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First Time Setup ​

Congratulations on installing Hayase! This guide will walk you through the initial configuration to get you streaming as quickly as possible.

Initial Configuration ​

When you first launch Hayase, you'll be greeted with a setup wizard. If you skipped it, don't worry - you can access all these settings later from the Settings menu.

1. Storage Location ​

Hayase needs to store downloaded content somewhere. Choose a location with adequate free space:

Recommended minimum:

  • 2GB for casual streaming (keeps recent content)
  • 100GB+ for extensive libraries
  • 1TB+ if you want to maintain a large collection

Important Notes:

  • Hayase automatically manages disk space, deleting old content when needed
  • You can change this location later in Settings → Storage

2. Network Configuration (Optional) ​

For the best streaming experience, you should consider:

Port forwarding significantly improves your ability to connect to peers:

Don't know how? See Port Forwarding Guide for detailed instructions.

DNS Configuration (If Needed) ​

If you experience issues loading extensions or metadata:

  1. Enable DNS over HTTPS in Hayase settings
  2. Or manually change your system DNS to:
    • Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
    • Google: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

See Bypassing ISP/DNS Blocking for more information.

Installing Extensions ​

Extensions are how Hayase finds content to stream. You must install at least one extension to use Hayase.

What Are Extensions? ​

Think of extensions as search engines for content:

  • Torrent extensions search torrent sites for content
  • NZB extensions search Usenet (NNTP) for content

For detailed information, see Extensions Overview.

Installing Your First Extension ​

  1. Go to Settings → Extensions
  2. Click Add Extension

Recommended for beginners:

  • Install 1-2 different torrent extensions for variety
  • If you have Usenet access, also install NZB extensions

Extension Languages ​

Many extensions support multiple languages or audio tracks:

  • Sub: Subtitled content (original audio + subtitles)
  • Dub: Dubbed content (audio in your language)
  • Multi: Both sub and dub available

Choose extensions that match your language preferences.

Basic Settings ​

Streaming Settings ​

Download Speed:

  • Leave at the default (recommended) - Hayase automatically adjusts
  • Manual setting: Match your internet speed's download capacity but don't exceed your storage write speeds!

At least 15 Mbit/s (1.8 MB/s) is required to stream 1080p video real-time. >25 Mbit/s is recommended for a buffer-free experience. This value changes a lot based on the content type you're streaming - Blu-ray rips require much higher speeds than typical anime torrents.

See Bandwidth Requirements for more details.

Peer Connections:

  • Leave at default (recommended) - Hayase automatically adjusts during setup
  • Hayase uses more connections than traditional torrent clients - this is normal and necessary for smooth streaming

More is almost always better, unless you're behind a CGNAT, where setting max connections too high can cut out internet in your entire household.

See CGNAT and Peer Limits for more information.

Video Playback Settings ​

Hardware Acceleration:

  • Don't disable this unless you have issues
  • Improves performance and reduces CPU usage

ANGLE Backend (Advanced):

  • Leave at Default unless you have SERIOUS GPU problems
  • Can help with some driver issues on Linux/Windows
  • See GPU Acceleration for details

Privacy Settings ​

VPN Recommendation: Consider using a VPN when torrenting:

  • Masks your IP from other peers
  • Encrypts traffic from your ISP
  • Provides privacy

Hayase works with all VPN providers - just connect before launching Hayase.

Testing Your Setup ​

Let's make sure everything works:

1. Test Extensions ​

  1. Open Hayase's search or browse interface
  2. Search for any content
  3. You should see results from your installed extensions

If no results appear:

  • Check your internet connection
  • Verify extensions are installed and enabled
  • Verify extension settings (API keys, etc.)
  • Verify that the content you're searching has been published
  • See Extension Issues

2. Test Streaming ​

  1. Select any video from search results
  2. Click play
  3. The video should start within 10-30 seconds

If the video doesn't play:

  • Check your download speed (Settings → Stats)
  • Verify you're connected to peers
  • See Playback Issues

3. Check Peers ​

While streaming, check the stats overlay:

  • You should see multiple peers connected
  • Download speed should match or exceed video bitrate

If no peers connect:

  • You may be behind CGNAT - see Connection Issues
  • Try enabling port forwarding
  • The torrent may be dead - try different content

Understanding Your First Stream ​

When you start your first stream, here's what happens:

  1. Hayase connects to peers - This may take 3-20 seconds
  2. Streamed download begins - Hayase downloads from the content needed directly for playback
  3. Playback starts - Once enough buffer is downloaded
  4. Continuous streaming - Hayase downloads ahead of your playback position

What speeds do you need?

You don't need blazing fast internet! You only need download speed that matches the video's bitrate:

  • 720p anime: ~2-5 Mbps (0.25-0.6 MB/s)
  • 1080p anime: ~5-15 Mbps (0.6-1.8 MB/s)
  • 1080p movie: ~10-25 Mbps (1.2-3 MB/s)
  • Blu-ray content: ~50-100 Mbps (6-12 MB/s)

Most home internet connections are more than sufficient!

Next Steps ​

Now that you're set up, learn more about:

Common First-Time Issues ​

"Resolving Metadata..." Stuck ​

  • The torrent may be dead - try different content
  • You may be behind CGNAT - see Network Issues
  • Port forwarding may help

"Video won't play" ​

  • Check hardware acceleration settings
  • Ensure you have sufficient download speed
  • See Playback Issues

"Extensions won't load" ​

"App is slow/laggy" ​

  • Make sure hardware acceleration is enabled
  • Check system resources (CPU/RAM usage)
  • See platform-specific troubleshooting guides

Need Help? Check the FAQ or platform-specific troubleshooting guides.