Privacy
Norri is designed with privacy as a core principle. Your media library stays on your server, and we have no visibility into what you watch or own.
Core Principles
- Local-first — All data lives on your server, not in the cloud
- No telemetry — We don’t collect usage data, analytics, or crash reports
- No cloud accounts — No sign-up required, no external authentication
- Works offline — After initial setup and library scanning, Norri works without internet
What Stays Private
The following data never leaves your server:
- Your media files and library contents
- Watch history and playback progress
- User accounts and preferences
- Server configuration and settings
External API Calls
Norri makes requests to external services for metadata. Here’s exactly what happens:
When Calls Are Made
| Event | What Happens | Optional? |
|---|---|---|
| Library scan | New items are searched on TMDB/TVDB | Manual or scheduled |
| Metadata refresh | Updated metadata fetched for existing items | Manual or scheduled |
| Person pages | Filmography is fetched for cast/crew | Part of scan |
| Scheduled tasks | Automatic scans and metadata checks | Fully optional |
Normal browsing and playback make no external calls — all metadata is cached locally.
Scheduled Tasks Are Optional
Norri can run automatic scans and metadata updates on a schedule, but these are entirely optional. You can:
- Disable all scheduled tasks in Settings → Scheduled Tasks
- Run scans manually when you add new content
- Refresh metadata manually when needed
If you disable scheduled tasks, Norri will only contact TMDB/TVDB when you explicitly trigger a scan or refresh.
User-Initiated TMDB Requests
Some features explicitly fetch data from TMDB when you click a button. These are clearly labelled in the UI:
| Feature | When TMDB Is Contacted | What Is Sent |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative Artwork | ”Change Poster” / “Change Backdrop” button | TMDB movie ID |
| Rematch | ”Rematch to Different Movie” button | Search query (title, year) |
| TMDB Search | Any TMDB search modal | Search query |
These requests happen only when you explicitly trigger them. Normal browsing uses locally cached data.
Why This Design?
We could pre-fetch all alternative artwork during scans, but we chose not to:
- Less bandwidth — Most users never change artwork
- Faster scans — Downloads only what’s needed
- Privacy transparency — You know exactly when external calls happen
- Offline-friendly — Default artwork works without internet
What Data Is Sent
| Data | Purpose | Avoidable? |
|---|---|---|
| Movie/TV titles | Search queries to find matches | No — required for matching |
| TMDB/TVDB IDs | Fetch specific metadata | No — required for metadata |
| Your IP address | Standard HTTP request | Yes — use a proxy |
What Is NOT Sent
- File paths or filenames (only parsed titles)
- File sizes or quality information
- Watch history or playback data
- User account information
- Hardware or system details
How We Compare
If you’re evaluating media servers, here’s how Norri compares to other options on privacy-related features. Each project has different goals and trade-offs — this table is meant to inform, not to suggest one is universally “better” than another.
| Feature | Norri | Plex | Jellyfin | Emby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud account required | No | Yes | No | No |
| Library data synced to cloud | No | Partial | No | No |
| Watch history on external servers | No | Optional | No | No |
| Analytics/telemetry | None | Partial opt-out | None | Minimal |
| Works fully offline | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No | Yes (GPL-2.0) | No |
As of December 2024. Features and policies change — verify with each project’s current documentation.
Detailed Notes
Plex
- Requires a Plex account for authentication, even on local networks
- Library structure (types, item counts, codecs) synced to Plex servers — not titles or filenames
- Watch history sync can be disabled in settings
- Some telemetry is mandatory; playback data and crash reports can be opted out
- Offline mode requires advance configuration; Plex Home doesn’t work offline
Jellyfin
- Fully self-hosted with no external accounts
- Only external calls are metadata lookups (TMDB/TVDB)
- No analytics or telemetry — source code is auditable
- Open source (GPL-2.0-or-later), forked from Emby in December 2018
Emby
- Emby Connect is optional — local credentials work without it
- No library data sent to Emby servers
- Minimal telemetry (OS/software version); Premiere license validation requires periodic internet
- Closed source since September 2018
Norri
- No cloud accounts or external authentication
- All data stored locally; only TMDB/TVDB calls for metadata
- No analytics or telemetry
- Works offline for browsing and playback; scans and metadata refresh require internet
Using a Proxy for Additional Privacy
If you want to hide your IP address from TMDB/TVDB, you can route API calls through a proxy. See our Proxy Setup Guide for configuration instructions.
Why Use a Proxy?
- Prevents TMDB/TVDB from seeing your real IP address
- Routes requests through your VPN provider
- Adds an extra layer of privacy for metadata requests
What a Proxy Does NOT Do
- It doesn’t hide what titles you’re searching for
- TMDB/TVDB will still see the search queries
- Your VPN provider can see the requests instead
For most users, the default behaviour is private enough — TMDB knowing you searched for “The Godfather” reveals very little about you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Norri phone home?
No. Norri makes zero connections to our servers. We have no idea who’s using the software or what they’re watching.
Can you see my library?
No. Your server is entirely self-contained. We have no access to it and no way to connect to it.
What about TMDB/TVDB — do they track me?
TMDB and TVDB see your IP address and what titles you search for. This is no different from visiting their websites directly. They don’t know you’re using Norri specifically.
Is my watch history private?
Yes. Watch history is stored locally on your server. No external service can see what you’ve watched or when.
What happens if I lose internet?
Norri continues working normally. You can browse, search, and play content. You just won’t be able to add new items that need metadata lookup.