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Help Platform cookies

What are platform cookies, and why does Shadow Edge ask for them?

Short answer: a platform cookie is a small file your browser already uses to remember that you're signed in to a site like YouTube or Apple Podcasts. If you choose to share a copy of that file with Shadow Edge, Shadow Edge can fetch a video or audio episode on your behalf — the same way it would arrive in your own browser if you opened it there. Most people never need to do this. You only set it up if a download fails because the source asks you to sign in.

Before you upload cookies for any platform. Only use sources you have the right to practice with — for example, content you've paid for, content licensed for personal use, or content the platform makes freely available under terms that allow personal downloads. Shadow Edge assumes no liability for any consequences resulting from infringement. Read our copyright policy →

Why Shadow Edge sometimes needs to "borrow" your sign-in

When you save a video for shadowing, Shadow Edge has to go and fetch the file from the source. Most public videos, podcasts, and TED talks come back without any trouble.

Some videos, though, only show up if the visitor is signed in. Common examples:

  • A YouTube video that says "Sign in to confirm you're not a bot."
  • A members-only podcast episode you subscribe to.
  • A video posted to a private channel you follow.

You're allowed to watch those — your account is what unlocks them. But Shadow Edge isn't logged in as you, so when it tries to fetch the file, the platform sees an anonymous visitor and refuses.

A platform cookie is the small "you're signed in" pass that your browser already holds. By sharing a copy with Shadow Edge, you're saying "please use my pass when you fetch this for me." Think of it like handing a friend your library card so they can pick up the book you've already reserved — they can collect the book, but only because it's already been reserved in your name.

What Shadow Edge does not see or do

This is the part most people care about, and rightly so. A cookie sounds technical, so it's worth being precise about what it does and doesn't allow:

  • No password. A cookie isn't a password, and Shadow Edge never asks for one. You stay logged in to the platform the same as before.
  • No other sites. When you export from your browser, the recommended tool only takes the cookies for the single platform you're on. Shadow Edge can't see anything from any other site you visit.
  • No reading your inbox or watch history. Shadow Edge only uses the cookie to download the specific file you asked it to save. It does not browse the platform, open your account page, or read anything else.
  • No posting or commenting as you. Shadow Edge only reads — it never writes anything to the platform.
  • Locked away on our side. The file you upload is scrambled before it's stored. Even our own engineers can't read the contents — only the part of Shadow Edge that's actually downloading your video can unlock it, and only for the few seconds the download takes.

Do I even need this?

Probably not. Here's a simple way to decide:

  • If your downloads are working, you don't need to do anything. Most sources don't require a sign-in.
  • If a download failed once with a "sign in required" or similar message, try saving it again first — sometimes the platform is just having a moment.
  • If a download keeps failing for the same platform, that's the signal that this platform wants you signed in. Upload your cookie file once, and it will work the same way it would in your own browser.

How long does a cookie file last?

It depends on the platform. Most last a few weeks; some last longer, a few last only a few days. Shadow Edge shows a small "expires in N days" badge next to each saved cookie so you know when to refresh it. When the number gets close to zero, repeat the export and upload — it's a 2-minute job.

You'll also see an "expired — re-export needed" badge if a saved cookie has stopped working. Refreshing it works the same way as the first upload.

How do I take a cookie back?

Go to Account → Platform cookies, find the platform, and click Delete. The file is removed from Shadow Edge straight away. From that point on, downloads from that platform will be tried without a sign-in (and may fail again — that's fine; it just means you're back to where you started).

You can also revoke from the platform's side: signing out of your account on the platform itself, or changing your password there, makes the cookie file useless to anyone — including Shadow Edge.

One more reminder. Only upload cookies to download content you have the right to use. Read our copyright policy →

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