NidoPlay

User Guide

NidoPlay User Guide

This complete guide is written for new users. NidoPlay only organizes and plays local audio and video files that you explicitly authorize. It does not provide video sources, downloads, accounts, cloud sync, ads, or recommendation feeds.

1. Download and system support

iPhone and iPad users can install from the App Store: NidoPlay. Android users can download the installer: NidoPlay Android APK.

  • Supports iOS.
  • Supports Android.
  • Supports HarmonyOS 2-4 compatible devices through the Android APK.
  • HarmonyOS NEXT / native HarmonyOS is not supported yet.

When installing the APK on Android or HarmonyOS 2-4 devices, the system may ask you to allow the browser, file manager, or installer to install apps from external sources. This is a normal APK installation prompt. If you are unsure, contact us through WeChat or email first to confirm device compatibility.

2. First launch

On first launch, NidoPlay shows a privacy notice and local documentation. After reading and continuing, you enter the home screen. NidoPlay does not require account registration or login.

If the home screen has no media yet, you will see an entry such as "Choose media folder" or "Add media folder". You must explicitly choose a local folder before NidoPlay scans the audio and video inside it.

  • After you choose a folder, the app only reads the directory you authorized.
  • Scan results, thumbnails, watch history, and playback settings are stored locally on the current device.
  • The app does not upload your local videos, audio, folder structure, or watch history.
  • If the system asks for folder permission, allow it. Otherwise, NidoPlay cannot build the local media library.

3. Prepare local media

NidoPlay is useful for family audio and video already saved on the device, such as cartoons, kids songs, English learning materials, study videos, story audio, and bedtime content. It does not search for sources or download content for you.

We recommend downloading content in a file manager or cloud-drive client first, then organizing it into clear folders:

Downloads/
  Animation Collection/
    01.mp4
    02.mp4
  English Starter/
    Lesson 01.mp4
    Lesson 02.srt
  Bedtime Stories/
    story-01.mp3
    story-02.m4a

When choosing a folder, select a root such as "Downloads". NidoPlay will organize the next-level folders into media cards, for example "Animation Collection", "English Starter", and "Bedtime Stories". This gives family members a clear set of media cards on the home screen instead of a pile of loose files.

  • Do not choose a system root folder that is too high-level, or the scan range will be too broad and messy.
  • Do not choose only the deepest folder that contains one episode, or the home screen may show very little content.
  • Original files are not moved, renamed, or deleted.
  • Place same-name subtitles next to the video, for example 01.srt beside 01.mp4.

4. Add a media folder

On the home screen, tap "Choose media folder", or open Settings and tap "Add folder", then choose the local directory you prepared.

After adding it, NidoPlay starts scanning:

  • Detect file changes.
  • Scan supported video and audio files.
  • Organize folder levels and build a local media tree.
  • Generate or cache covers, thumbnails, and scan results.

After scanning, media cards appear on the home screen. The next time you open the app, it will try to restore authorized directories. If a directory was moved, cloud-drive cache was cleared, or system permission expired, Settings will ask you to choose the folder again to restore scanning and playback.

Supported files

  • Common video: mp4, mkv, avi, mov, wmv, flv, webm, m4v.
  • Common audio: mp3, m4a, aac, flac, wav, ogg, opus, and more.
  • External subtitles: same-name srt, ass, ssa.
  • Cover images: jpg, jpeg, png, gif, webp, bmp.

Actual playback still depends on the current system and the underlying player decoding capability. A matching extension does not guarantee every codec will play.

5. Browse, organize, and hide content

The home screen and folder pages show content according to the file system hierarchy. NidoPlay supports natural sorting, so numbered episode names are ordered in a way that is closer to how people read them. You can enter a media card to browse subfolders and videos, or use search to find local folders, videos, or audio by name.

Hide media cards

If you do not want a folder or video to appear temporarily, long-press the media card to enter multi-select mode. Select the folders or videos to hide, tap "Hide" at the top, and confirm. These items will no longer appear on the home screen or folder pages.

  • Hiding only affects display inside NidoPlay.
  • Hiding does not delete original files on the device.
  • Hidden folders and videos are managed in "Settings > Hidden content".
  • You can restore items one by one in "Hidden content".
  • You can also tap "Restore all" to show all hidden items again on the home screen and folder lists.

Remove media library records

In multi-select mode, you may also see "Delete" or a removal action. This does not delete disk files. It removes selected items from the current media library record. After reauthorizing or rescanning the folder, the content can appear again.

Clear cache

"Clear cache" in Settings deletes thumbnails and scan data, restores hidden items, and then scans again automatically. Watch history and original video files are not deleted.

6. Video playback

Tap a video to open the player. The player supports common family viewing controls:

  • Play, pause, previous episode, next episode.
  • Tap or drag the progress bar to seek.
  • Swipe left or right to rewind or fast-forward.
  • Double-tap to play or pause.
  • Long-press the picture for temporary 3x fast-forward, then release to return to the original speed.
  • Swipe vertically on the left to adjust brightness and on the right to adjust volume.
  • Tap "Lock" to prevent accidental touches, then tap "Unlock" to restore controls.
  • Tap "Speed" to choose 0.5x, 0.75x, 1x, 1.25x, 1.5x, or 2x.
  • Tap "Aspect" to switch between fit, fill, 16:9, 4:3, and other display modes.

Subtitles

If there is a same-name srt, ass, or ssa subtitle file next to the video, the player will try to load it. Subtitles can be turned on or off. If subtitle loading fails, video playback continues.

Skip intro and outro

Player settings include "Skip intro and outro". You can save intro seconds and outro seconds for the current folder, which is useful for collections with fixed opening and ending segments. The setting is saved by folder.

Video stop timer

Settings include a "Video stop timer". If the video is close to the end, NidoPlay prioritizes finishing the current video before stopping. This is useful for bedtime or limited viewing time.

7. Audio and listening mode

NidoPlay supports local audio playback and can switch videos into "listening mode", keeping only the sound playing. This works well for songs, stories, English learning, bedtime content, or familiar videos used as audio.

  • Audio supports play, pause, previous, next, progress seeking, and speed control.
  • Supports single-track repeat, sequential playback, and playlist loop.
  • Supports audio stop timers with fade-out pause.
  • After closing the playback page, a floating mini player can continue controlling audio or video sound.
  • Supports system media controls such as headset buttons, lock screen controls, and system playback controls.
  • Android / HarmonyOS 2-4 uses a foreground media playback notification. iOS supports background audio mode.

If you want children to listen without watching, open a video first and tap "Listening" in the player. To return to the picture, tap "Back to video".

8. History and resume

NidoPlay periodically saves playback progress. It also saves progress when the app moves to the background, when you exit the player, or when casting disconnects. The home screen shows a continue-watching entry so you can return to the last item.

  • Continue watching: return to the home screen to see recent resumable content.
  • Watch history: open "Watch history" in Settings to review history.
  • Completed state: completion is recorded after playback finishes.
  • Clear watch history: Settings can clear watch history and resume progress. This action cannot be undone.

If a video is hidden, related continue-watching entries are hidden as well, preventing a shortcut back to hidden content from the home screen.

9. Casting

NidoPlay casting is only for the current local network. It is not used for internet playback, uploads, accounts, ads, or analytics.

  • iOS uses the system AirPlay picker.
  • Android / HarmonyOS 2-4 can scan for DLNA devices.
  • Android / HarmonyOS 2-4 temporarily provides the current local video to the TV through a local-network HTTP service.
  • Supports cast playback, pause, progress sync, seeking, and disconnecting.

Before casting, connect the phone and TV or casting device to the same Wi-Fi. Android / HarmonyOS 2-4 devices may need permission for nearby Wi-Fi devices or network access. These permissions are only used to discover DLNA devices on the same LAN and temporarily transmit the current playback file.

10. Privacy and boundaries

NidoPlay is a family local media player. It is not a content platform, cloud drive, or resource search tool.

What NidoPlay does not do

  • No online video sources.
  • No content downloads.
  • No account login.
  • No cloud sync or cloud backup.
  • No upload of your local media files, folder structure, or watch history.
  • No ad recommendation feed.
  • No remote playlists or cross-device media library.

Data kept on the device

  • Folder information you authorize.
  • Local scan results and folder-structure cache.
  • Thumbnails, local covers, and display settings.
  • Watch history, playback progress, playback settings, and hidden-item records.

You can clear cache, watch history, and hidden-item records in the app. You can also uninstall the app through the system to delete app-local data. See the NidoPlay Privacy Policy for full details.