Stream Films for Free with Kanopy
2 mins read

Stream Films for Free with Kanopy

Use your Plano Public Library card to access thousands of edutaining films while at home.

Want to catch up on the latest award-winning independent movies? See some mind-bending math? Learn to bake like a pro? Watch the Charlie Chaplin classic Modern Times? Plano Public Library is here for you with Kanopy, our free film streaming service. With Kanopy, you now have instant access to more than 30,000 films, including acclaimed documentaries, educational films, classics and new releases. And the collection is growing, with hundreds of new titles added each month.

To get started, all you need is your Plano Library card and an email address.

  • Visit our Kanopy page to create an account
  • Verify your account by clicking on the link Kanopy sends via email
  • Log in on the Kanopy site
  • Add your library card number
  • Start watching!

Your card gives you five play credits per month, with three days to watch each film as many times as you like. Out of credits? Take advantage of a special collection of credit-free viewing options.

Use the search bar at the top to look for a specific film title, or search actors, topics and more. You can also look through a variety of subjects in the Browse tab. Similar to other video streaming services, you’ll see carousels for Newly Added films and others based on topics like Best Films of the 2010s, Popular Documentaries and The Criterion Collection

When you find a film to watch, click the play button to begin. This counts as a view credit.

If you want to save the film for later instead of watching now, you can add it to My List. Hover over your name in the top right corner and click on My Watchlist to see the list of films you’ve added.

Use closed captioning on any film with the CC logo next to the name, and read fellow viewer comments below the film (and add your own!)


Looking for something family friendly? Kanopy Kids is a curated collection with engaging, fun and educational programming for children. Enjoy Sesame Street, animated storybook favorites, movies and much more. Kanopy Kids is unlimited, meaning you can watch as many items within the collection as you want.


Watch anywhere, anytime with the Kanopy app, available for most major devices, as well as TV players such as Roku, Apple TV and Chromecast. No commercials or monthly fees—just a world of entertainment and information a few clicks away!

Need help? See the Kanopy help page here to find out how to watch on a variety of devices, troubleshoot technical issues and more.

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