FAQ

Use this page when the first run gets stuck. Each answer starts with the next action, then links to deeper guidance when needed.

First failure checklist

Confirm you downloaded a desktop installer or portable package, not Source code; confirm Ameow launches and shows the floating window; open the current output folder from Ameow when files are missing; test web downloads with a public link first.

Which File Should I Download?

Most Windows users should download the Installer EXE; use the Portable ZIP for a quick trial or fixed tools folder. M-series Mac users should download the macOS Apple Silicon / arm64 DMG.

The browser extension is a separate browser_extension.zip; it is not the desktop app. Do not download Source code.zip or Source code.tar.gz; those are source archives, not runnable apps.

Continue with Download Ameow.

macOS Blocks First Launch. What Should I Do?

Try this order:

1. Confirm Ameow.app is already in Applications.
2. In Applications, right-click Ameow.app and choose Open.
3. If it is still blocked, open System Settings > Privacy & Security, find the Ameow warning, and allow it.
4. If it still fails, use the quarantine command:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Ameow.app"

Continue with First Launch on macOS.

Where Did My Dropped File Go?

Open the current output folder from Ameow first. Do not rely only on memory of the default path.

The default output folder is usually:

Desktop/Ameow_Received

But if you previously dropped a folder into Ameow, the current output folder changes to that folder.

Continue with Output Folder and Missing Files.

Why Did Dropping a Folder Not Copy the Whole Folder?

Files and folders mean different things:

• dropping a file copies it into the current output folder;
• dropping a folder changes the output folder to that folder.

This lets you quickly choose where future assets should be saved. If you want to collect files inside a folder, open the folder and drop the files themselves.

I Pasted a Link but No Download Started

Check these first:

1. Can the link open in the browser?
2. Can you reproduce the flow with a public page or public media link?
3. Is the current output folder writable?
4. Is the site and page type currently supported?

If the content needs login, paid access, region access, age verification, or cookies, install the browser extension and send the task from the specific content page.

Continue with Getting Started and Download Failures.

The Browser Extension Shows Disconnected

Launch the Ameow desktop app first, then open the extension popup. The extension depends on a local connection; if the desktop app is closed, it will show Disconnected.

If the desktop app is already running:

1. Close and reopen the extension popup.
2. Reload the Ameow extension in browser extension management.
3. Restart the Ameow desktop app.
4. Check whether a firewall or security tool blocks the local connection 127.0.0.1:39527.

Continue with Extension Disconnected.

Which Sites Are Supported?

The public docs currently highlight YouTube, Bilibili, X / Twitter, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu. Site support changes over time; paid, private, region-locked, or login-limited content on the same site may still fail.

Before judging support, test on a specific content page, not a homepage, search result, recommendation feed, profile page, or collection page. Many failures come from page type and mixed preview resources, not total site incompatibility.

Continue with Supported Sites.

YouTube Plays in the Browser but Still Fails in Ameow

Check your proxy setup before changing Ameow settings.

This commonly happens when:

• the browser uses a proxy but Ameow does not reach the same network path;
• the proxy tool only covers the browser and not the local downloader chain;
• you are testing from a homepage, search page, or recommendation feed instead of a specific video page.

Recommended order:

1. Open a specific YouTube video page and confirm it plays.
2. Send the task from that page through the extension.
3. Switch your proxy tool to TUN, global, VPN, or system-proxy capture mode and try again.
4. Validate with a public video and balanced quality first.

The current product direction is to let the user’s own proxy tool handle networking. Ameow does not maintain a separate proxy configuration.

When Do I Need the Browser Extension?

If you only drop local files, organize folders, or paste ordinary public links, you can skip it at first.

Use the extension when:

• web video needs login state or cookies;
• the page has a dedicated download entry;
• you want to send from the current content page directly to the desktop app;
• you want to choose video, audio, or image items from the popup’s current-page media list;
• you want download quality preferences to sync.

If you plan to use current-page media, enter a specific video page, post page, work page, or detail page first. Do not expect a homepage, search page, recommendation feed, or list page to identify only the one resource you have in mind.

Continue with Browser Extension.

Where Can I See Version Changes?

The in-site Release Notes page keeps both stable and prerelease history. Most users should read stable releases first; use prerelease notes when helping test a build.