> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.galleryplus.tv/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# How to Start Watching: Browse, Play, and Control
> Learn how to browse titles, start playback, control your viewing experience, and cast to your TV — all from any device in just a few simple steps.
Whether you're opening the app for the first time or settling in for your next binge session, our streaming service makes it easy to find something great and start watching right away. This guide walks you through every step of the playback experience, from launching the app to controlling subtitles mid-episode.
## Start Watching
Launch the app on your phone, tablet, or smart TV, or open your browser and navigate to the streaming service website. Sign in with your email and password if you aren't already logged in. If you stay signed in, you'll land directly on your home screen.
From the home screen, scroll through curated rows such as **Continue Watching**, **Trending Now**, and **New Releases**. To find something specific, select the **Search** icon (magnifying glass) in the top navigation bar and type a title, actor, genre, or keyword. Results appear instantly as you type.
Click or tap any title thumbnail to open its detail page. Here you'll find a synopsis, cast information, episode lists (for series), content rating, and available audio and subtitle languages. If you've already started a title, a **Continue Watching** progress bar appears on the thumbnail.
Click the large **Play** button to begin watching from the beginning, or select **Resume** to pick up where you left off. For series, the player automatically queues the next unwatched episode. You can also choose a specific season and episode from the episode selector below the description.
Once the player opens, move your cursor or tap the screen to reveal the playback controls overlay. You can change audio language, subtitle language, and video quality before the video reaches full speed — or at any point during playback. See the **Playback Controls Reference** section below for a complete breakdown.
The player hides its controls after a few seconds of inactivity so nothing interrupts your view. Move your mouse or tap the screen at any time to bring the controls back. On supported TVs and browsers, the video continues playing even if you switch to another app, as long as picture-in-picture is enabled.
Your exact playback position is remembered across all your devices. Start a movie on your phone during your commute and pick it up exactly where you left off on your TV at home.
***
## Playback Controls Reference
Use the interactive controls overlay or the keyboard shortcuts below to get the most out of your viewing experience.
Click the **Pause/Play** button in the center of the controls bar, or press **Space** on your keyboard. Playback pauses immediately and resumes from the same frame when you press it again. On mobile, double-tap the center of the screen to toggle pause/play.
Drag the **progress bar** scrubber left or right to jump to any point in the video. A thumbnail preview appears above the scrubber as you drag, so you can find the exact scene you want. You can also:
* Click anywhere on the progress bar to jump instantly to that position.
* Press the **left arrow** key (or swipe left on mobile) to rewind 10 seconds.
* Press the **right arrow** key (or swipe right on mobile) to skip forward 10 seconds.
* Use the **Skip Intro** and **Skip Recap** buttons that appear at the start of episodes to jump straight into the action.
Hover over the **volume icon** on the controls bar to reveal the volume slider, then drag it to your preferred level. Click the volume icon itself to toggle mute on and off. On your keyboard, press **M** to mute or unmute. Note that your browser or device system volume also affects playback — if the player volume is at 100% but audio is still quiet, check your system volume.
Click the **CC / Subtitles** button (speech-bubble icon) in the controls bar to open the subtitle menu. Choose from any available language, or select **Off** to hide subtitles entirely. **Closed Captions (CC)** tracks include descriptions of sound effects and music for viewers who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Your subtitle language preference is saved to your profile and applied automatically on future titles.
To customize subtitle appearance — font size, color, background opacity — go to **Account → Accessibility → Subtitle Style**.
Click the **Audio** button (headphone icon) to switch the spoken language or audio track. Many titles offer multiple dub languages as well as the original audio with subtitles. Dolby Atmos and stereo tracks are listed separately when both are available; select **Dolby Atmos** for the best surround-sound experience on compatible devices and speakers.
Click the **Settings** gear icon and choose **Quality** to manually select your preferred resolution: Auto, SD (480p), HD (720p), Full HD (1080p), or 4K UHD (2160p). **Auto** is selected by default and adjusts quality in real time based on your internet speed. See the [Video Quality guide](/watching/video-quality) for data usage estimates and HDR requirements.
Click the **Full Screen** button (four-corner arrows icon) or press **F** on your keyboard to expand the player to fill your screen. Press **Escape** or **F** again to exit. To enable **Picture-in-Picture (PiP)** mode — which floats the video in a small window while you browse other apps — right-click the video (on Chrome/Edge) and select **Picture in Picture**, or click the PiP icon if it appears in the controls bar.
When an episode ends, a **Next Episode** card appears and the next episode starts automatically after 5 seconds. Click **Play Next** immediately to skip the countdown, or click **X** to cancel autoplay and stay on the end card. You can disable autoplay entirely under **Account → Playback → Autoplay Next Episode**.
***
## Watch on Your TV via Cast or AirPlay
You don't need a smart TV app to get content on the big screen — you can cast directly from your phone or computer.
### Chromecast
1. Make sure your Chromecast device and your phone or tablet are on the **same Wi-Fi network**.
2. Open the app and start or browse to a title.
3. Tap the **Cast** icon (rectangle with Wi-Fi waves) in the top-right corner of the app.
4. Select your Chromecast device from the list. Playback moves to your TV instantly.
5. Use your phone as a remote control — pause, seek, and adjust volume from the app while the video plays on your TV.
### AirPlay (Apple Devices)
1. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to the **same Wi-Fi network** as your Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible TV.
2. Start playing a title in the app or in Safari on your Mac.
3. Tap the **AirPlay** icon in the player controls, or open **Control Center** on iOS and tap **Screen Mirroring**.
4. Select your Apple TV or AirPlay TV from the list. The video switches to your TV in seconds.
4K and HDR content is only available when casting to a device that supports those formats. If your plan doesn't include 4K, the stream plays in the highest resolution your plan allows.
***
## Keyboard Shortcuts (Web)
These shortcuts work in any modern browser when the player is in focus.
| Shortcut | Action |
| ----------- | ------------------------ |
| `Space` | Pause / Resume |
| `F` | Toggle full screen |
| `M` | Toggle mute |
| `←` / `→` | Rewind / Skip 10 seconds |
| `↑` / `↓` | Volume up / down 10% |
| `Shift + N` | Skip to next episode |
| `Shift + P` | Go to previous episode |
| `C` | Toggle subtitles |
| `Esc` | Exit full screen |
On Windows, you can also use the media keys on your keyboard (Play/Pause, Previous, Next) to control playback in any browser — no need to click inside the player window first.