Watching Now
Watching Now Feature: Real-Time Check-In Without Scrobbling
The Watching Now feature (powered by SIMKL Check-in) lets users instantly tell SIMKL and their friends: “I’m watching this right now.”
Unlike traditional scrobbling, which depends on a connected media player and real-time playback updates, Watching Now is a manual one-tap check-in.
Once activated, SIMKL:
Displays the content in your Watching Now bar
Tracks the remaining runtime server-side
Automatically marks the item as Watched when it expires
No background app. No media player integration. No pause/stop tracking required.
Think of it as pressing “I’m watching this” on your remote, one tap and you’re done.
API Documentation: https://simkl.docs.apiary.io/#reference/scrobble/check-in
What Is Watching Now?
Watching Now is SIMKL’s lightweight, manual check-in system that allows users to instantly indicate they are currently watching a movie or episode without requiring a connected media player, browser extension, or real-time playback tracking.
It answers a simple social and tracking need:
“How can I show what I’m currently watching, even if I’m not using a scrobble-enabled app?”
With Watching Now:
You manually start a session
SIMKL calculates the remaining runtime
The session auto-expires when the content should end
The item is automatically marked as watched
It bridges the gap between manual marking and full scrobbling integration.
Watching Now vs Scrobbling
Watching Now and Scrobbling both track what you watch, but they operate under completely different technical models.
Understanding their differences helps determine which method best fits a specific viewing scenario.
Scrobbling is event-driven. It depends on playback signals from a connected media player or supported app. The item is only marked watched after reaching ≥80% progress and sending a
/stopor/pauseevent.Watching Now, on the other hand, is intention-driven. You manually tell SIMKL you’ve started watching something. The system calculates the expected finish time and auto-completes the watch when it expires—no playback data required.
Requires media player
❌ No
✅ Yes
Real-time progress tracking
❌ No
✅ Yes
Manual activation
✅ Yes
❌ No
Auto marks watched
✅ On expiration
✅ If ≥80% progress
Shows in Watching Bar
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
They are complementary, not replacements for each other.
Where to Use Watching Now
Watching Now is available directly on content pages where active viewing begins. It is integrated into SIMKL’s core navigation to ensure frictionless access during real-world viewing moments.
You will find the Check In / Watching Now button on:
Movie pages
TV episode pages
Anime episode pages
Once activated, the session immediately appears in:
Profile → My Dashboard → Watching Now Bar
This ensures your active viewing session is always visible at the top of your profile and (depending on privacy settings) visible to friends.
How Watching Now/Check-in Works
Watching Now follows a clear four-stage lifecycle.
Unlike scrobbling, which reacts to playback events, Watching Now runs on a server-side timer calculated at the moment of check-in.
Below is a detailed breakdown of each stage.
1️⃣ You Check In
When you press the Watching Now button on a Movie or Episode page, you initiate a manual viewing session. A small popover may allow you to optionally adjust starting progress if you began watching earlier.
Typical flow:
Click Watching Now
(Optional) Adjust progress via slider or minute input
Click Started Watching Now
This sends a single request to SIMKL servers, no persistent connection is required afterward.
The action creates a session entry tied to your profile and the specific content item.
2️⃣ SIMKL Calculates Runtime
After check-in, SIMKL determines how long the session should remain active. This calculation is based on the official runtime and any optional progress value provided.
Formula used:
Example:
Runtime: 50 minutes
Starting progress: 20%
Remaining time: 40 minutes
The system sets an expiration timer equal to the calculated remaining duration. No media player monitoring or device-level tracking is required.
This entire process runs server-side.
3️⃣ It Appears on Your Profile
Once active, the title appears in your Watching Now Bar at the top of your Dashboard. This area functions as a real-time indicator of your current viewing activity.
Displayed information includes:
Green NOW WATCHING badge
Title name
Season & episode (if applicable)
Progress percentage
Remaining time estimate
This status is visible to friends based on your privacy settings and enhances social engagement within SIMKL.
4️⃣ It Auto-Marks as Watched
When the expiration timer completes, the session automatically closes. Within approximately 100–120 seconds after reaching the calculated runtime, SIMKL:
Marks the title as Watched
Adds it to your watch history
Removes it from active playback
No additional confirmation is required.
This ensures hands-free completion ideal for theaters, live TV, or distraction-free viewing.
Dashboard Watching Bar
The Watching Now Bar serves as your active session control center. Located at the top of your Dashboard, it visually displays your ongoing viewing session and allows direct interaction.
It shows:
Current progress percentage
Remaining time
Title information
Quick access menu (three-dot options)
This bar persists until the session expires or is manually removed.
Perfect Use Cases
Watching Now was designed to accommodate real-world scenarios where scrobbling is impractical or unavailable. Below are common examples where this feature provides significant value.
1. At the Movies
When watching in a cinema, there is no playback integration or scrobbling capability.
Watching Now allows you to check in at the start of the film, put your phone away, and let SIMKL automatically mark it watched when the runtime expires.
This provides accurate tracking without relying on external apps or extensions.
2. Watching Live TV
Cable, satellite, hotel TVs, and shared streaming accounts typically do not support scrobble integration.
Watching Now allows you to manually start a session and rely on server-side expiration to complete tracking.
It eliminates the need for any technical setup.
3. Couch Mode
For users who prefer simplicity:
No extensions
No plugins
No playback syncing
No device compatibility concerns
Just press Watching Now and continue watching comfortably.
4. Social Watch Parties
Watching Now enhances social visibility. When hosting or joining a watch party:
Check in at the start
Let friends see what you're watching
Share the session via popup
This makes SIMKL more interactive and socially aware.
Managing an Active Session
Users maintain full control over active sessions through the Watching Bar menu.
This ensures flexibility if viewing behavior changes.
Available controls include:
✅ Mark as Watched — Instantly completes the item
⏸ Pause to Hide This — Temporarily hide active status
⚙ Settings — Adjust session-related preferences
❌ Remove from Active Playback — Cancel the session
These controls prevent accidental tracking errors and allow mid-session adjustments.
Manage Your Playback Progress Here: https://simkl.com/my/history/playback-progress-manager/
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Watching Now require a media player?
No.
Q: Does it track exact playback seconds?
No. It calculates expiration based on runtime and optional progress.
Q: What happens if I close my browser?
Nothing changes. The session runs server-side.
Q: Can friends see what I’m watching?
Yes, depending on privacy settings. (https://simkl.com/settings/privacy/)
Q: What if I stop watching halfway?
You can remove or mark watched manually from the Watching Bar.
Q: Is it better than scrobbling?
It’s complementary. Scrobbling is automatic and precise. Watching Now is manual and universal.
From “Watching” to “Watched” Effortlessly and Intelligently
Watching Now is not just a button, it is a carefully engineered bridge between intention and completion. It transforms a simple declaration (“I’m starting this now”) into a fully managed viewing lifecycle handled entirely by SIMKL’s backend logic.
The moment you check in:
Your active session becomes visible on your profile
Friends can see what you’re currently watching (based on privacy settings)
SIMKL calculates the remaining runtime
A server-side expiration timer begins
The system prepares to automatically finalize your watch
There is no dependency on playback events. No reliance on pause or stop signals. No requirement for a media player integration. No background process consuming device resources.
In practical terms, Watching Now converts a single tap into a fully automated watch event. It is manual in activation, but automatic in execution.
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