Browser Extension

The Motrix browser extension turns “download this” into a single click: instead of the browser’s own download manager, the file goes to Motrix — with your login session carried along, so even files behind a sign-in download fine. It also handles things browsers can’t, like assembling streaming video into a single file.

Setting it up#

1. Install the extension in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
2. Allow the connection in Motrix. The switch “Send downloads from browser extensions” in Settings → Integration → Browser extensions is on by default; Motrix registers the browser-side connector automatically for all three browsers.
3. Approve the pairing. The first time the extension connects, Motrix shows a prompt — “[name] wants to connect to Motrix — From [browser]” — with Allow / Don’t allow. The request expires after 60 seconds if you ignore it.

Approved browsers appear under Connected extensions, each with a Last active time and a Disconnect button — disconnecting is also how you force a fresh pairing.

What you can send#

• Regular files — the extension replays the browser’s headers and cookies, so authenticated downloads work without any manual cookie copying.
• Streaming video (HLS/DASH) — Motrix downloads the segments, then combines audio and video with FFmpeg into one file. FFmpeg is managed under Settings → Integration → Media tools (Motrix uses the bundled copy, a custom path, or the system installation — the card shows which).
• Magnet links — handed straight to the torrent workflow.

Clicking send twice by accident is fine — duplicate requests for the same download are ignored.

If a handoff fails#

The extension surfaces Motrix’s actual reason, in plain words:

Message	What it means
“Live streams cannot be downloaded”	The video is a live broadcast, not a finished file
“DRM-protected content cannot be downloaded”	The content is encrypted with DRM — Motrix will not bypass it
“Session expired — refresh the page in your browser and try again”	Your login on the site ran out mid-handoff
“ffmpeg failed while combining audio and video”	The final merge failed — check Media tools for FFmpeg status
“Resume failed; restart the download”	The server refused to continue a partial file

Trusted extensions (advanced)#

Under Trusted extensions you can authorize a third-party extension to talk to Motrix: click Add extension, paste its extension ID, and pick the browser (Chrome/Edge or Firefox). As the settings screen itself notes, most people never need this — the official extension is trusted out of the box.