
TeleParty has been verified as safe to use and free from malware. Beware of these similar extensions that have been discovered to be secretly tracking users’ data:
- Netflix PartyNetflix Party 2
These extensions are not the same as TeleParty; they’re imposters designed to steal data. Keep reading to learn how to download and use TeleParty and avoid scams safely.
How to Download TeleParty
Downloading TeleParty to your device is easy, even if you’ve never used a browser extension before. Just follow these steps:
Open your Chrome or Edge browser (TeleParty isn’t available on any others)Go to https://www.teleparty.com/ Click “Install TeleParty” or “Get TeleParty for free” (yes, it’s totally free!)
Once redirected to the Chrome or Edge store, click “Add to Chrome” or “Get”
Click “Add Extension” in the pop-up.
You’ll be redirected to a screen with instructions on how to pin TeleParty to your browser’s toolbar and grant the necessary permissions.
After that, you’ll be ready to host your first watch party.
Hosting and Joining a Watch Party
Hosting your own watch party is simple, and so is joining a friend’s. You can use TeleParty with any of these streaming services:
Host a Watch Party
To start a watch party, open your favorite streaming service and start a video, show, or movie. You can press pause but must have it pulled up and ready to play.
Click the TeleParty icon on your browser’s toolbar and select “Start the Party.” You can also select the “Only I have control” option if you want to be the only one who can pause or rewind.
Join a Watch Party
If you’re hosting a watch party, click the link icon in the corner to copy your invite link and share it with friends.
To join, follow these steps:
- Make sure you have the TeleParty extension on your browserLogin to the streaming service you’ll be using, or have your login info handyClick your friend’s invite link, which will take you to the show or movie being streamedClick the TeleParty icon on your browser to join the party
Now enjoy streaming with your friends!
TeleParty Features
Once you and your friends have joined the party, you can watch your favorite movie together like you’re in the same room and have fun using TeleParty’s features.
Chat Features
TeleParty’s chat sidebar allows you to talk during a movie without being disruptive. Finally! Just type your message in the chat and hit send, and all party members will be able to read it.
Or, if you really want to focus on the film, TeleParty allows you to hide or show the chat sidebar whenever you like by clicking your browser’s TeleParty icon.
You can customize your user icon and nickname by clicking on your icon on the top right. There are 20 different icons to choose from, and you can pick any nickname you want.
Features Coming Soon
TeleParty is currently only available on web browsers; however, TeleParty Mobile is in beta testing and will hopefully be released soon, allowing users to watch from a tablet or smartphone.
There is potential for voice or video chat features to be added to TeleParty in the future; however, it is uncertain if or when that might happen.
Fun Ideas for Watch Parties
Watching videos, shows, and movies with your friends is great, especially when you don’t have to leave your bed. But if you want to spice up your watch party even more, here’s some ideas!
“Drinking” Games
Make your party more interactive by adding drinking game rules! For this idea to be fun, you don’t necessarily need alcohol, but you can add some if you want.
Here are some simple examples of drinking game rules:
- Every time the main character says, “I love you, ” take a sip.”Finish your drink when the bad guy loses
Using the chat sidebar, you and your friends can say, “drink,” whenever one of the rules applies, and whoever says it first wins! You can agree on a prize or just win bragging rights.
Guess the Line
Whether you’re watching a new show for the first time, this game is fun, or rewatching a classic film for the 20th time. You can set your guidelines, but the rules are pretty straightforward.
Try to guess what a character will say before they say it by typing it into the chat. You can try to predict the actual line or throw out something absurd to keep your friends on their toes.
How to Support TeleParty
One of the best things about TeleParty is that it’s completely free to use so long as you’re already subscribed to a compatible streaming service.
TeleParty exists for free thanks to the generosity of its user base. TeleParty has over 1000 subscribers on Patreon who donate monthly to fund new developments and features.
The more users donate, the more new features TeleParty can release, including mobile apps and voice or video chat options.
TeleParty Takeaways
TeleParty is a great way to have fun with loved ones you can’t meet up with in person. It’s easy and free to download and use, so give it a try and host a watch party for your friends!
