What is Kanopy and how does it work?

Last Updated: Nov 21, 2023 Views: 119500

If you're unable to log into your Kanopy account due to a lost or forgotten email and/or password, contact Kanopy Technical Support.

Getting Started

What do I need?

Tablet, smartphone, computer, or TV with streaming capabilities
Email address and unique password to create your Kanopy profile
Library card number and PIN/password. If you need to reset your PIN/password, use our PIN/password Reset Tool .
Kanopy app or updated web browser software (e.g. Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, etc.)

STEP 1: Go to the Kanopy service.

Go to https://www.kanopy.com/en/sfpl/login. See also Other Ways to Access Kanopy.

STEP 2: Add your 14-digit library card number and PIN/password.

Click the ADD LIBRARY CARD button, then enter your 14-digit library card number and PIN/password. If you need to reset your PIN/password, use this form: https://sflib1.sfpl.org/pinreset.

NOTE: If your card number ever changes, you will need to update your Kanopy account. See Updating Your Library Card.

STEP 3: Create your unique Kanopy online profile.

Create an account using one of the following three methods: Facebook, Google, or email address. If you already have an account, click on the orange LOG IN button and enter your information.

NOTE: If you use Facebook or Google to login in, you will not be able to use Kanopy's "Forgot Password?" tool to retrieve a forgotten password in the future.

If you have registered with an email address and password, go to your Inbox to verify your email address. Go back to Kanopy and add your 14-digit library card number and PIN or password.

STEP 4: You're done! Start watching Kanopy videos.

Remember to log into Kanopy with your email address and password in the future. You have 30 tickets to use every month.

Adding Another Library

Log into your Kanopy.
Hover over your Name and click My Account.
Click the My Libraries tab.
Click the the orange Add New Library button to add another library.
Follow the instructions on the screen to find and add your library.

Playing Videos

How many titles can I play?

This will depend on the number of tickets that a title requires. Most tiles require a minimum of 2 tickets. You have 30 tickets to use every month.

What is the loan period?

The loan period will vary from 48 hours to 72 hours for most titles. Once tickets are applied, you can watch the video as many times as you would like during the loan period.

Can I download videos?

No. At this time, videos can only be streamed online.

What if I use all available tickets?

If you use all available ticket for the month, you will not be able to play any videos until the 1st of the next month (at midnight) when your tickets reset. Unused tickets will not roll over into the next month. Additional tickets are not available for purchase at this time.

Why am I limited to 30 tickets per month?

In order to offer the Kanopy service to all San Francisco Public Library users, we have budgeted 30 tickets per month.

If you are a member of more than one subscribing library, you will also have access to the other library's tickets through your membership there. You can toggle between the different library platforms in the Memberships tab in your user dashboard, as well as keep track of how many tickets you have remaining at each library.

Blocked Account

If your Library account is expired, your Kanopy access will be blocked. To renew your account, call 415-557-4400 or email info@sfpl.org.
If time has passed since you last used your Kanopy account, you may need to re-verify your card number and PIN. Here are the steps to do this:

Log into Kanopy on a computer or mobile device.
Once logged in, click your name in the upper right side of your screen.
Under the drop-down options, select My Account.
Go to My Libraries.
Click Add your library card.
Carefully type your 14-digit library card number and PIN in the provided fields. Save your changes when you're done.

Kanopy Kids

To encourage lifelong learning, no tickets are required to watch videos in the Kanopy Kids catalog.

Other Ways to Access Kanopy

Is there a Kanopy app?

Yes. You can stream films from Roku, iOS, and Android devices using the free Kanopy app, which is available from your device’s app store.

Can I use Chromecast or Apple TV to access Kanopy?

Yes. Visit the Kanopy help pages for detailed instructions on how to use Chromecast, Apple TV, and other methods to access Kanopy.

What are some of the accessibility features?

All films come with ADA-compliant captions and transcripts and are compatible with screen reader programs, such as JAWS.

Can I access Kanopy from special computers at the Main Library?

You can access Kanopy from any Internet computer at all 28 SFPL locations.

Updating Your Library Card Number

Here are the steps to update your library card number at Kanopy:

Log into Kanopy on a computer or mobile device.
Once logged in, click your name in the upper right side of your screen.
Under the drop-down options, select My Account.
Go to My Libraries.
Click Add your library card, or Edit.
Carefully type your 14-digit library card number and PIN in the provided fields. Save your changes when you're done.

Help

Why am I getting a "Membership Blocked" error?

If your library account is expired, this error may display. If you've changed your PIN, you may need to re-enter it at Kanopy before you can borrow titles again. See Blocked Account for more information.

If there is a problem with a video, where can I get help?

Start with the help topics at Kanopy. If you need further assistance, send a message to Kanopy. For the quickest response, be sure to include as many helpful details as possible in your message.

I didn't receive the message from Kanopy instructing me to verify my email address. What happened?

Sometimes these messages are filtered to your Spam or Junk Mail folders. Be sure to check these folders and allow kanopy@kanopy.com to send messages to your Inbox.

Can I suggest titles to be added to Kanopy?

Yes. Because Kanopy provides the entire catalog of titles, please contact Kanopy directly to suggest titles. The Library cannot accommodate these requests.