Metadata Explained
What is Metadata?
Metadata is information about a movie or TV show—everything except the actual video itself.
What Metadata Includes
- Posters (vertical cover art)
- Backdrops (horizontal background images)
- Titles (official name)
- Descriptions (plot summaries)
- Cast & Crew (actors, directors, writers)
- Release dates
- Genres (Action, Comedy, Drama, etc.)
- Ratings (IMDb scores, Rotten Tomatoes, etc.)
- Runtime
- Episode lists (for TV shows)
- Season numbers
Key point: Metadata is separate from streams. A movie can have beautiful metadata but no streams (or vice versa).
Why Metadata Matters
1. Aesthetic Appeal
Good metadata makes Stremio look polished:
- Professional posters instead of blank squares
- Accurate titles instead of file names
- Proper episode organization
2. Discoverability
Metadata helps you find content:
- Search by actor, director, or genre
- Browse by rating or release year
- Identify what you want to watch
3. Organization
Metadata keeps your library clean:
- TV shows grouped by season/episode
- Correct sorting (by title, date, etc.)
- No duplicates with different names
4. Context
Metadata gives you information to decide:
- Read plot summaries before committing
- Check ratings and reviews
- See cast and crew
How Metadata Works in Stremio
Metadata Add-ons
Stremio gets metadata from metadata add-ons (separate from stream add-ons).
Default metadata add-on:
- Cinemeta (Stremio’s official metadata service)
- Pre-installed
- Provides metadata for most movies and TV shows
Other metadata add-ons:
- TMDB (The Movie Database)
- AIOMetadata-style add-ons (enhanced metadata with more sources)
- Genre-specific add-ons (anime, documentaries, etc.)
How It Works
- You search for or select a title in Stremio
- Stremio asks metadata add-ons: “What info do you have for this title?”
- Metadata add-ons return posters, descriptions, cast, etc.
- Stremio displays the combined results
You can install multiple metadata add-ons. Stremio will use the first one that returns data for each field.
Common Metadata Problems
Problem: Wrong Poster or Backdrop
Cause:
- Metadata add-on pulled incorrect data
- Title has multiple versions (remakes, regional differences)
- Add-on’s database is outdated
Fix: See Fix Wrong Posters/Titles
Problem: Missing Information
Cause:
- Metadata add-on doesn’t have data for this title
- Title is very new or obscure
- Add-on is broken or offline
Fix:
- Install additional metadata add-ons
- Wait (data may be added later)
- Manually search for the title using a different spelling
Problem: Duplicate Entries
Cause:
- Multiple metadata add-ons providing the same title
- Different spellings or regional variants
Fix:
- Uninstall redundant metadata add-ons
- Check your Library for duplicates and remove extras
Problem: Wrong Language
Cause:
- Metadata add-on is set to a different language
- No metadata available in your preferred language
Fix: See Language & Regional Settings
Metadata vs. Streams
Metadata and streams are provided by different add-ons.
| Aspect | Metadata Add-on | Stream Add-on |
|---|---|---|
| Provides | Info (posters, descriptions) | Playable video sources |
| Examples | Cinemeta, TMDB | YouTube, OpenSubtitles, etc. |
| Legal status | Always legal (just information) | Varies (depends on source) |
| Required? | Recommended (makes Stremio usable) | Required (to watch anything) |
You need both types:
- Metadata add-ons to see what’s available and look pretty
- Stream add-ons to actually watch content
Legal Metadata Use
Using metadata add-ons is 100% legal everywhere. They’re just pulling publicly available information from databases like IMDb, TMDB, etc.
No legal risk involved in:
- Installing metadata add-ons
- Browsing content via metadata
- Organizing your library with metadata
Metadata add-ons don’t provide streams, so they can’t be used to access copyrighted content illegally. They’re purely informational.
Best Practices
✅ DO:
- Install at least one metadata add-on (Cinemeta is good for most users)
- Try multiple metadata add-ons if you’re not satisfied with results
- Keep metadata add-ons updated (uninstall/reinstall if they seem stale)
- Use metadata to track content even if you watch elsewhere
❌ DON’T:
- Install too many metadata add-ons (can cause conflicts or duplicates)
- Expect perfect metadata for every title (some are obscure or new)
- Confuse metadata with streams (different purposes)
Next Steps
Related reading: