NZBGet FAQ: Common Questions Answered

NZBGet is one of the most popular and efficient NZB downloaders available today. Written in C++ for performance and resource efficiency, it is trusted by new and advanced Usenet users alike. This comprehensive FAQ guide answers common questions about NZBGet’s functionality, setup, features, and security, and provides helpful links to community resources.

What Is NZBGet? (General Overview)

What is NZBGet for?

NZBGet is a program designed for downloading binary files from Usenet. It’s known for its high performance and low resource usage, making it ideal for devices like NAS systems, routers, and home servers, as well as desktops running Windows, macOS, or Linux.

Is NZBGet legit?

Yes, NZBGet is completely legitimate. It’s a free, open-source project available on GitHub under the community-maintained repository: nzbgetcom · GitHub.

What is NZB used for?

An NZB file contains a list of Usenet message IDs that point to parts of a larger binary post. NZBGet uses these IDs to find, download, and reassemble those parts into usable files. It saves time and effort compared to manually finding and downloading each post.

How to download NZB files for free?

To get started, you need:

• A Usenet provider that offers access to Usenet newsgroups
• An NZB indexer, many of which offer free access with limitations.
• An NZB downloader like NZBGet.

Find an NZB file on an indexer, open it in NZBGet, and it will connect to your provider to download the associated articles.

What is the best NZB downloader?

NZBGet and SABnzbd are the top two. NZBGet is faster and more efficient, while SABnzbd is often praised for its beginner-friendly interface. Choose based on your platform, resource constraints, and personal preferences.

What is the difference between Sonarr and NZBGet?

Sonarr is a personal video recorder (PVR) that sends NZB files to NZBGet for downloading. NZBGet does the actual downloading. Sonarr handles automation, NZBGet handles retrieval.

NZBGet Installation and Essential Setup

How do I install NZBGet?

Visit the official NZBGet documentation for detailed install instructions for Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS systems, and Docker.

NZBGet default password

• Username: nzbget
• Password: tegbzn6789

Change these immediately in Settings > SECURITY for better protection.

NZBGet port

The default port for the NZBGet web interface is 6789. You can access it in your browser via http://<your-device-ip>:6789.

NZBGet News Server

Go to Settings > NEWS-SERVERS and enter your Usenet provider’s details:

• Server address (e.g., news.provider.com)
• Port (usually 563 for SSL)
• Username & password
• SSL/TLS enabled

NZBGet add file

You can add NZB files to NZBGet in several convenient ways:

• Web Upload: Click the “Add” button at the top of the NZBGet web interface to manually upload an NZB file from your computer.
• Watched Folder: Set a watch directory in Settings > PATHS > NzbDir. Any NZB file placed into this folder will automatically be added to your queue.
• Automated Tools: Integration with apps like Sonarr or Radarr allows NZB files to be added automatically when new content is detected.

Advanced Features & Configuration

NZBGet simultaneous downloads

NZBGet downloads one NZB at a time but can open multiple connections to a news server (set under Settings > NEWS-SERVERS > Connections) to increase speed.

NZBGet on Linux

Use the official .run installer, which includes precompiled binaries that work on most Linux systems with kernel 2.6 or newer.

NZBGet Docker Compose

NZBGet can run in a container using Docker Compose. Several pre-configured Docker Compose files are available from trusted sources like the official NZBGet site, the NZBGet GitHub repository, and LinuxServer.io, making it easy to deploy NZBGet on any Docker-compatible system.

What user does NZBGet use?

On Linux, you can configure NZBGet to run under a specific user for permissions and security. The web interface login username remains nzbget by default.

NZBGet API

NZBGet supports XML-RPC, JSON-RPC, and JSON-P-RPC. It’s commonly used by Sonarr, Radarr, and other automation tools to control queueing, monitoring, and downloads remotely.

How do I uninstall NZBGet?

• Windows: If you installed NZBGet using the setup wizard, you can remove it via the Control Panel under “Programs and Features” or “Apps and Features.” Alternatively, open the NZBGet installation folder and run uninstall.exe. If NZBGet was installed as a Windows Service, you can remove the service by opening a Command Prompt as Administrator and running nzbget -remove.
• Linux: If you installed NZBGet using the .run installer, it won’t appear in your package manager. You’ll need to stop the service (if applicable), disable it from starting at boot, and delete the installation directory manually. If installed via a package manager or Docker, use the appropriate apt, yum, or docker rm commands.
• macOS: Simply locate NZBGet.app in your Applications folder and move it to the Trash. If you configured any launch daemons or background services, remove those manually from ~/Library/LaunchAgents or /Library/LaunchDaemons.

Security, Community & Resources

Can Usenet be tracked?

Yes, your ISP can see Usenet traffic unless you’re using SSL/TLS encryption. Always enable it in NZBGet settings when connecting to your news server. Without proper encryption, this information can be analyzed or even throttled based on usage.

Is NZBGet encrypted?

Yes, NZBGet supports SSL/TLS for secure downloads and HTTPS for secure web interface access. Note that “encrypted” tags in NZBGet refer to password-protected RAR files, not network encryption.

Official Resources

• Website: NZBGet.com
• Source Code: nzbgetcom · GitHub
• Documentation: NZBGet Documentation

Community Support

• Reddit: r/nzbget
• Discord: Join the active NZBGet community for real-time help and discussion

Helpful Links and Next Steps

• NZBGet Setup Guide
• Sonarr/Radarr Integration
• Performance Tips
• Docker Guide
• Path and Folder Structure Guide