How to Watch PeerTube comfortably

Are you ready to dive into the world of PeerTube? PeerTube is a unique YouTube alternative that decentralizes video hosting across numerous servers. I will show you how to smoothly navigate PeerTube with 3 different software tools: NewPipe, Thunderbird, and Mastodon.

Plus, to help you get started, I will share my list of 113 top channels. Let’s dive in and simplify your PeerTube experience!

Here is the list of my 113 favorite Peertube channels

Newpipe – Download my 110 Channels

Thunderbird – Download my 75 Channels

How to Use NewPipe to Watch PeerTube

If you’re exploring PeerTube and looking for user-friendly software to enhance your viewing experience, NewPipe is my top recommendation. It can be installed on any Android device, including smart TVs, making it a convenient choice for all users.

Setting Up NewPipe

Once you’ve installed NewPipe on your device, open it up. By default, NewPipe is set to YouTube. You’ll need to switch it to PeerTube. Start by clicking the burger menu in the top left corner.

Burger button in the top left corner of NewPipe's main page — *Click the burger menu in the top left corner of the page.*

Then click the NewPipe button.

The NewPipe button opens a menu with different options.

Here, you’ll find the option to switch to PeerTube by clicking on the PeerTube icon, which is set to FramaTube by default. I’ll explain what FramaTube is a bit later.

Navigating NewPipe

The main interface of NewPipe includes several tabs. We’ll start with the ‘Subscriptions’ tab.

Currently empty Subscriptions tab at the top of FreeTube's main page — *The subscription page contains your favorite channels.*

Initially, this will be empty, but don’t worry – I’ve got you covered. You can import 75 channels I recommend by downloading the JSON file linked in my video description. Simply click the three dots in the top right corner.

Newpipe – Download my 75 Channels

Three dots in the top right corner of FreeTube's main page — *Click three dots to import my favorite channels.*

Choose ‘Import from’, and then select ‘Previous Export’.

Drop down manu at the top right corner where you can click Import from and Previous export — *Follow these steps to get my favorite channels.*

Locate the file and import it.

Files in the Downloads to choose from and import by clicking the Select button at the top right corner — *Final steps to import my favorite channels.*

And voila! All my favorite channels are now yours.

What's New tab on Subscriptions page of PeerTube that shows the latest videos — *The list of my favorite channels is now on your Subscriptions page.*

Staying up to date with New Content

One of the features of NewPipe that you’ll find incredibly useful on a daily basis is the ‘What’s New’ tab. It provides the latest content from all the channels you follow. You can click on the ‘Refresh’ button every couple of days to make sure your feed is constantly updated with fresh videos. That way, you will get a regular dose of new and exciting content that keeps you connected to your favorite creators.

Adding New Instances and Channels to NewPipe

Next, let’s explore a simple way to subscribe to new channels and broaden your PeerTube horizon. Again, use the burger button in the top left corner of the page.

Burger button at the top left corner of the What's New PeerTube page — *Click the burger menu.*

Go to ‘Settings’.

Settings button at the bottom of a menu opened by clicking the burger button on What's New page — *Click the Settings button.*

Then go to ‘Content’.

Content button Fifth From Above on the Settings page — *Click the Content button.*

Finally, go to ‘PeerTube Instances’.

PeerTube instances button on the Content page for selecting favorite instances — *Click PeerTube Instance so select your favorite instances.*

In NewPipe, the term ‘instance’ refers to a server. For example, we’re currently using the FramaTube instance. That’s the default server you saw when we first opened the app. Each instance hosts its unique set of channels and videos.

You can add a new instance by clicking the Plus button.

Plus button at the bottom of the right corner for adding new instances — *The Plus button at the bottom right for adding new instances.*

For example, let’s add ’tilvids.com’. TILvids has some of the best content in the PeerTube universe.

Typing the website's address into the opened Add instance window — *Type ‘tilvids.com’ into the pop-up window.*

Confirm by clicking OK, then click on the radio button to activate it.

Red radio button for activation of the chosen instance — *The radio button is located here.*

Return to the main screen. Now, you can browse the trending videos on TILvids. Remember, ‘trending’ might not always include the newest uploads. To catch up with the latest videos, just click on the burger button again. Select ‘Local’ to view recent uploads.

How to subscribe to a PeerTube channel with NewPipe

If you find a video you like and want to subscribe to the channel, simply click on the video and then go to the channel.

Hit the Subscribe button and you’re done!

How to Use Thunderbird to Watch PeerTube

Another excellent way to enjoy PeerTube videos is through Thunderbird. It’s a great tool that allows you to subscribe to the RSS feeds of your favorite channels.

Creating a New Account in Thunderbird

Begin by installing Thunderbird on your device. Once set up, click on the burger menu and select ‘New Account’.

New Account button you can select from the burger button dropdown menu at the top right corner of the page — *Start with creating a new account on Thunderbird.*

Then select ‘Feed’ and create a new account name.

Feed button you can select from the New Account dropdown menu at the top right corner of the page — *Follow these steps to create a new account name.*

Let’s use ‘PeerTube videos’ for example. After you click ‘Next’ and then ‘Finish’, your account is ready to go!

Feed Account Wizard window where you can enter the new account name — *An example of creating an account name.*

Importing My Top 75 PeerTube channels to Thunderbird

Now, to populate your account with channels, right-click on the ‘PeerTube Videos’.

Select Subscribe.

Clicking Import button at the bottom right corner of the opened Feed Subscription window — *Click the import button.*

Click on ‘Import’, then locate and select the OPML file I’ve provided in the video description. Click ‘Open’.

Thunderbird – Download my 75 Channels

Selecting the OPML file and clicking Open to import it — *Open the OPML file located in my video description.*

In just a few moments, the list of my favorite channels will appear in your account. Close the window, and just like that, you have access to my curated list of channels, ready to watch in Thunderbird.

Getting the Latest Videos

To refresh your feed and catch up on the latest videos, simply click on the account name and hit F5. This will update your list, showing you all the recent posts from your subscribed channels. If a video catches your eye, just click on its card, and the content will appear on the right side for easy viewing.

If the video doesn’t appear right away, you can easily fix this by clicking on the ‘More’ dropdown and display the message body as a web page.

Opening More dropdown menu at the top right corner to select Display Message Body as a Web Page — *Steps to display the message body as a web page*.

The video is displayed inside Thunderbird on the right side, now that webpage view is activated. — *With webpage view activated you can play the video directly inside Thunderbird.*

And here it is! Now you can watch the video directly inside Thunderbird.

Adding New PeerTube Channels to Thunderbird

Next, let me guide you through adding a new PeerTube channel to your list. For instance, if you find a channel you like on TILvids, simply click the ‘Subscribe’ button, and then choose ‘Subscribe via RSS’.

Copy the URL from the XML file.

URL at the top of the opened XML file — *The URL is located here.*

Then, head back to Thunderbird. Right-click on the account name, and select ‘Subscribe’ to add your new channel.

Simply paste the URL into the feed URL, then click ‘Add.’ Close the window, and that’s it -you’re all set!

Feed URL in Feed Subscriptions window where copied URL should be pasted and added by clicking Add button — *Paste the URL, click Add, and you’re done!*

How to Use Mastodon to Watch PeerTube

Mastodon isn’t just for social networking; it’s also a fantastic platform for watching and interacting with PeerTube videos. Start by creating an account on any Mastodon instance.

Subscribing to a PeerTube Channel on Mastodon

Once you’re logged in, navigating to your favorite PeerTube channel is simple. Let’s use tilvids.com again as an example. Go to the channel you like and hit the ‘Subscribe’ button.

To subscribe, you’ll need to use your Mastodon handle. You can find this by clicking on your name in the top right corner of Mastodon and copying it from your profile.

Here is how to copy Mastodon’s handle.

Back on the PeerTube channel, paste your handle into the ‘Subscribe with a Remote Account’ field and click ‘Remote Subscribe’.

After clicking ‘Remote Subscribe’, wait for a moment and then confirm the subscription by clicking ‘Follow’ in Mastodon. Every time the channel posts a new video, you’ll see an update in your Mastodon feed, keeping you connected with the latest content.

Follow button at the top right corner of the page you want to follow on Mastodon — *The finishing steps of subscribing to a channel in Mastodon.*

Engaging with the Content on Mastodon

One of the best features of using PeerTube with Mastodon is the ability to engage directly with video content. Unlike other apps I’ve shown you, Mastodon allows you to comment on videos. Simply click on ‘Reply’ under a video to leave your comment. Mastodon makes your viewing experience interactive and social.

Reply button at the bottom of the page and Publish button on the left for leaving comments on Mastodon — *Mastodon allows you to comment on videos.*

In Conclusion

Each of these platforms has its own unique advantages. Whether you prefer the simplicity of NewPipe, the integration of Thunderbird, or the interactive community features of Mastodon, I am sure one of these tools will suit your needs for engaging with decentralized video content.

Thank you for following along and I hope this tutorial helps!